Portuguese Laurel Instant Hedge 11 January 2016/by Anita Chillmaid

Portuguese Laurel Instant Hedge

A Portuguese Laurel Instant Hedge will work well in any garden setting. Latin: Prunus lusitanica ‘Angustifolia’ is a shrub that makes an attractive and compact evergreen hedge. The leaves are ovate and dark green. The hedges overall appearance is subtle, similar to Yew, unlike some of the lighter green showier Instant Hedges.

This Laurel Instant Hedge likes most soils including clay and unlike Common Laurel is also at home on shallow chalk. Portuguese Laurel can be planted in either sun or shade, but it dislikes wet ground.

Prunus lusitanica has an average growth rate (20 – 30 cm/year) and requires trimming once a year, preferably in August.

This Practical Instant Hedge™ in Portuguese Laurel is available at 1.2/1.5m,1.5/1.8m and 1.8/2m high.

Portuguese Laurel Instant Hedge

1.5 – 1.8m high Practical Instant Hedge in production at our nursery in Iver.

Click here to contact us if you would like a quote for this instant hedge.

Species	Latin	Foliage	Pruning	Annual growth	Aspect	Soil acceptance	pH	Leaves
Portuguese Laurel	Prunus lusitanica	Evergreen	Once in August	20 – 30cm	Sun to shade	All except the poorest	Acidic to alkaline	Ovate and dark green

Photinia Instant Hedge 11 January 2016/by Anita Chillmaid

Photinia Instant Hedge

Photinia fraseri ‘Red Robin’ is a shrub that makes a striking evergreen hedge because of its brilliant crimson-red glossy young leaves, which give a spectacular display in spring and summer before maturing to dark green. A Photinia Instant Hedge works well with warm planting schemes and where you would like the hedge to really stand out.

It develops clusters of small white flowers in mid and late spring, sometimes followed by red fruit – but it is the spring foliage that sets this hedging shrub apart.

This instant hedge will thrive in all well-drained soils including chalk. Position in sun or light shade and avoid frost pockets as Photinia is sensitive to frost.

Photinia Red Robin hedges grow quickly at about 30 to 40 cm per year; it responds well to pruning, so trim regularly to promote growth of the attractive new red shoots. during the growing season.

It is currently available as an easy to plant 1.2/1.4m, 1.6/1.8m and 1.8m high Practical Instant Hedge™.

1.4/1.6m high Photinia Instant Hedge in production at the nursery in Iver

Click here to contact us if you would like a quote for this instant hedge.

Species	Latin	Foliage	Pruning	Annual growth	Aspect	Soil acceptance	pH	Leaves
Red Robin	Photinia fraseri	Evergreen	Regularly in Summer	Fast30-40cm	Sun to partial shade	All well drained	Acidic to alkaline	Shiny dark green. New shoots are crimson-red

Holly Instant Hedge 11 January 2016/by Anita Chillmaid

English Holly Instant Hedge

English Holly (Ilex aquifolium), the familiar evergreen shrub, creates a dense thorny barrier and makes a great hedge. The spiky leaves of this Instant Hedge are shiny dark green on top and lighter green underneath. Small insignificant white flowers in May/June are followed on female plants by bright red berries from September to early spring, which are attractive to wildlife.

This classic evergreen hedge will thrive in most well drained soils including clay. It is happy in either sun or shade but dislikes heat and drought.

Although slow growing (5 – 15 cm/year) a this hedge should be trimmed once a year, preferably in August.

This Practical Instant Hedge™ is currently available at 1.3 to 1.5m and 1.5 to 1.8m high.

Holly Instant Hedge

Holly Hedge growing at the nursery

Click here to contact us if you would like a quote for this instant hedge.

We also have Blue Holly (Ilex meserveae) available as an instant hedge.

Species	Latin	Foliage	Pruning	Annual growth	Aspect	Soil acceptance	pH	Leaves
Holly	Ilex aquifolium	Evergreen	Once in August	Slow5-15cm	Sun to shade	All well drained	Acidic to alkaline	Thorny, shiny dark green that are pale green underneath

Box Instant Hedge 11 January 2016/by Anita Chillmaid

Box Instant Hedge

Box (Buxus sempervirens) is a traditional short evergreen hedge. It is typically used in formal garden designs, such as can be seen in Paul Hervey-Brookes’ garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show below. The leaves of a Box Instant Hedge are dark green, shiny and aromatic with the new growth being a vibrant bright green.

We have Box available at 60cm high (40cm wide) as a Practical Instant Hedge and 1.2m high as an Elveden Instant Hedge.

Box hedging requires a fertile, well drained soil with a warm location in sun or shade. Box is happy in most soils including chalk, providing there is adequate topsoil to maintain moisture and nutrients but avoid coastal locations as a Buxus hedge dislikes salt.

Although slow growing (10 – 15 cm/year) a Box hedge should be trimmed once a year, between June and August, or more often to maintain a formal shape.

Box Instant Hedge at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Paul Hervey-Brookes

Box Instant Hedge at the Chelsea Flower Show

Click here to contact us if you would like a quote for this instant hedge.

Species	Latin	Foliage	Pruning	Annual growth	Aspect	Soil acceptance	pH	Leaves
Box	Buxus sempervirens	Evergreen	Once June to August	Slow 10-15cm	Sun to shade	All well drained	Acidic to alkaline	Dark green, shiny and aromatic. New growth is bright green.

Purple Beech Instant Hedge 11 January 2016/by Anita Chillmaid

Purple Beech Instant Hedge

A Purple (also known as Copper) Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Atropunicea’) is very distinctive with its dark green/purple leaves turning red/brown in the autumn and often remaining throughout the winter months. It has been used by many designers, to create a stunning bespoke hedge.

This instant hedge is happy on most soils and thrives in chalk and is comfortable in either sun or shade but dislikes seaside or wet locations.

Purple Beech hedging is slow growing (10 – 30cm/year) and will need pruning once a year, preferably in August.

We have this Instant Hedge currently available at 1/1.2m and 1.5/1.8m high as a Practical Instant Hedge™.

Purple Beech Instant Hedge

Click here to contact us if you would like a quote for this instant hedge.

See news blog Purple Beech for New Build in Hockwold.

Species	Latin	Foliage	Pruning	Annual growth	Aspect	Soil acceptance	pH	Leaves
Purple Beech	Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’	Deciduous	Once in August	Slow10-30cm	Sun to shade	All except dry	Acidic to alkaline	Green-purple turning red-brown. Often remain into spring

Native Mix Instant Hedge 11 January 2016/by Anita Chillmaid

Native Mix Instant Hedge

Native Mix Instant Hedge contains plants that are all native to the UK and as such emulate traditional country hedgerows found throughout Britain.

Our Practical Native Mix generally contains roughly equal quantities of the following species: Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Hornbeam, Hazel and Common Privet, and has been used in award-winning Show Gardens at RHS Flower Shows.

Mixed Native hedges create a natural look and contain a variety of colours and textures which provide a rich living collage for excellent seasonal interest from the early spring blossoms to fruits and berries in the autumn. All kinds of wildlife will be attracted by the food and shelter opportunities.

Native hedging, by its very nature will thrive on most soil types and can be planted in all but the deepest of shade. It will tend to grow quite quickly at some 20 – 40 cm per year and will require pruning once a year, ideally in July; it can be left un-pruned, when it will prove even more wildlife friendly.

Mixed Native Hedging for Horses

We have native mixed instant hedges are suitable for horses, and include privet, hazel, hawthorn and hornbeam. Please specify horse-friendly hedging when ordering!

This Practical Instant Hedge™ is available at 1/1.2m, 1.5/1.8m and 1.8/2m high.

Native Mix Instant Hedge

1.8/2m high Practical Instant Native Mix Hedge growing in Iver, Bucks.

Native Mix growing at our nursery in Iver

Mixed Native supplied in easy to plant 1m long hedge bags.

Species	Latin	Foliage	Pruning	Annual growth	Aspect	Soil acceptance	pH	Leaves
Native Mix	n/a	Deciduous	Once in July	Fast30-40cm	Sun to partial shade	All except the poorest	Neutral to slightly acidic	Various

Hornbeam Instant Hedge 11 January 2016/by Anita Chillmaid

Hornbeam Instant Hedge

Hornbeam Instant Hedge (Carpinus betulus) is a hardy, native, deciduous hedging plant. The prominently veined elliptical lime green leaves turn golden yellow-brown in the autumn and can remain into spring. The bright green leaves are stunning when they first come out. It’s green catkins appear in late spring whilst the autumn fruit are attractive to wildlife. In the spring, summer and early autumn this makes a perfect mature hedge for keeping out noise and wind, as well as providing a a good level of screening.

Carpinus betulus hedging thrives in most soils including chalk, clay and damp conditions. Being tough and undemanding Hornbeam is happy in either sun or partial shade and can withstand exposed sites.

A Common Hornbeam hedge grows at a fast rate (30 – 40cm/year) and requires annual trimming in July or August.

Horse Friendly Hedging

Hornbeam is another species of instant hedges that are suitable for horses

We currently have this Instant Hedge available at 1.4/1.6m and 1.8m high as a Practical Instant Hedge™.

Hornbeam Instant Hedge

1.6/1.8m high Practical Instant Hornbeam Hedge growing at our nursery here in Iver, Bucks.

Click here to contact us if you would like a quote for this instant hedge.

Species	Latin	Foliage	Pruning	Annual growth	Aspect	Soil acceptance	pH	Leaves
Hornbeam	Carpinus betulus	Deciduous	Once in July or August	Fast30-40cm	Sun to partial shade	All except the poorest	Neutral to slightly acidic	Lime green turning yellow-brown.

Hawthorn Instant Hedge 11 January 2016/by Anita Chillmaid

Hawthorn Instant Hedge

Common Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) is a popular native deciduous hedging plant with dark green deeply lobed leaves. A Hawthorn Instant Hedge’s thorns make it one of the best available for security.

A seasonally interesting deciduous hedge, that offers a shelter for wildlife. Crataegus monogyna hedge plants announce the arrival of spring, by coming into leaf within a few days of the initial buds appearing, followed by an abundant display of white scented blossom, and it forms red haws in autumn.

This Instant Hedge forms an impenetrable barrier, accepting most soil and can be planted in all but the deepest shade.

This native hedge grows quickly (20 – 40 cm/year) and requires pruning once a year, ideally in July.

Horse Friendly Hedge

One of the most popular deciduous horse-friendly hedges, as it looks perfectly natural in the landscape and is loved by birds and insects. Horses like to nibble on the new shoots too.

Hawthorn is currently available at 1/1.2m and 1.5m high as a Practical Instant Hedge™.

1.5m high Hawthorn

1.5/1.8m high Practical Instant Hawthorn Hedge grown in easy to handle 1m long pieces.

Click here to contact us if you would like a quote for this instant hedge.

Beech Instant Hedge 11 January 2016/by Anita Chillmaid

Beech Instant Hedge

Green Beech Instant Hedging

Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is a popular choice for a deciduous hedge and is native to the UK. The prominently veined green leaves turn yellow-orange in Autumn and often remain through the winter which enhances its value as a year round screen.

Also known as Common or Green Beech, this hedge does well on most well drained soils and is particularly happy on chalk. This deciduous instant hedge can be planted in a position enjoying either sun or partial shade. Seaside locations are best avoided as Beech dislikes salt.

Beech Hedging is relatively slow growing (15 – 30 cm/year) and will need pruning once a year, preferably in August.

Horse Friendly Hedging

Beech retains its leaves in to the winter, offering additional screening in the coldest months. Horses quite often nibble leaves, twigs, and bark of the trees.

Our Beech Instant Hedges are available at 1/1.2m, 1.2/1.4m and 1.8/2m high as a Practical Instant Hedge™.

90/100cm high Practical Instant Hedge growing at our nursery here in Iver, Bucks.

Click here to contact us if you would like a quote for this instant hedge.

Species	Latin	Foliage	Pruning	Annual growth	Aspect	Soil acceptance	pH	Leaves
Beech	Fagus sylvatica	Deciduous	Once in August	Slow15-30cm	Sun to shade	All except dry	Acidic to alkaline	Green turning yellow-brown. Often remain into spring

Evergreen Instant Hedge 11 January 2016/by Anita Chillmaid

Evergreen Instant Hedging

Evergreen Instant Hedging has the benefit of providing screening, privacy and shelter all year round. An evergreen instant hedge will also give an immediate, mature look to your garden. This dense hedging is available at heights of up to 2m and can be planted all-year round.

Instant hedges are the perfect way to provide maturity to your garden and have the following benefits:

A ready grown hedge providing a mature, practical option
Dense hedging, pre-planted and ready spaced out
Carefully maintained and regularly clipped to an instant hedge shape
Ready to plant all year round and available up to 2m high, species dependent
Available in any lengths, and can be bent to almost any shape
Instant evergreen hedges provide a year round dense screening, privacy, shelter etc.
We have taken the time to grow it, so you don’t have to!

See evergreen pages for more details on specific species:

English Holly

Cherry Laurel

Photinia

Privet