Comments on: How to Lay a Hedge http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/ A blog about woodland activities, outdoor skills and conservation Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:04:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rebecca Butler http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/comment-page-1/#comment-11714 Rebecca Butler Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:37:54 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/#comment-11714 Hi Thank you for your request. Check with your local authority with regard to any by-laws concerning hedges. Perhaps have a word with your neighbour and see if you could have a joint effort, as now is the time to give your hedge a good cut, before the birds start to nest, cut the top and sides, a pyramid shape is best then you get a good thick bottom and the rain can run off. Hi Thank you for your request. Check with your local authority with regard to any by-laws concerning hedges. Perhaps have a word with your neighbour and see if you could have a joint effort, as now is the time to give your hedge a good cut, before the birds start to nest, cut the top and sides, a pyramid shape is best then you get a good thick bottom and the rain can run off.

]]> By: Kevin Christie http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/comment-page-1/#comment-11695 Kevin Christie Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:15:02 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/#comment-11695 Dear Sir I have planted a mixed hedge along my garded fence, it is getting out of control but the birds like it. Because the hedge has sharp thorns my neighbour is complaining, can you please give me some guidance Dear Sir I have planted a mixed hedge along my garded fence, it is getting
out of control but the birds like it. Because the hedge has sharp thorns
my neighbour is complaining, can you please give me some guidance

]]> By: Rebecca Butler http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/comment-page-1/#comment-11662 Rebecca Butler Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:40:16 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/#comment-11662 Re purchase stakes and binders - Reply from John Shepherd, Hedgelaying trainer for Plumpton College Centre for Sustainable Food Farming and Forestry. "A bit out of my geographical area I'm afraid, so I can't provide any contacts - you could contact the local hedgelaying society (http://www.hedgelaying.org.uk/local.htm). When I've been in a fix in the past, I've used 4.5'/5' sweet chestnut spiles or tree stakes. They cost about double the (mainly hazel) ones I usually use, but do last longer and are particularly useful on gappy or weak hedges where I've replanted and the hedge takes time to thicken. That leaves the Binders - a number of people use willow for binders, so a local farmer growing bio-mass could be a source. On one occasion (at my parent's urban property) I omitted the binders. It seemed to have worked ok, but in the three years it took to thicken up, it didn't look nice. It also had a mesh fence alongside to prevent the public pulling it about. Re purchase stakes and binders – Reply from John Shepherd, Hedgelaying trainer for Plumpton College Centre for Sustainable Food Farming and Forestry. “A bit out of my geographical area I’m afraid, so I can’t provide any contacts – you could contact the local hedgelaying society (http://www.hedgelaying.org.uk/local.htm). When I’ve been in a fix in the past, I’ve used 4.5′/5′ sweet chestnut spiles or tree stakes. They cost about double the (mainly hazel) ones I usually use, but do last longer and are particularly useful on gappy or weak hedges where I’ve replanted and the hedge takes time to thicken. That leaves the Binders – a number of people use willow for binders, so a local farmer growing bio-mass could be a source. On one occasion (at my parent’s urban property) I omitted the binders. It seemed to have worked ok, but in the three years it took to thicken up, it didn’t look nice. It also had a mesh fence alongside to prevent the public pulling it about.

]]> By: Richard http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/comment-page-1/#comment-11636 Richard Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:25:30 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/#comment-11636 A good source is ecolots, see http://www.ecolots.co.uk/index.php/classifieds/advert/1-For-Sale/5-Natural-Products/16703-Hazel-Poles A good source is ecolots, see
http://www.ecolots.co.uk/index.php/classifieds/advert/1-For-Sale/5-Natural-Products/16703-Hazel-Poles

]]> By: Dave Cabena http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/comment-page-1/#comment-11634 Dave Cabena Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:01:30 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/#comment-11634 I have laid a small section of hedge successfully last year,using stakes & binders from our own property. I propose to do a larger hedge thia year & would prefer to buy ready cut stakes & binders. Where can I buy them? I live between Aylesbury and Buckingham. Thanks I have laid a small section of hedge successfully last year,using stakes & binders from our own property. I propose to do a larger hedge thia year & would prefer to buy ready cut stakes & binders. Where can I buy them? I live between Aylesbury and Buckingham. Thanks

]]> By: Rebecca Butler http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/comment-page-1/#comment-11614 Rebecca Butler Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:42:59 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/#comment-11614 From the Plumpton College Centre for Sustainable Food Farming and Forestry Hedgelaying trainer John Shepherd "Wow - interesting. I have no experience of Forsythia, but in general, trees/shrubs which are able to bud from their base can be laid, so if a Forsythia stem is cut 100mm from the ground and that stem subsequently sprouts, then it can potentially be laid. However the stems of some shrubs are too brittle and break off when pleached. If this is the case, then coppicing and waiting a couple of years for suitable regrowth may be the way to get more pliable stems. I also believe Forsythia flowers on the previous year's wood, so don't expect too much in the year after laying. All in all, the safest approach is to lay a few stems (which you would normally prune out), to see if they survive. Please let us know how it works out, a forsythia hedge sounds fantastic. Thank you" From the Plumpton College Centre for Sustainable Food Farming and Forestry Hedgelaying trainer John Shepherd
“Wow – interesting.

I have no experience of Forsythia, but in general, trees/shrubs which are able to bud from their base can be laid, so if a Forsythia stem is cut 100mm from the ground and that stem subsequently sprouts, then it can potentially be laid. However the stems of some shrubs are too brittle and break off when pleached. If this is the case, then coppicing and waiting a couple of years for suitable regrowth may be the way to get more pliable stems. I also believe Forsythia flowers on the previous year’s wood, so don’t expect too much in the year after laying. All in all, the safest approach is to lay a few stems (which you would normally prune out), to see if they survive. Please let us know how it works out, a forsythia hedge sounds fantastic.

Thank you”

]]> By: Stan Dickins http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/comment-page-1/#comment-11588 Stan Dickins Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:40:09 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/#comment-11588 Is it possible to layer Forsythia Hedges? Is it possible to layer Forsythia Hedges?

]]> By: Andy http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/comment-page-1/#comment-3543 Andy Thu, 20 May 2010 09:46:08 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/#comment-3543 Hello I planted a 200m native mixed hedge in Nov 2007. The plants are all now 6 or 7ft tall. I have a mix of blackthorn, quickthorn, hazel, i have put the holly all together over a 20m long run. I want to have the majority upto 14ft tall to match the existing hedges,but i want a 50m run which includes all of the holly to be 5ft tall. I want to make the base of the hedge thick. My dad says that i need to cut the tops off in november this year and it will thicken itself, but i thought about just bending the trees over and securing the tips somehow top the floor, and this would then produce lots of verticals and this would thicken the bottom of the hedge. I have probably got this all wrong - what do you suggest. Any help would be appreciated andy Hello
I planted a 200m native mixed hedge in Nov 2007. The plants are all now 6 or 7ft tall. I have a mix of blackthorn, quickthorn, hazel, i have put the holly all together over a 20m long run. I want to have the majority upto 14ft tall to match the existing hedges,but i want a 50m run which includes all of the holly to be 5ft tall. I want to make the base of the hedge thick. My dad says that i need to cut the tops off in november this year and it will thicken itself, but i thought about just bending the trees over and securing the tips somehow top the floor, and this would then produce lots of verticals and this would thicken the bottom of the hedge. I have probably got this all wrong – what do you suggest.
Any help would be appreciated
andy

]]> By: Derek Harris http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/comment-page-1/#comment-3498 Derek Harris Sun, 09 May 2010 11:34:51 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/#comment-3498 Very interested in taking a living hedge laying course if possible in the Berks/Bucks area? Can you recommend/advise course details please Many thanks in advance Very interested in taking a living hedge laying course if possible in the Berks/Bucks area?
Can you recommend/advise course details please

Many thanks in advance

]]> By: patrick chamberlain http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/comment-page-1/#comment-3333 patrick chamberlain Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:11:29 +0000 http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/practical-guides/how-to-lay-a-hedge/#comment-3333 I am living in Connecticut, US. My late grandfather, British, told me about hedge laying which he had observed as a boy. I have an arbourvitae hedge which I would like to attempt to lay. It is in good health but overgrown. I wonder if any readers can tell me if arbourvitae is suitable for laying. I have talked to several arbourists here and none of them had heard of hedge laying. Imagine that! Thank you for your response. I am living in Connecticut, US. My late grandfather, British, told me about hedge laying which he had observed as a boy.

I have an arbourvitae hedge which I would like to attempt to lay. It is in good health but overgrown. I wonder if any readers can tell me if arbourvitae is suitable for laying.

I have talked to several arbourists here and none of them had heard of hedge laying. Imagine that!

Thank you for your response.

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