Many garden owners dream of a beautiful, he althy and dense hedge. The cheapest way to plant such a hedge is to use plants from the so-called open root, i.e. dug from the ground. These seedlings are much cheaper than plants sold in pots. We advisehow to plant a hedge of plants with an exposed rootand take care of it in the first period of cultivation.
The cheapest way to set up your dream hedge is to buy open-root cuttings
Hedge types
Before you start planting plants, you should determine what type of hedge you are interested in.
In terms of height and function, there are three types of hedges:
Border hedge- it grows up to 30 cm and is often used as a decorative motif, e.g. as a border for a bed (we plant about 6-7 plants / running meter).Low hedge- grows from 30 to 150 cm and is used as a border for large garden plots (we plant about 3-4 plants / running meter).
High hedge- grows up to 150-250 cm and is used for fencing, covering and separating fragments or parts of the garden (we plant about 1-2 plants / running meter).
Depending on the expected height and function, you can choose seasonal deciduous, evergreen or coniferous plants as a hedge. Common boxwood is the most commonly used for low fringed hedges, as it tolerates pruning and shaping very well.For slightly higher plantings, different varieties of ligusters and barberries can be used. You can plant, among others, on tall leafy hedges. - hornbeam, European beech, or double-necked and single-necked hawthorn. If you want the hedge to be also a source of fruit, you can plant a plum alicha, blackthorn or wild rose. Coniferous hedges are usually planted with Western thuja - thuja Brabant and thuja Emerald, yew, Norway spruce or Serbian spruce. Of course, only some hedge plants are listed here, such as those most often available with the open root.
When ordering plants online, choose plants whose roots are secured with a bale. This will protect them from damage and drying out during transport. On the photo. Tuje in the Sadowniczy.pl store
Preparation of the ground for the hedge
The basic procedure is to properly prepare a larger area of land for planted plants, and not only the place where we will plant the plant.The soil should be loosened to a depth of approx. 50 cm. During this treatment, however, remember not to cover the layer of fertile soil, which is up to 30 cm deep, with the bottom layer. If the substrate requires it, you can use a multi-component fertilizer at a dose of approx. 30-40 g per m².
On such a prepared substrate, we dig a hole for the plant. It should be twice the size of the root ball. If you are planning a molded hedge, it will be easier for us to get an even wall by digging one long groove along the fence or a line stretched along the planting site may help. When planting plants, keep a distance of about 60 cm from the fence. This will make it easier for us to care for the hedge in the future.
Cutting roots and planting hedges
The next step is to trim the roots of deciduous plant cuttings (e.g. privet, barberry, boxwood). We cut 1/3 of the root system. Put the plants in, remembering that the roots should be directed downwards when covered with soil.You have to be careful that they do not roll up or are wrapped.
If the hedge will be planted from conifers (e.g. Western Thuja), you must remember not to remove the bale in which it is located. Bales are packages that protect the root system against drying out and damage. When planting, make sure that the plant is not deeper in the ground than it has been growing so far. This place can be recognized by a different shade of the root collar. Finally, fill the spaces between the roots with soil and carefully tread it.
In order for the plants to be planted evenly, it is worth planting them along a taut string
Cutting shoots after planting
After planting, trim the shoots of the plant. If we plant a hedge in spring, shorten the shoots immediately after planting. In the case of autumn planting, pruning is carried out the next spring. In this way, we align the sizes of the shoots so that they are fairly equal in all plants.Usually we shorten the plant by 1/3 or half. Pruning has a significant effect on improving the growth of the seedling. If our plants are poorly branched, we need to cut them low, it is extremely important that in the future the hedge is well compacted from the very bottom. Then we make a forming cut, we trim the plants to a height of about 15 cm. In the second year after planting, we make a cut at a height of about 25 cm. The following year, we prune 1/3 of the plant, and in the following seasons we cut 1/3 of the new growths. All this is for the proper development of plants. After such treatment, the plants take root faster and are denser.
At the very end, water the planted plants abundantly. You can also use mulch material, e.g. composted pine bark. It will prevent excessive drying of the substrate and limit the growth of weeds.
We should also remember about a very important thing, namely to use a sharp secateurs when cutting roots and shoots. Thanks to this, we will not injure the plants.If the plant is damaged, the wound should be treated with an antifungal preparation for scarring the wounds. They are available in virtually every garden center.
Post planting care
After planting, we start to regularly care for the hedge. Plants compete with each other for nutrients due to their close proximity, and pruning causes them to lose some of them as well. That is why it is important to regularly provide them with the necessary micro and macro elements. For a better effect, soil feeding can be combined with foliar feeding.
We should also remember that the choice of plant material is very important. If we are not able to assess the condition of the plant ourselves, it is worth using the help of a specialist (gardener) or buying the material yourself in a plant nursery or a specialized garden center. There, the material is usually of high quality, because it is taken care of by people with appropriate knowledge.
MSc Eng. Katarzyna Bańcerowska
