Cheap Leylandii Hedging, Grade B Bare Root Plants

What is cheap Leylandii hedging, grade B?

Green Leylandii grows quickly and is widely used for tall evergreen boundary hedges. Grade B bare root plants have the same vigorous growth habit as standard × Cuprocyparis leylandii, but are sold at a lower grade because their shape or foliage density is less uniform. Some have uneven branches, an irregular outline or noticeably thinner growth around the base. These differences affect their appearance when planted, rather than indicating poor plant health.

For a long boundary where the plants will have time to grow together, grade B Leylandii can help keep planting costs down. Prepare the soil well, water during dry spells and trim the sides regularly to encourage branching. The thinner areas can gradually fill with new green growth, although the time this takes depends on growing conditions and how evenly the plants establish.

Why choose grade B Leylandii for a cheap, fast-growing hedge?

Grade B Leylandii bare roots are particularly useful for longer hedges where the cost of each plant adds up. Once established, Leylandii can produce 60 to 90cm of new growth in a year under favourable conditions. Its evergreen branches provide screening throughout the seasons. Grade B plants are less uniform when supplied, so the young hedge may initially have an uneven outline and patches of thinner foliage.

Early shaping helps the young hedge develop evenly. Lightly trim the sides during the first growing season once the plants are established enough to produce fresh growth, encouraging shoots to branch lower down. Leave the main leading stem to grow until the hedge approaches your intended height. With regular side trimming, thinner areas can become less noticeable over two to three growing seasons, though results depend on the plants and their growing conditions.

Eventual height, spread and growth rate

Green Leylandii is a vigorous conifer that can reach an eventual height of over 20 metres if left unpruned, but as a managed hedge it is normally kept between 2 and 5 metres tall. The spread of a single plant can exceed 5 metres, though a trimmed hedge is usually maintained at 1 to 1.5 metres wide. Growth may slow in poor soil or dry shade. Once established, Leylandii can produce 60 to 90cm of new growth annually in favourable conditions, although individual plants will vary.

Using cheap Leylandii hedging in your garden

Leylandii is best suited to medium and larger gardens where you need a tall screen fairly quickly and can commit to trimming it two or three times a year. Its dense evergreen foliage can provide shelter from wind, soften some background noise and screen overlooking windows or neighbouring gardens. Because it casts dense shade and draws moisture from the soil, avoid planting it right next to flower borders or vegetable beds unless you are prepared to manage the competition.

Leylandii needs space for its roots and regular access for clipping, so think carefully before planting it beside a narrow path or in a confined corner. A slower-growing hedge may be easier to manage where space is limited. For a lighter foliage colour, Castlewellan Gold (golden Leylandii) has yellow-green growth and can also be maintained as an evergreen boundary hedge.

Choosing grade B bare root Leylandii

Grade B Green Leylandii is available in the 80-100cm bare root size. These plants are suitable for establishing a new evergreen hedge without the higher initial cost of larger potted stock. Bare root plants are normally lifted and supplied during the dormant season, roughly November to March, and should be planted promptly once received.

At 80-100cm tall, these plants already have some height, although their branching may be uneven. Allow space for the roots to establish and for the sides to develop as the plants grow together. For a longer boundary, calculate the number needed from your chosen spacing before ordering.

When and how to plant bare root Leylandii

Plant bare root Leylandii during the dormant season, from November to March, while the plants are not in active growth. Choose a day when the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. Before the plants arrive, clear the planting strip of weeds and grass and dig over the soil, mixing in some well-rotted organic matter if the ground is heavy or sandy.

On planting day, keep the roots wrapped and protected from wind and sun. Soak the roots in a bucket of water for an hour or two before setting them out. Dig a trench wide enough to spread the roots comfortably and set each plant at the same depth it was growing in the nursery, shown by the soil mark on the stem. Firm the soil gently, water thoroughly and mulch with bark or compost to hold moisture.

Spacing and how many plants you need

For a dense Leylandii hedge, space plants 45 to 60cm apart in a single row. If you want a thicker screen more quickly, plant a staggered double row with 60 to 75cm between plants and 45cm between the rows. The table below gives the number of plants needed for common hedge lengths at 50cm spacing.

Plants set further apart need longer to join up, while closer planting uses more plants along the same boundary. Spacing grade B Leylandii at around 50cm gives the side branches room to develop while keeping the young plants close enough to grow together. Keep the row straight and allow enough width for future trimming.

Watering and feeding

Newly planted bare root Leylandii need consistent moisture during their first growing season. Water deeply once or twice a week in dry weather rather than giving a light daily sprinkle. Keep the root zone moist but not soggy, as waterlogged soil can cause root rot. A mulch layer helps reduce evaporation and keeps weeds down.

Feed in early spring with a general-purpose granular fertiliser or a conifer feed, following the packet instructions. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds late in the season, which can produce soft growth vulnerable to frost. Established hedges benefit from an annual mulch of well-rotted compost or manure spread along the root zone.

Trimming calendar

Trim Leylandii between April and late August, staying within the green foliage. Never cut back into old brown wood, as it rarely regrows. Aim to trim two or three times a year, taking off a few centimetres of new growth each time to build density. The first trim can be in late spring once the risk of hard frost has passed, with a second cut in midsummer and a final light trim in late August.

Check for nesting birds before every cut: it is an offence to disturb active nests. Keep the hedge slightly wider at the base than the top so that light reaches the lower branches, helping grade B plants to fill out evenly from the ground up.