First attempt at laying a hedge

[spandit]

I planted this hawthorn hedge about 10 years ago. Decided to lay it. Used hazel stakes and binders from my own planted woodland and did most of it with a chainsaw. Used a billhook on the smaller stems. It's not as flat as I'd like and I snapped one of the larger stems (tiny sliver of bark left so may survive) but it's fairly level.

[organic guy]

You should be very pleased with that as a first attempt, or a 2nd ,3rd or 4th attempt!

[Retired Climber]

Looks good to me. 

[Mark Bolam]

Looks good to me mate!

 

Put another pic up after it has flushed, I’m sure it will do really well.

[spandit]

Of course! A friend of mine said there were too many plants which is why they didn't lay over far enough. I think it's because I didn't push them over far enough or trim enough side branches off.

[Stere]

Looks good though & very tidy even if its not that flat.

 

I suppose a   flater angled stems is better for encouraging a  dense sprouty bottom....?

 

 

[spandit]

Just now, Stere said:

Looks good though & very tidy even if its not that flat.

 

I suppose a   flater angled stems is better for encouraging a  dense sprouty bottom....?

 

 

Yes and also closes the lower gaps more effectively

[organic guy]

22 hours ago, spandit said:

Of course! A friend of mine said there were too many plants which is why they didn't lay over far enough. I think it's because I didn't push them over far enough or trim enough side branches off.

The angle is not of great significance, except for your personal preference. Much of your regrowth will come from sprouts at the heel. 

Plant density on a young maiden hedge like that has no effect on the angle, purely how hard you push it down.

Older, heavier hedge you would need to thin hard to get it low.

Just finished length of hedge on farm, 150 years old roughly, been laid at least once but not for 60 years.

Crab apple was quite a challenge, laid low to encourage maximum new growth from stump.

[spandit]

Wow, that looks like a big job! I have a much larger, older mixed hedge that needs laying but not quite ready to tackle it yet...

[Will C]

On 16/01/2025 at 17:07, spandit said:

I planted this hawthorn hedge about 10 years ago. Decided to lay it. Used hazel stakes and binders from my own planted woodland and did most of it with a chainsaw. Used a billhook on the smaller stems. It's not as flat as I'd like and I snapped one of the larger stems (tiny sliver of bark left so may survive) but it's fairly level.

Nicely done