Your Garden Questions Answered
Presenter: Nigel Ruck
Episode: 19
1st September 2007
One of the great things about The Garden Gurus Club is the advice and gardening tips you can get on pretty much any topic, which is what this segment was based on, answering your garden questions. Some of which have been about hedges and how to grow them evenly.
There are a few things you have got to get right for a good looking, successful hedge. Most important is selecting a species of plant suitable for the environmental conditions, with growth characteristics for the intended size, shape and style you are after. Also, you need to do everything possible to ensure all the individual plants grow at the same rate, resulting in an even hedge.
The soil plays a huge role in this process and consistency of fertility, water holding capacity and drainage is the key. So when planting a new hedge carry out any soil preparation, treating the entire thing as if it were one long plant, adding equal amounts of any additives such as organic matter, fertilizer, gypsum or water crystals.
Uneven growth can be caused by larger competing plants, trees for example, that suck out water and nutrients and sort of bully smaller plants due to their large size. This can be compensated for to some degree with extra fertilizing and watering if it bothers you.
Also, any grass growing close to the plants will compete too so getting rid of it. Having some sort of edging is well worth while.
Regular pruning is a big part of the maintenance regime, especially with formal hedges and plants like Buxus which are one of the iconic hedging plants.
It is regular pruning that encourages dense growth and that is what keeps your buxus nice and tight!
One element we cannot always control is sunlight, which can be an issue if part of your hedge gets more shade and is slower growing, assuming you have got suitable plants; this is where you just have to be a bit patient or consider replacing that part with something else, a timber screen for example.
Hopefully that has answered some of your questions on hedges and you can now look forward to many years of happy hedge growing.
Products Featured:
Rain saver Water Storage Crystals
Gypsum Clay Breaker:
Episode: 19
1st September 2007
One of the great things about The Garden Gurus Club is the advice and gardening tips you can get on pretty much any topic, which is what this segment was based on, answering your garden questions. Some of which have been about hedges and how to grow them evenly.
There are a few things you have got to get right for a good looking, successful hedge. Most important is selecting a species of plant suitable for the environmental conditions, with growth characteristics for the intended size, shape and style you are after. Also, you need to do everything possible to ensure all the individual plants grow at the same rate, resulting in an even hedge.
The soil plays a huge role in this process and consistency of fertility, water holding capacity and drainage is the key. So when planting a new hedge carry out any soil preparation, treating the entire thing as if it were one long plant, adding equal amounts of any additives such as organic matter, fertilizer, gypsum or water crystals.
Uneven growth can be caused by larger competing plants, trees for example, that suck out water and nutrients and sort of bully smaller plants due to their large size. This can be compensated for to some degree with extra fertilizing and watering if it bothers you.
Also, any grass growing close to the plants will compete too so getting rid of it. Having some sort of edging is well worth while.
Regular pruning is a big part of the maintenance regime, especially with formal hedges and plants like Buxus which are one of the iconic hedging plants.
It is regular pruning that encourages dense growth and that is what keeps your buxus nice and tight!
One element we cannot always control is sunlight, which can be an issue if part of your hedge gets more shade and is slower growing, assuming you have got suitable plants; this is where you just have to be a bit patient or consider replacing that part with something else, a timber screen for example.
Hopefully that has answered some of your questions on hedges and you can now look forward to many years of happy hedge growing.
Products Featured:
Rain saver Water Storage Crystals
- When added to potting mix or garden soil, the crystals absorb up to 500 times their own weight in water.
- The water is released over a period of time as the plants require it.
- Reduce water usage and increase the times between watering.
- Effective for up to five years and biodegrade harmlessly.
- Available in a range of pack sizes.
- Ammonium Based
Gypsum Clay Breaker:
- Helps to soften hard clay soils and improves soil structure.
- Contains trace elements that promote healthy plant growth and seaweed containing natural plant growth promotants.
- Great for garden beds and potted plants.
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