Author Topic: Advice on filling gappy hedge (Read 12287 times)

Badger · « **on:** June 16, 2011, 10:05:44 pm »

Hello, I wonder if anybody could give advice on filling the gaps in a hawthorn hedge. There is plenty of cover from about 4ft off the ground upwards (the hedge is aprox 7ft high ). However from the ground up to the 4ft in height is pretty empty and see through.What could we grow in the hedge to give it cover down to the ground ?. We are trying to make it secure to keep our chickens within our boundaries.

Badger

Sandy · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2011, 10:20:37 pm »

There is a lot of skill in proper hedge cutting, I know but cannot do it myself, our little hedge has a few holes. You could plant some in fill bits of hedge and that will help. Some one on here will have some good ideas but I suspect it needs cutting and layering to encourage new growth as well!!!!

Beewyched · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2011, 10:45:27 pm »

Agree with Sandy - though you could try some hedging roses (nasty thorny little blighters) if you trim-off the top growth they bush-up nicely. Willow will grow quite quickly too & can be encouraged to bush-out as well & is also flexible for laying.

Fleecewife · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2011, 11:09:00 pm »

It sounds ideal for laying, as long as the trunks are thick enough. You can use a saw rather than a billhook to make the cuts in a more controlled way. We did a 50' stretch of our hedge a couple of years ago (much to our neighbour's shock as he thought we were chopping it down) That bit is now very bushy from the ground upwards but did look like a massacre for the first few months

Even then the hedge is not totally hen proof and a fox could push through, although it keeps the sheep in. I can't think of anything you could plant there which totally stops hens - we have a stretch of the thorny roses and the hens spend hours scratching around in there, impervious to the prickles

It could be that you need to both lay the hedge and incorporate a chicken wire stretch within it.

suziequeue · « **Reply #4 on:** June 17, 2011, 03:46:36 pm »

I agree with Fleecewife. Sounds like it needs to be be relaid. I personally wouldn't just rely on a hedge to keep the chickens in as most dogs/foxes will just push through a gap.

Badger · « **Reply #5 on:** June 20, 2011, 09:30:31 pm »

I quite like the idea of hedging roses, are these a special rose for hedging ?. Will willow be manageble in a hedge ?. What about ivy...would that be any use ?.