The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Gardens => Topic started by: valr on April 30, 2010, 11:35:19 am

Title: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: valr on April 30, 2010, 11:35:19 am
Hi
I am on a corner plot on an estate that does not allow fences around the front garden.  :-[

It doesnt allow chickens either  :chook:, but that hasnt stopped me! ;D (Chooks are out back surrounded by a 6 foot wall and fence and the neighbours don't mind.)

I have a big chunk of land out the front that I cant use because it is not fenced off and there is no hedge. People often walk their dogs past and let them poo on my grass! >:(

I know that if I put up a fence I will be made to take it down. (Two other neighbours have tried it) Hedges are ok though.

SO my question is what to use? I am going to need about 70 metres of hedging and I can't spend much on it. So what would be best and not too expensive and quite fast growing?

Thanks for any advice.
Val
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: Wizard on April 30, 2010, 12:34:16 pm
Hawthorn is quite quick growing and not all that nice to mess around with when its established and its very pretty just now covered in May blossom and it will provide a lot of birds a dinner later when the haws are fit :farmer:
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: Touchwood on April 30, 2010, 01:26:04 pm
I'd agree with wizard, hawthorn is great. We've also planted blackthorn, (also prickly and with the possibility of some sloe gin in a few years time ;)) as well as hazel. Rather than buying individual plants we we bought bundles of bare rooted ones (about 3ft) which worked out quite cheap, but I think it may be a bit late now this year to get them.  We also bought some evergreens, ie; holly, pyracantha etc, which the birds love.
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: HappyHippy on April 30, 2010, 01:54:29 pm
Willow is another super fast grower and you can 'lay' it so you get an attractive sort of hurdle effect when it's without it's leaves. Once you get it to the height and density you want it's just a case of chopping off all the extra bits (and you can sell/give them away as cuttings)
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: Wizard on April 30, 2010, 03:33:40 pm
Hello HH did you know that a machine comes in the field somewhat like a automatic cabbage planter and sets 9" pieces of willow and it is later harvested as biomass when its 8 to 9ft tall for the Drax power station project around here.I haven't found the crawler cutting it yet To video it working.
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: valr on April 30, 2010, 05:22:29 pm
Thanks for the replies. So Touchwood is yours a mixed hedge? I think that can look lovely.

And how do you "lay" willow??

Do I ahve to wait until autum now to plant bare rooted hedging??

Ta
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: doganjo on April 30, 2010, 05:26:25 pm
Val, you could start with some plants from your locla supermarket - they all have plants in stock just now.  Lay the main ones out now to show people your borderline, they'll be in pots, so you can leave them or plant them out, then get bare root ones in autumn to fill in the gaps.  You can put willow in almost any time, but just watch it doesn't have access to a drain pipe or water course - it LOOKS for water!  It grows very fast - ask HappyHippy (Karen) about growth and layering.
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: Touchwood on May 01, 2010, 08:44:18 am
Val, yes it's a bit of all sorts, I'm trying to do something that blends in with the hedgerows rather than the leylandii hedge we inherited and have something that's good for the wildlife. We're lucky in as much as we already had quite a lot of self sow hawthorn around as well as willow so we were just able to move them, but as doganjo suggested we got our evergreens from the supermarket -Aldi -
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: HappyHippy on May 01, 2010, 10:10:01 am
Here's a link to a hedge laying article
http://www.hobbyfarming.co.uk/hedgelaying.html (http://www.hobbyfarming.co.uk/hedgelaying.html)
For bare rooted stuff you'll need to wait til winter, but it's possible to get pot grown or cell grown saplings that can be planted anytime. Cheviot trees are good http://www.cheviot-trees.co.uk/ (http://www.cheviot-trees.co.uk/) as are Alba trees http://www.albatrees.co.uk/ (http://www.albatrees.co.uk/) I'm not sure if you could plant willow cuttings now - but I'll check with my resident tree expert  ;) and let you know.
Hope that helps
Karen x
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: ballingall on May 01, 2010, 10:25:54 am
I'm looking forward to my willow- I only planted it about 6 weeks ago, and its already coming into leaf and starting to grow. Hopefully it will really help my hedge along. I could really do with a supply of good branches in the garden for the goats.

Beth
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: Wizard on May 01, 2010, 12:35:55 pm
How far are you away from Limber.There is a hedge laying competition later on if you are interested I will post the event for you
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: doganjo on May 01, 2010, 12:46:10 pm
Here's a good offer from the Woodland Trust - 90 saplings for £60 - http://www.native-tree-shop.com/hedging/hedge-in-a-box-multipack
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: valr on May 01, 2010, 01:23:36 pm
Thanks Karen. Would willow be ok in a very exposed windy spot?

Wizard I am in central Scotland and I am afraid I don't know where Limber is?

Anne that sounds like a bargain! Thanks for the link. I am not sure what "field maple" is though ..... any relation to acers which can't survive where I am? They get all burned with the wind. Am I right in thinking that multipack could be planted anytime as it is saplings? I think I would need 4 packs.

Next problem - how do you plant a hedge??  ??? ??? ;D

I am just off to the dump in Alloa to get some of their free compost - it's good stuff! Have you tried it Anne?
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: doganjo on May 01, 2010, 01:59:54 pm
Quote
Next problem - how do you plant a hedge??  Huh? Huh?  -
If it's grass just put a spade in, lever it forward enough to get the plant in, put it in and take the spade out!
Quote
I am just off to the dump in Alloa to get some of their free compost - it's good stuff! Have you tried it Anne?
  Yup, great stuff, got some sitting waiting to be used!
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: Wizard on May 01, 2010, 02:56:56 pm
The machine that plants biomass willow lays a 9" stick on the ground at right angles to the row in the right place and a press wheel runs over it forcing about 3"of it into the prepared ground and leaving it more or less upright It plants the sticks at walking speed.Just dig the ground over where you want the hedge to grow and push the sticks into the soil by hand.I don't know if you should slope them ! The machine planted ones grow upright although they were planted with a slope to them.I really cannot see the point in using willow for hedging everything but every thing in your world will eat it particularly sheep and goats.Much better to use Hawthorne and/or Blackthorn.Mind it will take a year or two if you want to plash it. ??? :D :farmer:P/s I know all about wattle panels ;D
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: HappyHippy on May 01, 2010, 04:22:47 pm
Hi Valr,
Yup it should be fine, as long as your soil's not too dry. We're 1000 ft above sea level here and right in the middle of windfarm country  ;) so if it grows here - it'll grow anywhere !
I'm still waiting for my Dad to get back to me as to whether it'll grow now from cuttings taken (he's a bit of a tree hugger) where in central Scotland are you ? I'm near Lanark and happy to give you some willow cuttings - providing they'll take now.
As for planting - take up the grass round where you want to plant and if it's willow just stick them in the ground - it's as easy as that !
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: doganjo on May 01, 2010, 05:19:01 pm
As for planting - take up the grass round where you want to plant and if it's willow just stick them in the ground - it's as easy as that !
Val's near Falkirk, Karen.  I didn't bother taking teh grass up - just stuck them in.  I don't think I've lost any of the millions of little pencils you gave me!  Brilliant!  In fact 'Pure dead brilliant!'
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: valr on May 01, 2010, 08:14:34 pm
 ;D ;D  Wizard, my neighbours would go MENTAL if I had sheep or goats in my front garden (although there is undoubtedly room for one or  two!)

Yes Karen I would love to take you up on your offer - I'd like a mixed hedge I think and some willow in about it would be fab.

Thanks for the advice on how to plant - will need to prevail upon hubby to give me a hand. (Despite being brought up in the country and working on farms in his student days he is very loathe to get his hands dirty in the garden!)

Anne I got loads of sacks of compost and also went skip diving - got a rattan chair and a chest of drawers for my pal Helen. Roy (by brother in law who is working for you just now) was utterly MORTIFIED!   :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: doganjo on May 01, 2010, 10:06:42 pm
Quote
went skip diving - got a rattan chair and a chest of drawers for my pal Helen. Roy (by brother in law who is working for you just now) was utterly MORTIFIED!

Ha ha, I'll just bet he was!  Very straight laced is our Roy!  And FAR too soft about quotes and paying - not me, I paid him on the spot - in cash, but don't tell the tax man.  But knowing him he'll declare it anyway!  I'm amazed at what people throw away.  My pal Sandy is always getting stuff at the tip.  If we hadn't had a full car load of compost last tiem i'm sure she'd have squeezed some stuff in.  Waste not, Want not is what I say.
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: valr on May 01, 2010, 10:11:41 pm
Yes - keeps it out of landfill!
I hear my nephew Chris is doing some painting for you! Keeping it in the family  ;D
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: doganjo on May 01, 2010, 10:31:51 pm
Yup, painting the outside eaves and soffits white to match my new uPVC doors and windows.  Don't know when yet.  Lovely lad.  May have a job contact for him too if he wants it.  Need kitchen done too, but got a shock at how much it was so that may have to wait.
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: valr on May 01, 2010, 10:52:49 pm


Yes he's a lovely big lad. He is very into dogs so will love yours I'm sure! He has a spoiled boy called Reo.
I'm sure he would be keen on the contact you mention as he is out of work at the moment.
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: HappyHippy on May 01, 2010, 11:18:01 pm
Hi Valr, Have checked with tree hugger and willow is the martini of all trees - will root anytime, any place, anywhere  ;)
Recommended spacing for a hedge is about 12 inches between trees for a nice dense effect - how many do you want ? We've got plenty  ;D ;D ;D
If you're coming to the meet at the Guardbridge hotel on 18th May I can bring them with me or post them up to you, unless you'll be in the Lanark area anytime soon ?
Just let me know what suits you best.
Karen x
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: valr on May 03, 2010, 10:36:00 am
Will let you know Karen - depends when we can afford to buy the mixed hedging! Cheers
and thanks again for your kind offer
Val
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: egglady on May 03, 2010, 12:02:43 pm
Hi Valr, Have checked with tree hugger and willow is the martini of all trees - will root anytime, any place, anywhere  ;)
Recommended spacing for a hedge is about 12 inches between trees for a nice dense effect - how many do you want ? We've got plenty  ;D ;D ;D
If you're coming to the meet at the Guardbridge hotel on 18th May I can bring them with me or post them up to you, unless you'll be in the Lanark area anytime soon ?
Just let me know what suits you best.
Karen x

Karen please don't think me cheeky (well only a wee bit!), but I'm coming on the 18th and would love to start a willow hedge too - any chance of some willow from you please? 
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: HappyHippy on May 03, 2010, 04:41:39 pm
Hi Egglady,
I don't think it cheeky of you at all - if you don't ask, you don't get  ;)
How many would you like ? (Allow 1 cutting for every 12 inches of hedge) Just let me know and I'll bring them with me to the meet.
Karen x
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: doganjo on May 03, 2010, 05:28:05 pm
If Val wants some and can't come to the meet, I can take them for her and give them to her sister whho lives about 5 minutes walk from me.
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: valr on May 03, 2010, 08:30:14 pm
That would be great Anne as I won't make it to the meet. I can come and pick them up from you though! (My sister would nick them :D :D)
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: doganjo on May 03, 2010, 11:07:15 pm
That would be great Anne as I won't make it to the meet. I can come and pick them up from you though! (My sister would nick them :D :D)
Never?  Not our Janice!
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: HappyHippy on May 04, 2010, 08:22:48 am
LOL ! No fighting between you and your sister please (I'll happily get some for her too, there's no shortage  ;)) Let me know how much you both need and I'll give them to Annie to save you having to come down, unless you want to come and see my Kunekunes................................... but I wouldn't want to be responsible for putting ideas into your head  ;) ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: valr on May 04, 2010, 09:13:19 am
What's a Kunekune?? ??? ???  Whatever it is (unless it's a reptile) I am sure I would love it!
I'll let you know how many soon - need to do some sums!
Cheers
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: valr on May 04, 2010, 09:14:54 am
Just googled kunekune!  :o :o :o :o
Toooooooooooooooooo cute! I want six!
 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: doganjo on May 04, 2010, 09:42:52 am
Yes, Val, I loved them too when I first saw them and they are sooo friendly.  I was told they don't dig up the ground so much as other breeds, Karen, is that true?  My (vegetarian) pal and I nearly bought some - she was a wannabee entrepreneur and acquisittee, and organic to boot, I had teh land - but I moved here instead!
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: bamford6 on May 04, 2010, 10:28:05 am
Willow .iv got 300 yards off this 18 foot high looks good in the spring and in september layer and thred it to make it look better .after the first yere put stakes in it
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: dixie on May 04, 2010, 11:34:44 am
I'd go for a hawthorn hedge, get the bare root plants in the autumn, its a very chepa way to plant a good hedge, just means you have to wait til then though!
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: HappyHippy on May 04, 2010, 02:19:25 pm
Ah but Dixie, my willow's free - don't get much cheaper than that  ;D ;D ;D

Annie, they don't dig AS MUCH as other pigs - but they do still dig  :o

Valr, I'll hopefully have piglets for sale towards the end of the summer (if you're interested  ;)) But you're more than welcome just to come and visit for a cuddle and a scratch (with the pigs - obviously  ;D)
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: dixie on May 04, 2010, 02:25:22 pm
I've never seen a willow hedge, we have planted willow branches and grown trees but never tried a hedge!
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: HappyHippy on May 04, 2010, 02:33:55 pm
It's just a case of either 'laying' the willow as it grows (like weaving it into a hurdle effect) or cutting it all back once you've got the height/bushieness you want. We've got a hawthorn 'hedge' that's not been cut for years and has turned into a row of trees (though it's getting chopped and replaced with something lower soon)
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: Wizard on May 04, 2010, 06:48:48 pm
Have you a wood burner HH Dry Hawthorne is one of the best woods to burn if it is seasoned :D ;D :farmer:
Title: Re: fast growing cheap hedging?
Post by: valr on May 04, 2010, 08:53:33 pm
Karen I like the sound of giving one of those piglets a squeeze!

I have never seen woven willow hurdles in Scotland - can anyone post a link to what it looks like or how to do it? I can't quite imagine .... and how thick is it? Will maybe have a wee google myself.