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

What to do when bare root hedging arrives

When your bare root hedging arrives, unpack the bundle immediately and check the roots are damp. Bare root plants are dormant, lifted from the field without soil around their roots, so they must not dry out. Keep the roots covered and moist, store them in a cool, frost-free place, and aim to plant within a few days. If planting must wait longer, heel the plants into a temporary trench of loose soil or damp sand. Avoid leaving bare root hedging in a heated room or warm packaging, where exposed roots can lose moisture rapidly and suffer damage before planting.

The bare root hedging season runs roughly from November to March, when plants are dormant and the soil is workable. Planting while growth is dormant gives the roots an opportunity to settle before leaves and new shoots develop in spring. Because bare root plants travel without pots or surrounding soil, they are generally lighter to handle and economical for longer hedges. Their exposed roots need protection from drying winds, direct sun and warmth from the moment the packaging is opened.

A dormant bare root hedge may arrive as a bundle of leafless stems with exposed, branching roots. This appearance is normal for deciduous plants such as hawthorn, beech and privet. Evergreen species such as yew and Leylandii should retain their foliage, so check the expected condition of your chosen plant rather than judging every species by the same standard. Do not be tempted to stand the roots in a bucket of water for days; a short soak of an hour or two before planting is helpful, but prolonged immersion starves the roots of oxygen. Instead, focus on getting the ground ready so planting can happen without delay.

Unpack and inspect your bare root plants

Open the outer packaging outdoors or in a cool shed. Remove any protective wrapping carefully, taking care not to tear fine roots. Packaging materials can vary, so check that the root system has remained moist during transit and cover it again while you prepare to plant. Check the plant labels against your order and count the bundles. The stems should be firm and pliable, not brittle, and the roots should feel cool and slightly moist. A few broken twigs are normal and will not affect establishment.

If the roots feel dry, mist them lightly with water and re-cover them with damp sacking or the original liner. Contact us straight away if the plants appear damaged or if the roots have dried out completely. We will advise on the best course of action. Do not discard the packaging until you are satisfied the plants are in good condition.

Inspect for any signs of mould or soft, mushy roots. A slight earthy smell is normal; a sour, rotten smell is not. Healthy roots should feel firm and reasonably flexible rather than brittle or mushy. Root colour varies by species, so assess moisture, texture and the condition of the stems together rather than relying on pale root tips alone. If you spot a problem, isolate the affected plants from the rest and get in touch before planting.

• Remove all packaging and check labels match your order.
• Mist roots if dry and keep them covered with damp material.
• Report any damage or concerns to us before planting.
• Keep plants cool, shaded and away from drying winds.

How long can I keep bare root hedging before planting?

Bare root hedging should be planted as soon as possible, ideally within two to three days of delivery. If you can prepare the ground in advance, you can plant on the day the parcel arrives. When a short delay is unavoidable, keep the bundles in a cool, frost-free shed or garage, with the roots wrapped in damp hessian or the original moist packing. Check the roots daily and mist them if they start to dry.

For delays longer than a week, heel the plants into a temporary trench. Dig a shallow V-shaped trench in a sheltered spot, lay the plants at an angle with the roots in the trench and the stems leaning out, then cover the roots firmly with soil. Water the soil to settle it around the roots. Properly heeled-in dormant plants may remain in a temporary trench for several weeks if the roots stay covered and moist. Choose a sheltered location with workable soil, check regularly for drying or waterlogging, and plant in the permanent position as soon as conditions allow.

Do not store bare root plants in a heated room, a sunny porch or a polytunnel that heats up during the day. Warmth breaks dormancy and the roots cannot support new growth until planted. A steady temperature just above freezing is ideal. If a hard frost is forecast while plants are heeled in, cover the stems with fleece but keep the root area insulated with extra soil or straw.

When to plant hedging in the UK

The best time to plant hedging is during the dormant season, from November to March. This is the bare root hedging season, when deciduous plants like Common hawthorn hedging, Green beech hedging and Privet hedging are lifted and supplied without soil on their roots. Evergreen bare root plants such as Box hedging (Buxus) and English yew hedging are also available in this window, though yew is often sold as rootballed plants for larger sizes.

Planting during dormancy gives roots several months to establish before the demands of spring growth. The soil is usually moist and cool, reducing the need for frequent watering. Avoid planting when the ground is frozen solid or waterlogged; wait until conditions improve. Container-grown hedging can be planted year-round with extra watering, but bare root stock must go in during the dormant period.

If your bare root hedging arrives during a cold snap, keep the plants heeled in or stored as described above until the soil is workable. A few days of frost on the surface is not a problem if the ground underneath is not frozen hard. Check by digging a test hole: if the spade goes in without jarring, you can plant.

Can I plant hedging in frozen or waterlogged ground?

No, you should not plant hedging into frozen or waterlogged ground. Frozen soil cannot be worked properly and roots placed in icy soil may suffer cold damage. Waterlogged soil lacks the oxygen roots need to respire, and planting into saturated conditions compacts the soil structure, leading to poor establishment.

If the ground is frozen, wait for a thaw and check the soil is crumbly before digging. Heel the plants into a temporary trench in a sheltered spot or keep them cool and moist as described earlier. For waterlogged ground, identify why the water is standing. Dig a test hole and observe how quickly standing water drains after rain. Persistent waterlogging may require a drainage system, a different planting position or a suitably raised bed. Adding grit to a single planting hole is unlikely to correct poor drainage in the surrounding clay. Planting into sticky, wet clay is difficult and often leads to root rot.

A short delay is better than forcing plants into poor conditions. Bare root hedging is resilient while dormant, provided the roots stay moist and protected. Once the soil drains or thaws, plant promptly and water in well.

Do you need compost to plant a new hedge?

You do not need to add compost or manure to the planting trench for a new bare root hedge. The goal is to encourage roots to grow out into the surrounding soil, and a pocket of rich compost can discourage this. Instead, focus on preparing the whole planting strip: clear weeds and grass, break up compacted soil and remove large stones.

On very poor sandy or chalky soils, you can mix a small amount of well-rotted organic matter into the backfill soil, but do not place it directly in the planting hole. You can also use RHS Rootgrow as an optional planting aid, applying it in contact with the roots according to the pack instructions. Mycorrhizal fungi can support nutrient and water uptake where suitable soil conditions allow them to establish, but they do not replace good soil preparation, watering or drainage.

After planting, a surface mulch of bark chips or leaf mould helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. Keep the mulch a few centimetres clear of the stems to prevent rot. The backfill soil itself should be the original soil, firmed gently around the roots to remove air pockets.

• Clear the planting strip of weeds and grass.
• Break up compacted soil with a fork.
• Apply RHS Rootgrow to the roots at planting (optional).
• Mulch the surface after planting, away from stems.

Planting your bare root hedge: a quick guide

Planting bare root hedging is straightforward once the ground is ready. Dig a trench wide enough to spread the roots out naturally, not folded or bunched. For a single row hedge, a trench about 30cm wide and deep enough to cover the roots to the same depth as the nursery soil mark is usually sufficient. The dark line on the stem shows the original planting depth; use it as your guide.

Set each plant at the correct spacing. For Common hawthorn hedging, 4 to 5 plants per metre in a single row gives a dense hedge. Privet hedging suits 4 plants per metre. English yew hedging needs 3 plants per metre for a single row. Check the recommended spacing for your chosen species and use a measured line to keep the row straight.

Backfill the trench with the original soil, firming it gently with your heel as you go. Water thoroughly after planting, even if rain is forecast, to settle the soil around the roots. A final check along the row will show any plants sitting too high or too low; adjust them while the soil is still loose.

Watering and aftercare for new bare root hedging

Watering is critical in the first growing season. Bare root hedging has a limited root system at planting and relies on you to keep the root zone moist. Water deeply once or twice a week in dry weather, rather than little and often. A thorough soak encourages roots to grow downwards. Check the soil moisture by pushing a finger into the ground near the roots; if it feels dry 5cm down, it is time to water.

Weed the planting strip regularly. Weeds compete for water and nutrients, and they can smother young hedging plants. Hand weeding close to the stems is safest. A mulch layer helps suppress weeds, but keep it topped up and clear of the stems.

Pruning depends on the species. Deciduous hedging like Common hawthorn and Green beech benefits from a light trim in the first winter after planting to encourage bushy growth. Evergreens like English yew and Box hedging need less intervention early on, just a light tidy of any straggly shoots. Check the specific guidance for your hedge type and resist the urge to let it grow tall too quickly; a dense base is the foundation of a good hedge.

Month-by-month bare root hedging calendar

Use this calendar to plan your bare root hedging project from delivery to establishment. The bare root hedging season runs from November to March, but preparation and aftercare extend throughout the year.