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Flowering rose arch and clipped garden hedges

Garden hedges: planting and care advice

Read the hedge planting guide

Choose, plant and care for your hedge

Plan your boundary, compare hedge plants and find advice on planting, watering and pruning. Start with the guide to choosing a garden hedge, or find the task you are working on in the hedging resource library.

Clipped garden hedge beside a path and water

Planting

How to plant a hedge

Prepare the planting strip, set each hedge plant at the correct depth and water the roots thoroughly. Follow the steps for bare root, rootball and pot-grown hedging, including spacing and early aftercare.

Gardener measuring plants in a planted wall

Planting

Hedge spacing: how many plants per metre

Work out how many hedge plants you need for each metre of boundary. Compare planting distances for laurel, beech, Leylandii and other hedging, with advice on single and staggered double rows.

Clipped evergreen conifer hedge behind a stone garden bench

Choosing hedges

Conifer trees for hedging: Leylandii, yew and golden choices compared

Compare conifer trees for hedging, from fast Leylandii to neat English yew. Find the right hedging conifers for your boundary, with practical planting and trimming advice.

Garden path between colourful borders and clipped hedges

Choosing hedges

Best hedge plants: how to choose the right one for your garden

Find the best hedge plants for your garden by comparing evergreen and deciduous options, growth rates, soil needs and maintenance requirements.

Evergreen garden hedge providing a backdrop to a garden bench

Choosing hedges

The best hedges for privacy: a practical guide to screening your garden

Choose a privacy hedge that matches your garden's conditions, height needs and maintenance time. Compare evergreen and deciduous options for year-round screening.

Neatly clipped garden hedges beside a gate

Care and pruning

When to cut hedges: the hedge cutting season

Plan hedge cutting around species, growth and nesting birds. A month-by-month guide covers legal rules, best timing and safe techniques for common garden hedges.

Supplier stock photograph of cherry laurel 80-100cm

Care and pruning

Is laurel poisonous? A practical guide for gardeners and pet owners

Laurel hedging is popular, but all parts of cherry and Portuguese laurel contain toxins. Learn which parts are harmful, the risks to dogs, children and livestock, and how to handle clippings safely.

Supplier stock photograph of green beech 90-120cm

Care and pruning

When to trim a beech hedge: when to cut for a tidy hedge and winter leaf cover

Trim a beech hedge in late August for a single annual cut, or in early June and again in late August for a formal finish. Hard pruning is best done in late winter.

Supplier stock photograph of green leylandii 90-120cm

Care and pruning

When to trim Leylandii and how to keep it healthy year round

Trim Leylandii two to three times a year between April and early September. Never cut into old brown wood or it will not regrow. Read our full care guide.

Supplier stock photograph of 6 mixed dwarf rhododendrons

Care and pruning

Rhododendron care: expert tips for healthy, blooming plants

Practical rhododendron care advice covering planting, flowering times, pruning, deadheading and growing in pots. Get the best from your acid-loving shrubs with our straightforward guide.

Supplier stock photograph of 6 wilma goldcrest

Shrubs and borders

Small Evergreen Shrubs for Pots: Year-Round Colour and Structure

Choose small evergreen shrubs for sunny patios, sheltered entrances and partly shaded corners. Compare dwarf conifers, hebes, euonymus and acid-loving shrubs, with practical advice on compost, watering and winter protection.

Supplier stock photograph of english yew 60-80cm

Choosing hedges

The best alternative to box hedge for a lasting formal garden edge

Box blight and box caterpillar are driving gardeners to find reliable replacements. We compare yew, holly, euonymus and hebe so you can choose the right alternative to box hedging for your space.

Evergreen garden hedges framing a garden gate

Choosing hedges

Types of laurel plants: cherry and Portuguese laurel compared

Compare the two main types of laurel plants grown as hedging. Understand leaf size, growth rate, spacing and care before you choose cherry or Portuguese laurel.

Gardener inspecting flowering plants in a garden

Care and pruning

Looking after a newly planted hedge

Give your planted hedge the right aftercare in its first two growing seasons. Covers watering, feeding, weed control and early pruning.

Gardener measuring plants beside a garden planting

Planting

What to do when bare root hedging arrives: a step-by-step guide

Unpack promptly, check the roots and keep them moist. Get bare root hedging into the ground as soon as you can, ideally within a few days of delivery.

Dense green garden hedges surrounding a garden gate

Choosing hedges

The best evergreen hedges for UK gardens

Compare the best evergreen hedges for year-round privacy and colour, from fast-growing laurel to classic yew, with planting and care advice.

Garden path bordered by an established clipped hedge

Planting

Bare root hedging: a practical guide to root types and planting seasons

Bare root hedging plants are lifted from the field with little soil on the roots and planted during the dormant season. Compare rootball and potted options for your hedge.

Supplier stock photograph of cherry laurel 80-100cm

Care and pruning

When to prune laurel hedge: month by month timing and expert technique

Prune cherry and Portuguese laurel hedges in late spring or early summer after the first growth flush, with a lighter trim in late summer if needed. Avoid autumn cuts that expose soft shoots to frost damage.

Supplier stock photograph of cherry laurel 80-100cm

Care and pruning

How tall does laurel grow and how fast can you expect results?

Cherry laurel grows 30 to 60cm a year, reaching 5 to 8 metres tall if left unpruned. Portuguese laurel is slightly slower. Learn about growth rates, sensible hedge heights and how to speed up establishment.

Supplier stock photograph of english yew 60-80cm

Garden law and boundaries

What is the law on boundary hedges: a clear guide for UK gardeners

Understand hedge law clearly. This guide covers boundary ownership, the high hedges complaints system, what your neighbour can cut, nesting bird rules and farm hedgerow regulations, with practical planting advice.

Supplier collection photograph of mixed azaleas in nursery pots

Care and pruning

Ericaceous Compost and Acid Loving Plants: A Practical Guide

Ericaceous compost is a specialist growing medium for acid loving plants. Learn which shrubs need it, how to test soil pH, and simple ways to keep lime-hating plants healthy in pots and borders.

Supplier stock photograph of pieris forest flame

Choosing hedges

Pieris japonica planting and care: a practical guide for UK gardeners

Pieris japonica planting is straightforward with the right site and soil. Learn where to position Forest Flame and Mountain Fire, how to use ericaceous compost, and how to handle frost damage and pruning.

Supplier stock photograph of 4 lavender bandera purple

Choosing hedges

How to plant and grow a lavender hedge

A lavender hedge gives a low, fragrant edge to paths and borders. Learn which lavender to choose, spacing, planting, pruning and winter care for a neat, long-lasting display.

Supplier stock photograph of common hawthorn

Choosing hedges

Plants for a Hedgerow: The Best Species and How to Plant Them for a Lasting Boundary

Choose the right plants for a hedgerow to create a wildlife-rich boundary. Discover the best species mixes, planting advice, spacing and care for a thriving native hedge.