Hedge planting

[swinny]

Evening all,

 

I have a hedge to plant soon, the plants are laurels. Quite small specimins! Probabilly only 14" tall and only 5" wide at the moment.

 

Looking for advice one how far to plant apart really.

 

Would you still plant 18" or even 24" apart even though the laurels are so small? or would they benefit from being spaced apart for the light etc?

 

ANy help greatly appreciated. Going to plant with compost also to get them going

 

Cheers Chris

[slack ma girdle]

Dense hedge= plants one boot apart

Medium density= plants two boots apart

Light density= plants three boots apart

 

Unless you have size five and below, then double the above

[swinny]

So anywhere between 18-24" then.

 

Also how far from a single course wall.... The customers don't want the hedge in the middle of the garden but don't want to interfeer with the wall.... was thinking 14-16"

[Mortimer Firewood]

We put a Laurel hedge in on top of retaining wall 18 months ago they were about 2ft high when planted 18 inch apart and 10 inch from wall its now forming a really good hedge pushing on for 3ft. Is the wall in good nick?

[swinny]

Walls not too bad...

 

would you plant a bit closer then?

 

Have to say the wall would be 3ft high at its highest, so will be towering over the laurels for a little while...

[Goaty]

Planting any hedge in my personal opinion, except stock resistant hedging. Is done much closer than needed.

 

I dare go 6ft apart, the plants only need to grow sidewards 3ft to meet and will be less starved in the long run. Will probably do this in 3 years. Laurels can reach 10ft across or more no problem.

You only have to look at the gaps between the stems in established hedges to realise how plants compensate and fill the void. Its just another old textbook habit that never changes.

[Jesse]

Evening all,

 

I have a hedge to plant soon, the plants are laurels. Quite small specimins! Probabilly only 14" tall and only 5" wide at the moment.

 

Looking for advice one how far to plant apart really.

 

Would you still plant 18" or even 24" apart even though the laurels are so small? or would they benefit from being spaced apart for the light etc?

 

ANy help greatly appreciated. Going to plant with compost also to get them going

 

Cheers Chris

Hi Chris, couldn't you think of anything better than Laurels? very high maintenance, you mentioned a wall and space as being an issue, also direct damage could result as the Laurels mature . What about tralis fixed to the wall and plant along the wall climbers ? sorry about the spelling .

[swinny]

Hi Chris, couldn't you think of anything better than Laurels? very high maintenance, you mentioned a wall and space as being an issue, also direct damage could result as the Laurels mature . What about tralis fixed to the wall and plant along the wall climbers ? sorry about the spelling .

 

Hi there

 

Its just what the customer has purchased to replace the big conifer hedge i removed and ground out.

 

It was a case of conifers well out grown the situation. They wanted a decent hedge thats evergreen and can be kept tidy.

 

They also want it trimming when necessary, maybe twice a year when established.

 

I also realist the room laurels take up, esp girth and the need for adequate space needed. it may be a case of planting further back from the wall and trimming the wall side as to keep 3-4" room between it and the wall.

[Jesse]

Hi there

 

Its just what the customer has purchased to replace the big conifer hedge i removed and ground out.

 

It was a case of conifers well out grown the situation. They wanted a decent hedge thats evergreen and can be kept tidy.

 

They also want it trimming when necessary, maybe twice a year when established.

 

I also realist the room laurels take up, esp girth and the need for adequate space needed. it may be a case of planting further back from the wall and trimming the wall side as to keep 3-4" room between it and the wall.

Yep thats a fair one i just thought i'd throw it in, at least it will keep you in work

[swinny]

Yep thats a fair one i just thought i'd throw it in, at least it will keep you in work

 

yup

 

So before i get off to sleep 18-24" apart and 14-16" away from the wall sounds ok, maybe the 16" if planning to trim the wall side back