How to Plant a Wildlife Hedge from Bare-Root Plants
What is a Wildlife Hedge?
A wildlife hedge is a natural barrier made of shrubs and trees that provides food, shelter, and nesting sites for a variety of animals, including birds, insects, and small mammals. Wildlife hedges can also help to reduce noise and wind, and create a beautiful tapestry of color that changes with the seasons.
Benefits of Planting a Bare-Root Wildlife Hedge
Planting a bare-root wildlife hedge is a great way to attract wildlife to your garden and create a more sustainable landscape. Bare-root plants are dormant plants that have been dug up and stored over the winter. They are typically less expensive than container-grown plants and can be planted in the fall or early spring.
How to Plant a Bare-Root Wildlife Hedge
Materials:
- Bare-root hedging plants
- Mycorrhizal fungi granules
- Bucket
- Garden spade
- Secateurs
- Garden compost or well-rotted manure
Instructions:
- Soak the roots. Soak the roots of the bare-root plants in a bucket of water for about 30 minutes. This will help to rehydrate the roots and make them more pliable.
- Prepare the trench. Dig a trench that is wide enough to accommodate the roots of the plants and deep enough so that the dark part of the stem is below soil level.
- Dip the roots in mycorrhizal fungi. Make a gel of mycorrhizal fungi by mixing granules and water in a bucket. Dip the roots of the plants in the gel so that they are fully coated. Mycorrhizal fungi can help to improve the plants’ ability to absorb nutrients from the soil.
- Plant the hedge. Place the plants in the trench and space them about 30cm apart. Backfill the soil around the roots and firm down with your heel to get rid of any air pockets. Give the plant a gentle tug to check that it is securely in place.
- Prune the plants. Prune each plant back hard, by as much as half, to encourage it to become bushy. This may seem brutal, but it will give you a thicker hedge.
- Water and mulch. Water the plants in well and then add a layer of garden compost or well-rotted manure as a protective mulch. This will help to retain moisture at the roots and suppress weeds.
Tips for Planting a Wildlife Hedge
- Plant bare-roots on the day they arrive, so they don’t dry out.
- Insert whips at the correct depth, so the dark part of the stem is below soil level. Firm plants in with your heel to prevent air pockets around the roots.
- Mulch the ground around the plants with a thick layer of organic matter to help prevent the roots drying out.
- Water regularly, especially during dry weather, as newly planted shrubs are vulnerable to dessication.
- Remove weeds that develop around the base of your hedge, as these compete with the shrubs for water and nutrients, slowing establishment.
Underplanting a Wildlife Hedge
Underplanting your hedge with wildflowers will increase the biodiversity of your garden and provide additional food and shelter for wildlife. Many plants tolerate the dry, shady conditions under a hedge, so choose a mix to extend the season. Some good choices include:
- Common polypody
- Cowslips
- English bluebells
- Hedge woundwort
- Sweet violets
- Foxgloves
- Daffodils
- Yarrow
- Honeysuckle
- Ivy