Gardening for Amateurs 



861 



Hedges and Hedge Plants 



THE subject of hedges and hedge 

 plants is of such wide interest and 

 of such general importance to all 

 who are interested in horticulture or 

 agriculture that it warrants more than 

 passing attention in a work of this 

 description. Hedges may not be always 

 objects of beauty, but they are neces- 

 sary to the successful cultivation of many 

 choice garden plants. Chiefly they act as 

 shelter from cold and stormy winds. More- 

 over, they ensure privacy, and are decidedly 

 more pleasing as dividing lines than stiff 

 wood-en, iron or brick fences. At the same 

 time they are stiff in outline, and if not 

 carefully arranged may strike a discordant 

 note in the garden. 



There are places where informal hedges can 

 be allowed, and such are often very attrac- 

 tive, but for general use and for dividing 

 lines there is nothing to beat a dense, close- 

 cropped hedge. 



Many shrubs are suitable for use as hedge 

 plants, whilst a few stand out conspicu- 

 ously amongst others as being altogether 

 superior. They are the Whitethorn, Holly, 

 Yew, Oval-leaved Privet, Beech and Horn- 

 beam, and each one is referred to in this 

 article. 



The Formation of Hedges. In most 

 instances it will be found advisable to form 

 straight hedges, but where curves are neces- 

 sary care must be taken that the curves 

 are similar to those of the paths, roads, or 

 other objects which render them necessary ; 

 moreover, where a straight hedge is con- 

 cerned be careful that it runs exactly parallel 

 with other objects, such as paths or borders 

 in the vicinity, otherwise it will be an eye- 

 sore for all time. 



Careful and thorough working of the 

 ground is necessary before a hedge is planted, 

 particularly where such things as Holly, 

 Yew or Thorn are concerned, for the life of 

 a hedge is often reckoned by generations, 

 and hedges of Holly and Yew two hundred 

 years old or more exist at the present time. 

 The ground must be properly drained, and 

 to ensure this on agricultural land the 



practice obtains of opening a ditch at the 

 base of the position chosen for the hedge. 

 The soil so obtained is thrown up into a 

 bank on one side of the ditch and on the 

 mound so raised the hedge is formed. This, 

 of course, is not necessary, except when the 

 ground is very heavy and wet, although the 

 ditch adds to the protective value of the 

 hedge. 



Assuming that the ground is properly 

 drained, it should be trenched 2 feet deep, a 

 width of 4 feet being treated in this manner. 

 This, of course, is presuming that the 

 ground has not been broken up previously. 

 If the soil is naturally poor it must be 

 manured or new soil added. Be careful to 

 prepare the ground before the plants are 

 procured in order that delay in planting 

 may not occur after their arrival. 



When Choosing Plants for a hedge it 

 is not always advisable to select the largest 

 and most vigorous specimens, neither is it 

 wise to take plants simply because they are 

 cheap. Pay a fair price and obtain plants 

 that have been regularly transplanted, for 

 such are likely to give the most satisfactory 

 results. Be careful also to select those that 

 are well furnished with branches to the base. 

 Never mind if the tops are a little thin 

 providing the bases are well furnished with 

 sturdy branches, for a top can always be 

 formed, but if the bottom is thin it is a most 

 difficult matter to furnish it with branches 

 afterwards. For the same reason it is 

 necessary to place the plants fairly close 

 together. Some shrubs, such as Thorn and 

 Privet, may be put from 9 to 12 inches 

 apart from stem to stem, whereas Yews and 

 Hollies may be 2 feet apart. The distance 

 apart to plant must, however, be left to the 

 judgment of the planter, for everything 

 depends upon the density of the branch 

 system. Thin planting should certainly be 

 avoided. 



When Planting be careful to keep the 

 upper roots near the surface of the soil. 

 People are sometimes told to plant deeply 

 to prevent the plants blowing about, but it 

 is bad advice, and the best results follow 



