🌿 Suitable For: Privacy screens, garden boundaries, windbreaks, wildlife habitats
🌿 Common Uses: Formal hedges, informal screens, architectural backdrops
🌿 Hardiness: Fully hardy in the UK

Introduction to Popular UK Hedging Plants

Hedging plants provide the backbone of many British gardens, offering structure, privacy, and year-round interest. Some of the most reliable and versatile species include:

• 🌿 Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) – evergreen, aromatic foliage, slow-growing

• 🌿 Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) – fast-growing, large glossy leaves

• 🌿 Eleagnus – wind-tolerant with silver-green foliage

• 🌿 Leylandii – fast-growing conifer, excellent for tall privacy hedges

• 🌿 Photinia 'Red Robin' – evergreen with striking red new growth

• 🌿 Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) – dense, refined growth with dark green foliage

• 🌿 English Yew (Taxus baccata) – traditional, formal hedge with longevity

All of these varieties are available from our Hedging Collection and are suitable for different heights, styles, and garden conditions.

Best Growing Conditions

Light Requirements

☀️ Most hedging plants grow well in full sun to partial shade
☀️ Yew, Portuguese Laurel, and Eleagnus tolerate shadier conditions
☀️ Photinia and Bay prefer more light for colour and compact growth

Soil Requirements

🌱 Most prefer well-drained, fertile soil
🌱 Yew and Portuguese Laurel tolerate chalk and clay
🌱 Avoid waterlogged ground – improve with compost or grit where needed

📌 Tip: Add mulch annually to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

Planting Your Hedge

1️⃣ Space plants according to species and desired hedge type (formal/informal)
2️⃣ Dig a trench or individual holes twice the width of the rootball
3️⃣ Backfill with compost-enriched soil and water well
4️⃣ Mulch around the base to conserve moisture

📌 Use string lines and measuring sticks for even spacing and straight planting.

Watering & Feeding

Watering Tips

💧 Keep newly planted hedges well-watered for the first 1–2 years
💧 Mature hedges are drought-tolerant but benefit from watering during hot spells
💧 Use a seep hose for longer stretches

Feeding Tips

🌿 Feed in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertiliser
🌿 Mulch with compost or bark annually to enrich the soil

Pruning & Maintenance

✂️ Most hedges benefit from light trimming once or twice a year
✂️ Fast growers like Leylandii may need more frequent cuts
✂️ Bay and Yew can be clipped for formal shapes
✂️ Prune Cherry Laurel and Photinia after flowering or flush

📌 Always prune with clean, sharp tools to avoid disease.

Winter Care

❄️ All listed species are hardy, though newly planted hedges may benefit from windbreak protection
❄️ Apply mulch in autumn to protect roots from freezing and conserve moisture
❄️ Avoid trimming in frost-prone periods

FAQs About Hedging Plants

1. How far apart should I plant hedging plants?

Spacing varies: 30–60cm for Laurels and Photinia, 45–90cm for Yew, and 60–100cm for Leylandii.

2. How fast do these hedging plants grow?

Leylandii and Cherry Laurel are very fast (up to 1m/year), while Yew and Bay are slow to moderate.

3. Can I trim these hedges into formal shapes?

Yes – Bay, Portuguese Laurel, and Yew are excellent for formal, topiary-style shapes.

4. What hedge is best for privacy?

Leylandii, Cherry Laurel, and Photinia provide fast-growing, dense screening.

5. Are they safe for pets and children?

Some, like Yew, are toxic if ingested – plant with caution where pets or young children are present.

6. Do they grow well in containers?

Bay, Portuguese Laurel, and Yew can thrive in large containers with regular watering and feeding.

7. Do they attract wildlife?

Yes – especially Yew, Cherry Laurel, and Photinia, which offer cover and berries.

8. When is the best time to plant a hedge?

Autumn or early spring when soil is warm and moist, but not frozen.

9. Do they require a lot of maintenance?

Most are low-maintenance with annual or twice-yearly pruning.

10. Where can I buy these hedging plants?

Explore our full range online at Web Garden Centre: Shop Hedging Collection