Life

The Casual Gardener: A hedge is a safe bet

A hedge can be so much more than just a boundary for your garden, writes John Manley...

Beech offers a good compromise between a formal and an eco-friendly hedge
Beech offers a good compromise between a formal and an eco-friendly hedge Beech offers a good compromise between a formal and an eco-friendly hedge

HEDGEROWS have been a feature of the Irish landscape for hundreds if not thousands of years. Mechanisation with bigger and bigger farm machinery being used means that there aren’t quite as many hedges as there once were; however, those that remain continue to play a key role in the island’s ecology, providing precious linear habitats for native fauna and flora. On top of this they capture carbon while reducing soil erosion, air pollution and spot flooding.

In a domestic setting, a hedge is easily the best boundary solution vis-a-vis a wall or a fence, because a living barrier comfortably ticks all the boxes when it comes to shelter, security and style – and its environmental benefits.

From an aesthetic point of view the seasonally changing background texture and colour complements other plants, while in environmental terms it provides food and shelter for insects, birds and mammals. A hedge is also more weather-resistant, generally cheaper and has the potential to last hundreds of years. Added to this, an established hedge is a better windbreak than a solid fence as it filters and slows wind.

The more formal your choice of hedge is, however, the less wildlife friendly it’ll be. Beech offers a good compromise but leylandii, for me, is going too far in the wrong direction. Studies over the past decade have shown that the steady decline of house sparrows from towns and cities is down to the popularity of dense hedges like leylandii. The aphids on which sparrows raise their young don’t care too much for exotics like leylandii, instead preferring to settle on native trees and shrubs. The house sparrows, therefore, tend to steer clear of the leylandii too.

So what does a native, wildlife-friendly hedge look like? Well, not a hedge for starters. It’s more a barrier, less rigid and more free-flowing than a conventional privet, laurel or the leylandii hedge. However, if you are that rare but admirable breed who’d like to go native but want something formal and evergreen, try the Irish yew (Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’). When watered and fed well, yew can make up to 1ft of growth a year, they’ll outlive any human and they ward off evil spirits to boot. Perhaps most importantly for a hedging plant, yew will survive a hard prune back into old wood.

For the less inhibited there’s a range of big and small trees and shrubs to choose from. Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) form the basis of most traditional Irish country hedges and there's no reason why they won't work in a garden setting. As well as forming a thick, thorny, impenetrable barrier, both will provide that unbeatable combination of spring blossom and autumn fruit.

Augment the hawthorn and blackthorn with less prickly additions such as guelder rose (Viburnum opulus), spindle (Euonymus europaeus) and field maple (Acer campestre).

For some all-year-round greenery add holly or yew, though don't expect either of these slow growers to shoot up as fast as the above.

Source your plants over the next couple of weeks bare root and plant them as quickly as possible before they emerge from dormancy. Dig the site thoroughly, remove all perennial weeds and add plenty of organic matter. Protect from rabbits where necessary and keep them well-watered in the first few years. Before you know, your native hedge should hopefully become a Mecca for house sparrows and other assorted birds.

On the down side, a hedge requires a commitment to regular maintenance. All types need trimming at least once a year, others more often. Regular light pruning is better for the hedge, and easier to carry out, than infrequent heavy pruning. Modern power tools do the job quickly when the hedge is trimmed regularly.