First attempt at laying a hedge

[spandit]

Just now, Will C said:

Nicely done

Thanks!

[organic guy]

3 minutes ago, spandit said:

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...

Bigger hedge = bigger satisfaction !

[spandit]

Just now, organic guy said:

Bigger hedge = bigger satisfaction !

Need some advice on how much to trim off each upright and also need a huge amount of stakes and binders, which I'm not sure I'll have available

[organic guy]

Just now, spandit said:

Need some advice on how much to trim off each upright and also need a huge amount of stakes and binders, which I'm not sure I'll have available

Depending on what you want to achieve you don't have to use stakes and binders

[spandit]

Just now, organic guy said:

Depending on what you want to achieve you don't have to use stakes and binders

It's along a road - think it would look better. Going to be tricky cutting anything off as there's little to no verge

[AHPP]

9 minutes ago, organic guy said:

Depending on what you want to achieve you don't have to use stakes and binders

 

Tell us more please.

[organic guy]

23 minutes ago, spandit said:

It's along a road - think it would look better. Going to be tricky cutting anything off as there's little to no verge

 

15 minutes ago, AHPP said:

 

Tell us more please.

First question is does it need to be stock proof?

Does it need to be attractive?

The smartest and most stock proof is Midland, which is basically what you have done. It is also the most labour intensive and requires the most materials.

The simplest and requiring the least materials is what we do on the farm which is a poor imitation of Devon or Berkeley style. Pleached over , laid close to the ground and held in place with big bale string.(which will be removed next winter.

The stakes and binders are only there to hold the pleachers in place, make it more stock proof and attractive.

For a low hedge you could crook it like Devon style, higher you could just stake it as in some of the welsh styles.

have a look here 

National Hedgelaying Society

WWW.HEDGELAYING.ORG.UK

 

[Dan Maynard]

30 minutes ago, organic guy said:

held in place with big bale string.(which will be removed next winter

I've done some tying bits in on conifer hedges (for screening) using sisal string, my logic being it's strong enough for one year and then rot away so no need to remove it and no plastic pollution. Would that work? You can get 6mm rope too.

[organic guy]

Just now, Dan Maynard said:

I've done some tying bits in on conifer hedges (for screening) using sisal string, my logic being it's strong enough for one year and then rot away so no need to remove it and no plastic pollution. Would that work? You can get 6mm rope too.

Good idea, the only sisal I've got is Binder twine, must be 60 + years old and not thick enough.

Big bale string is a cheap waste product but does require clearing up, in some hedges most of the strings are chewed through by rabbits by the next winter.

[AHPP]

20 minutes ago, Dan Maynard said:

I've done some tying bits in on conifer hedges (for screening) using sisal string, my logic being it's strong enough for one year and then rot away so no need to remove it and no plastic pollution. Would that work? You can get 6mm rope too.

 

I do that on apple trees.