We have collated all our hedging blogs and guides here.
You will find useful hedge hub of information with our In Focus series and much more. We take the guesswork out of hedging with our easy-to-follow tips, plant recommendations for specific needs, and advice for your hedging projects.
Rich Colour, Classic Form and Instant Impact
Purple Beech, or Copper Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’) is a really striking deciduous hedge. With its deep green-purple spring foliage, rich autumn tones and elegant habit, it brings a real sense of drama while still delivering the structure and privacy people expect from a mature hedge.
As part of our Practical Instant Hedge™ range, Purple Beech gives you that established look from day one, without the long wait for individual plants to knit together.
Purple Beech is a favourite with designers and homeowners who want something a little more distinctive than a traditional hedge. It has the timeless elegance of green beech, but with richer colour and a more dramatic presence throughout the year.
Purple Beech is known for its dark green-purple leaves, which deepen into red-brown shades in autumn. Although this hedge is deciduous, the leaves hold on throughout the winter and often remain attached until spring. This helps the hedge give a good level of privacy in winter, along with a softer, more natural look than an evergreen hedge.
Purple Beech works especially well where you want the hedge itself to become a feature. It can give a formal boundary a more luxurious feel, create a bold backdrop for planting, or add contrast against lighter foliage, paving, gravel and stone.
Purple Beech is a versatile hedge, and is happy on most soils and thrives particularly well in chalk. It can tolerate sun or shade, making it useful in a wide range of garden layouts. However, it does not like seaside locations or wet ground, so it is best avoided where soil stays soggy or salt exposure is likely.
Once planted, a little aftercare will help your hedge thrive and stay looking its best.
Water regularly during establishment, especially in dry spells, and avoid letting the roots dry out. Once established, Purple Beech is relatively straightforward to maintain. Keep pruning to once a year in the summer to retain the hedge’s shape and encourage dense growth.
If you like the classic look of beech but want more colour, Purple Beech is a natural choice. It offers the same timeless hedge form, but with a richer palette that changes through the seasons.
That combination of structure, colour and instant maturity makes it a standout option for statement boundaries, elegant screening and garden designs that need something just a little more distinctive
All hedges supplied by Practicality Brown are Plant Healthy certified, UK-grown, professionally maintained and supplied ready for planting, ensuring reliable establishment and excellent results.
Contact us today for more information on our Practical Instant Hedge™, or if you would like details of our planting service.
Established Evergreen Screening for Immediate Garden Impact
The conifer Thuja occidentalis ‘Brabant’ or White Cedar is an evergreen hedge that delivers instant structure, privacy and enduring garden appeal. This mature hedge is part of our Practical Instant Hedge™ range, designed to transform gardens and boundaries instantly, without the long wait to establish individual plants.
Cedar is a favourite in British gardens due to its dense evergreen foliage, adaptability and easy maintenance. Here’s why Thuja occidentalis ‘Brabant’ stands out:
As an evergreen, cedar keeps its light green foliage throughout the year meaning that its screening remains dense and attractive. The feathery, scale-like foliage can take on a subtle bronze hue in winter, adding to its interest.
Like most cedars, it creates a dense screen, but with a manageable growth habit and a better response to pruning. Unlike some conifers such as Leylandii, that can die off when cut back hard, Thuja regenerates reliably even when pruned into older wood.
The foliage of Thuja occidentalis ‘Brabant’ is dense and branches both regularly and frequently, unlike Western Red Cedar which has sparser foliage. When crushed, the foliage gives off a characteristically pleasant fragrance.
This cultivar thrives in a range of soils, from sand and loam to clay, and tolerates both exposed and sheltered sites. It can be planted in full sun or partial shade, making it versatile for British gardens of all shapes and sizes.
Although slower growing than some high-speed hedging conifers, such as Western Red cedar (Thuja Plicata) White Cedar only needs a light pruning once a year to keep its tidy shape. It provides dense screening from the ground upwards.
This blend of evergreen coverage, adaptability and ease of maintenance explains why this classic hedge is an attractive option for landscaping, privacy screens and garden boundaries across the UK.
Our Practical Instant Hedge™ isn’t just a row of young plants, it’s mature trough-grown hedging that gives you immediate impact and structure. Designed for easy installation, these hedges are ideal if you want:
Whether you’re enhancing a new boundary, replacing a tired old hedge, or simply creating a year-round green backdrop, Practical Instant Hedge™ gives you visual maturity immediately. There is no guessing how your hedge will fill out over 3–5 years, you’re seeing the finished look from day one.
While the hedge is mature when delivered, a little ongoing care will keep it looking its best:
Watering
Ensure consistent moisture during establishment. Although hardy once settled, newly planted sections benefit from regular watering via a drip irrigation system during dry spells.
Pruning
Trim once a year, ideally in late summer, to maintain neat lines and encourage fresh foliage. Thuja occidentalis ‘Brabant’ handles pruning well and maintains density with annual shaping.
The White Cedar Practical Instant Hedge™ works perfectly for:
All hedges supplied by Practicality Brown are Plant Healthy certified, UK-grown, professionally maintained and supplied ready for planting, ensuring reliable establishment and excellent results.
Contact us today for more information on our Practical Instant Hedge™, or if you would like details of our planting service.
When choosing an instant hedge for your garden or boundary, two of the most popular deciduous species are Beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus). Both are classic hedging species that are native to the UK, and can be seen throughout the countryside as mature trees. While they share some similarities, each brings its own strengths and aesthetic qualities.
This is Practicality Brown’s guide to choosing Beech or Hornbeam instant hedging.
Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
Both Beech and Hornbeam are native hedges that you will see all throughout the United Kingdom.
Choose Beech if you:
Choose Hornbeam if you:
We also have stunning Copper or Purple Beech available as a Practical Instant Hedge™ too.
Choosing Practical Instant Hedge™ from Practicality Brown gives you all the benefits of a mature hedge from day one;
A mature hedge from day one — no waiting, no gaps, no uncertainty
All hedges supplied by Practicality Brown are Plant Healthy certified, UK-grown, professionally maintained and supplied ready for planting, ensuring reliable establishment and excellent results.
Contact us today for more information on our Practical Instant Hedge™, or if you would like details of our planting service.
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) is a classic evergreen plant, valued for its rich green foliage and versatility. Best known for its aromatic leaves used in cooking, Bay Laurel also makes an excellent instant hedge, offering year-round screening with added character and practicality.
Supplied as a mature, pre-grown hedge, our Bay Laurel instant hedging provides an immediate sense of structure and privacy, making it an ideal choice for both traditional and contemporary garden designs.
Bay Laurel is fully evergreen, retaining its glossy, dark green leaves throughout the year. This makes it an excellent choice for permanent screening, boundary definition and wind protection, ensuring your garden looks well-structured for every season.
One of Bay Laurel’s most distinctive features is its aromatic leaves, which release a rich fragrance when crushed. As well as being visually appealing, the foliage can be harvested and used in cooking, adding an extra practical benefit to this attractive hedge.
Bay Laurel has a naturally upright and tidy form, lending itself particularly well to formal hedging and structured garden layouts. When clipped, it forms a dense, neat hedge with aa elegant appearance.
In spring, Bay Laurel produces small pale-yellow flowers, followed by dark berries later in the year. These subtle seasonal changes add interest and help support garden wildlife.
This species responds well to trimming, becoming denser with regular pruning. It can be maintained as a classic hedge or shaped more formally, making it a versatile option for a wide range of garden styles.
Bay Laurel has a moderate growth rate, typically around 20–30cm per year once established. This makes it easy to manage while still allowing it to thicken and mature over time.
Its resilience and adaptability make it suitable for many UK garden conditions.
Choosing Bay Laurel as a Practical Instant Hedge™ gives you all the benefits of a mature hedge from day one:
As with all our Practical instant hedging, Bay Laurel is a Plant Healthy certified, UK-grown, professionally maintained and supplied ready for planting, ensuring reliable establishment and excellent results.
Contact us today for more information on our Practical Instant Hedge™, or if you would like details of our planting service.
Our UK grown Blue Holly (Ilex meserveae) Practical Instant Hedge™ is an innovative mix of Blue Maid and Blue Prince holly, which ensures a delightful display of small white flowers in spring and plump red berries in autumn. Blue Holly provides a dense instant evergreen hedge, offering year-round privacy and a haven for the local wildlife.
Grown in one metre bags at our Iver Nursery, Buckinghamshire, our mature Practical Instant Hedge™ is easy to plant and offers immediate impact and privacy. Our Ilex meserveae Blue Maid/Blue Prince mix is currently available at heights of 1.4 to 1.6m and 1.6 to 1.8m.
Our production method ensures that the hedge is suitable for planting all year round. See just how easy it is to plant our hedge, watch our HOW TO video on the Practicality Brown website.
Buying, or enquiring, about our instant hedges is simple:
If you would like to find out more about our wide range of evergreen and deciduous Practical Instant Hedges, please visit our website or book a visit to our nursery. We offer a supply only, or supply and plant on all the trees and hedges we sell.
Laurel hedging is a popular choice for gardens, providing year-round privacy, security, and aesthetic appeal.
Prunus laurocerasus (Common or Cherry Laurel) and Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese Laurel) are popular choices for instant hedging. At Practicality Brown, we offer both as part of our Practical Instant Hedge™ range, ensuring an instant transformation for gardens and landscapes. Let’s look at these two excellent hedge varieties to help you choose the best option for your garden.
Appearance & Growth
Preferred Conditions
Best Use in Gardens
Appearance & Growth
Preferred Conditions
Best Use in Gardens
Both Prunus laurocerasus and Prunus lusitanica offer fantastic benefits, but the choice depends on your specific garden requirements. If you need rapid growth and maximum screening, Cherry Laurel is the best option. If you prefer a more elegant, compact hedge that still provides excellent privacy, Portuguese Laurel is a great choice.
| Species | Latin | Foliage | Pruning | Annual growth | Aspect | Soil acceptance | pH | Leaves |
| Common Laurel | Prunus laurocerasus | Evergreen | Once in July or August | Fast 30-40cm | Sun to shade | All except shallow chalk | Neutral to slightly acidic | Large shiny green. Thick and leathery |
| Portuguese Laurel | Prunus lusitanica | Evergreen | Once in August Average 20-40cm | Average 20-40cm | Sun to shade | All except the poorest | Acidic to alkaline | Ovate and dark green |
Our Practical Instant Hedge™ ensures that you don’t have to wait years for a mature, established hedge. Our expertly grown laurels are available in a range of sizes, ready to be planted for an instant impact in your garden. Ours also been used in many award-winning Show Gardens at RHS Flower Shows, from Hampton Court to Chelsea. Grown at our nursery in Iver, Bucks.
We currently have this Practical Instant Hedge™ available in heights of 1 to 1.2m, 1.5 to 1.8m and 1.8 to 2m high, in ready to plant trough bags.
For more information or to find the perfect hedge for your space, email our team hedge@pracbrown.co.uk. Or buy online here.
Instant hedges have the advantage of being pre-grown, meaning they arrive on site mature, up to 2m high, dense, and capable of providing immediate habitat and food sources for a variety of wildlife.
This “ready-made” green infrastructure allows developers to create ecologically functional spaces from day one, eliminating the lag that often accompanies conventional hedgerow planting.
Instant hedging, particularly those comprising a mixture of native species, are emerging as a highly effective, accessible way to enhance habitat connectivity and support Biodiversity Net Gain requirements. They will also contribute towards BREEAM certification having both social and ecological benefits.
Our UK grown Practical Instant Hedge™ has the following strengths:
• Supplied as a mature pre-formed hedge
• Over fifteen thousand metres of instant hedge in production
• Densely pre-planted and ready grown to 35 – 60cm wide and up to 2m high, species dependent
• Supplied in one metre long pieces in hedge bags
• Easy to handle, and plant, all year round
• Available in 16 species
• Supplied on standard 1m x 1.2m pallets
• All stock is carefully maintained, irrigated and treated with controlled release nutrients to optimise health
• Available in any lengths, and can be bent to almost any shape
• Contract growing available – contact us for details
• UK grown in Buckinghamshire – you are welcome to visit to view our stock for yourself
• Acts as natural air purifiers, reducing pollution levels by capturing particulate matter and filtering airborne pollutants.
• Reduces noise pollution.
• Absorbs carbon – Contributing to Carbon Sequestration
Incorporating Practical Instant Hedge™ into housing and infrastructure projects can support the Biodiversity Net Gain policy. Not only does mature hedging provide immediate ecological benefits, but they can also address some of the broader environmental challenges associated with urban growth, including pollution mitigation and climate resilience. By using instant hedges, developers can create vibrant green corridors that support wildlife, enrich communities, and ultimately contribute to a more sustainable future for the UK’s urban landscape.
Contact our Horticultural Team to find out more.
from our Habitat colleagues
Biodiversity Net Gain
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), is a way of creating and improving natural habitats, leaving the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was beforehand – From February 2024, new projects must deliver a BNG of 10%, Meaning a development will result in more or a better-quality, natural habitat than there was before development.
Carbon Sequestration
Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing carbon compounds from the environment, reducing the greenhouse effect and mitigating climate change. This can be achieved on a large scale by reclaiming land and creating natural habitats.
Habitat Connectivity
Urban landscape often fragments wildlife habitats, but providing green corridors can enable the safe passage of wildlife between habitats, increasing access to food, water, and shelter. This connectivity is particularly vital for pollinators, small mammals, and other fauna that rely on hedgerows for movement across these environments.
BREEAM certification
BREEAM is a holistic sustainability assessment framework for buildings and infrastructure. It is used to specify and measure the sustainability performance of buildings, ensuring that projects meet sustainability goals and continue to perform optimally over time.
Native mix instant hedges are the perfect hedging option for a natural look. They contain plants that are all native to the UK and as such emulate traditional country hedgerows found throughout Britain.
Mixed native instant hedges will create a natural look and contain a variety of colours and textures, which provide a rich living collage for excellent seasonal interest. From the structural beauty of bare winter twigs, to the early spring blossom and lush summer foliage. The autumn brings fruits, berries and wonderful golden colours.
All kinds of wildlife will be attracted to these native hedges. They provide food, shelter and nesting places for birds, mammals and invertebrates.
Native mixed instant 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 also be left un-pruned, when it will prove even more wildlife friendly.
Our homegrown native mix hedge generally contains roughly equal quantities of the following species:
Our Practical Instant Native Mix Hedge™ has also been used in many award-winning Show Gardens at RHS Flower Shows, from Hampton Court to Chelsea. Grown at our nursery in Iver, Bucks.
We currently have this Practical Instant Hedge™ available in heights of 1 to 1.2m, 1.5 to 1.8m and 1.8 to 2m high, in ready to plant trough bags.
Email hedge@pracbrown.co.uk us if you would like a quote for this instant hedge. Or buy online here.
| Species | Latin | Foliage | Pruning | Annual Growth | Aspect | Soil preference | 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 |
In the world of gardening, hedges are the unsung heroes of landscape design, offering a blend of functionality and beauty. For those with smaller gardens, selecting the right hedge can be challenging but fortunately, there are several species of our Practical Instant Hedge™ that could be the perfect choice for your small garden. Whether its the classic charm of Holly, the sweet fragrance of Osmanthus, or the timeless Yew.
Our pre-formed, top-quality Practical Instant Hedge™ range is produced in specially designed hedging bags and supplied in pieces that are 1m long by 40 – 50cm deep. When replanted into your garden, these evergreen instant hedges will give instant maturity, and require minimal maintenance.
Holly, with its glossy, spiky leaves and vibrant red berries, adds a touch of traditional charm to any garden. Their dense growth habit creates a natural privacy screen, and the presence of both male and female plants ensures the iconic bright berries during the winter months. Practical Instant Hedge™ is available as English Holly (Ilex aquifolium) and Blue Holly (Ilex meserveae). Both hedges are relatively low maintenance, requiring only occasional pruning to maintain their shape and density. It’s also very hardy, resistant to pests and diseases, and can tolerate a variety of soil conditions.
Osmanthus hedges are our favourite choice for fragrance. Known for their small, white flowers that bloom in late winter or early spring, Osmanthus hedges infuse the garden with a sweet, apricot-like aroma. Practical Instant Hedge™ (Osmanthus burkwoodii) is a compact evergreen, making them well-suited for small spaces. These hedges require moderate pruning to maintain their shape and promote bushier growth with more flowers the following season. Their versatility extends to both sunny and partially shaded locations.
Yew hedges have adorned gardens for centuries, standing as a symbol of enduring beauty. Known for their dark green, needle-like foliage, Yews provide an evergreen backdrop throughout the seasons. Their slow growth rate makes them ideal for small gardens, allowing for easy maintenance and shaping. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, Yews also have a remarkable tolerance for different soil conditions and are shade-tolerant, making them a versatile choice for various garden settings. Practical Instant Yew Hedging is available in various heights.
In the world of small gardens, the right hedge can transform a confined space into a verdant sanctuary. They are easy to manage and enhance any environment with their natural charm; whether you opt for the enduring elegance of Yew, the traditional charm of Holly, or the fragrant blooms of Osmanthus, each species brings its unique character to your outdoor space.
Osmanthus
Blue Holly
English Holly
Yew
If you like to find out more about our comprehensive range of evergreen and deciduous Practical Instant Hedges, you can:
We have collated all our hedging blogs and guides here.
You will find useful hedge hub of information with our In Focus series and much more. We take the guesswork out of hedging with our easy-to-follow tips, plant recommendations for specific needs, and advice for your hedging projects.
Rich Colour, Classic Form and Instant Impact
Purple Beech, or Copper Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’) is a really striking deciduous hedge. With its deep green-purple spring foliage, rich autumn tones and elegant habit, it brings a real sense of drama while still delivering the structure and privacy people expect from a mature hedge.
As part of our Practical Instant Hedge™ range, Purple Beech gives you that established look from day one, without the long wait for individual plants to knit together.
Purple Beech is a favourite with designers and homeowners who want something a little more distinctive than a traditional hedge. It has the timeless elegance of green beech, but with richer colour and a more dramatic presence throughout the year.
Purple Beech is known for its dark green-purple leaves, which deepen into red-brown shades in autumn. Although this hedge is deciduous, the leaves hold on throughout the winter and often remain attached until spring. This helps the hedge give a good level of privacy in winter, along with a softer, more natural look than an evergreen hedge.
Purple Beech works especially well where you want the hedge itself to become a feature. It can give a formal boundary a more luxurious feel, create a bold backdrop for planting, or add contrast against lighter foliage, paving, gravel and stone.
Purple Beech is a versatile hedge, and is happy on most soils and thrives particularly well in chalk. It can tolerate sun or shade, making it useful in a wide range of garden layouts. However, it does not like seaside locations or wet ground, so it is best avoided where soil stays soggy or salt exposure is likely.
Once planted, a little aftercare will help your hedge thrive and stay looking its best.
Water regularly during establishment, especially in dry spells, and avoid letting the roots dry out. Once established, Purple Beech is relatively straightforward to maintain. Keep pruning to once a year in the summer to retain the hedge’s shape and encourage dense growth.
If you like the classic look of beech but want more colour, Purple Beech is a natural choice. It offers the same timeless hedge form, but with a richer palette that changes through the seasons.
That combination of structure, colour and instant maturity makes it a standout option for statement boundaries, elegant screening and garden designs that need something just a little more distinctive
All hedges supplied by Practicality Brown are Plant Healthy certified, UK-grown, professionally maintained and supplied ready for planting, ensuring reliable establishment and excellent results.
Contact us today for more information on our Practical Instant Hedge™, or if you would like details of our planting service.
Established Evergreen Screening for Immediate Garden Impact
The conifer Thuja occidentalis ‘Brabant’ or White Cedar is an evergreen hedge that delivers instant structure, privacy and enduring garden appeal. This mature hedge is part of our Practical Instant Hedge™ range, designed to transform gardens and boundaries instantly, without the long wait to establish individual plants.
Cedar is a favourite in British gardens due to its dense evergreen foliage, adaptability and easy maintenance. Here’s why Thuja occidentalis ‘Brabant’ stands out:
As an evergreen, cedar keeps its light green foliage throughout the year meaning that its screening remains dense and attractive. The feathery, scale-like foliage can take on a subtle bronze hue in winter, adding to its interest.
Like most cedars, it creates a dense screen, but with a manageable growth habit and a better response to pruning. Unlike some conifers such as Leylandii, that can die off when cut back hard, Thuja regenerates reliably even when pruned into older wood.
The foliage of Thuja occidentalis ‘Brabant’ is dense and branches both regularly and frequently, unlike Western Red Cedar which has sparser foliage. When crushed, the foliage gives off a characteristically pleasant fragrance.
This cultivar thrives in a range of soils, from sand and loam to clay, and tolerates both exposed and sheltered sites. It can be planted in full sun or partial shade, making it versatile for British gardens of all shapes and sizes.
Although slower growing than some high-speed hedging conifers, such as Western Red cedar (Thuja Plicata) White Cedar only needs a light pruning once a year to keep its tidy shape. It provides dense screening from the ground upwards.
This blend of evergreen coverage, adaptability and ease of maintenance explains why this classic hedge is an attractive option for landscaping, privacy screens and garden boundaries across the UK.
Our Practical Instant Hedge™ isn’t just a row of young plants, it’s mature trough-grown hedging that gives you immediate impact and structure. Designed for easy installation, these hedges are ideal if you want:
Whether you’re enhancing a new boundary, replacing a tired old hedge, or simply creating a year-round green backdrop, Practical Instant Hedge™ gives you visual maturity immediately. There is no guessing how your hedge will fill out over 3–5 years, you’re seeing the finished look from day one.
While the hedge is mature when delivered, a little ongoing care will keep it looking its best:
Watering
Ensure consistent moisture during establishment. Although hardy once settled, newly planted sections benefit from regular watering via a drip irrigation system during dry spells.
Pruning
Trim once a year, ideally in late summer, to maintain neat lines and encourage fresh foliage. Thuja occidentalis ‘Brabant’ handles pruning well and maintains density with annual shaping.
The White Cedar Practical Instant Hedge™ works perfectly for:
All hedges supplied by Practicality Brown are Plant Healthy certified, UK-grown, professionally maintained and supplied ready for planting, ensuring reliable establishment and excellent results.
Contact us today for more information on our Practical Instant Hedge™, or if you would like details of our planting service.
When choosing an instant hedge for your garden or boundary, two of the most popular deciduous species are Beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus). Both are classic hedging species that are native to the UK, and can be seen throughout the countryside as mature trees. While they share some similarities, each brings its own strengths and aesthetic qualities.
This is Practicality Brown’s guide to choosing Beech or Hornbeam instant hedging.
Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
Both Beech and Hornbeam are native hedges that you will see all throughout the United Kingdom.
Choose Beech if you:
Choose Hornbeam if you:
We also have stunning Copper or Purple Beech available as a Practical Instant Hedge™ too.
Choosing Practical Instant Hedge™ from Practicality Brown gives you all the benefits of a mature hedge from day one;
A mature hedge from day one — no waiting, no gaps, no uncertainty
All hedges supplied by Practicality Brown are Plant Healthy certified, UK-grown, professionally maintained and supplied ready for planting, ensuring reliable establishment and excellent results.
Contact us today for more information on our Practical Instant Hedge™, or if you would like details of our planting service.
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) is a classic evergreen plant, valued for its rich green foliage and versatility. Best known for its aromatic leaves used in cooking, Bay Laurel also makes an excellent instant hedge, offering year-round screening with added character and practicality.
Supplied as a mature, pre-grown hedge, our Bay Laurel instant hedging provides an immediate sense of structure and privacy, making it an ideal choice for both traditional and contemporary garden designs.
Bay Laurel is fully evergreen, retaining its glossy, dark green leaves throughout the year. This makes it an excellent choice for permanent screening, boundary definition and wind protection, ensuring your garden looks well-structured for every season.
One of Bay Laurel’s most distinctive features is its aromatic leaves, which release a rich fragrance when crushed. As well as being visually appealing, the foliage can be harvested and used in cooking, adding an extra practical benefit to this attractive hedge.
Bay Laurel has a naturally upright and tidy form, lending itself particularly well to formal hedging and structured garden layouts. When clipped, it forms a dense, neat hedge with aa elegant appearance.
In spring, Bay Laurel produces small pale-yellow flowers, followed by dark berries later in the year. These subtle seasonal changes add interest and help support garden wildlife.
This species responds well to trimming, becoming denser with regular pruning. It can be maintained as a classic hedge or shaped more formally, making it a versatile option for a wide range of garden styles.
Bay Laurel has a moderate growth rate, typically around 20–30cm per year once established. This makes it easy to manage while still allowing it to thicken and mature over time.
Its resilience and adaptability make it suitable for many UK garden conditions.
Choosing Bay Laurel as a Practical Instant Hedge™ gives you all the benefits of a mature hedge from day one:
As with all our Practical instant hedging, Bay Laurel is a Plant Healthy certified, UK-grown, professionally maintained and supplied ready for planting, ensuring reliable establishment and excellent results.
Contact us today for more information on our Practical Instant Hedge™, or if you would like details of our planting service.
Our UK grown Blue Holly (Ilex meserveae) Practical Instant Hedge™ is an innovative mix of Blue Maid and Blue Prince holly, which ensures a delightful display of small white flowers in spring and plump red berries in autumn. Blue Holly provides a dense instant evergreen hedge, offering year-round privacy and a haven for the local wildlife.
Grown in one metre bags at our Iver Nursery, Buckinghamshire, our mature Practical Instant Hedge™ is easy to plant and offers immediate impact and privacy. Our Ilex meserveae Blue Maid/Blue Prince mix is currently available at heights of 1.4 to 1.6m and 1.6 to 1.8m.
Our production method ensures that the hedge is suitable for planting all year round. See just how easy it is to plant our hedge, watch our HOW TO video on the Practicality Brown website.
Buying, or enquiring, about our instant hedges is simple:
If you would like to find out more about our wide range of evergreen and deciduous Practical Instant Hedges, please visit our website or book a visit to our nursery. We offer a supply only, or supply and plant on all the trees and hedges we sell.
Laurel hedging is a popular choice for gardens, providing year-round privacy, security, and aesthetic appeal.
Prunus laurocerasus (Common or Cherry Laurel) and Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese Laurel) are popular choices for instant hedging. At Practicality Brown, we offer both as part of our Practical Instant Hedge™ range, ensuring an instant transformation for gardens and landscapes. Let’s look at these two excellent hedge varieties to help you choose the best option for your garden.
Appearance & Growth
Preferred Conditions
Best Use in Gardens
Appearance & Growth
Preferred Conditions
Best Use in Gardens
Both Prunus laurocerasus and Prunus lusitanica offer fantastic benefits, but the choice depends on your specific garden requirements. If you need rapid growth and maximum screening, Cherry Laurel is the best option. If you prefer a more elegant, compact hedge that still provides excellent privacy, Portuguese Laurel is a great choice.
| Species | Latin | Foliage | Pruning | Annual growth | Aspect | Soil acceptance | pH | Leaves |
| Common Laurel | Prunus laurocerasus | Evergreen | Once in July or August | Fast 30-40cm | Sun to shade | All except shallow chalk | Neutral to slightly acidic | Large shiny green. Thick and leathery |
| Portuguese Laurel | Prunus lusitanica | Evergreen | Once in August Average 20-40cm | Average 20-40cm | Sun to shade | All except the poorest | Acidic to alkaline | Ovate and dark green |
Our Practical Instant Hedge™ ensures that you don’t have to wait years for a mature, established hedge. Our expertly grown laurels are available in a range of sizes, ready to be planted for an instant impact in your garden. Ours also been used in many award-winning Show Gardens at RHS Flower Shows, from Hampton Court to Chelsea. Grown at our nursery in Iver, Bucks.
We currently have this Practical Instant Hedge™ available in heights of 1 to 1.2m, 1.5 to 1.8m and 1.8 to 2m high, in ready to plant trough bags.
For more information or to find the perfect hedge for your space, email our team hedge@pracbrown.co.uk. Or buy online here.
Instant hedges have the advantage of being pre-grown, meaning they arrive on site mature, up to 2m high, dense, and capable of providing immediate habitat and food sources for a variety of wildlife.
This “ready-made” green infrastructure allows developers to create ecologically functional spaces from day one, eliminating the lag that often accompanies conventional hedgerow planting.
Instant hedging, particularly those comprising a mixture of native species, are emerging as a highly effective, accessible way to enhance habitat connectivity and support Biodiversity Net Gain requirements. They will also contribute towards BREEAM certification having both social and ecological benefits.
Our UK grown Practical Instant Hedge™ has the following strengths:
• Supplied as a mature pre-formed hedge
• Over fifteen thousand metres of instant hedge in production
• Densely pre-planted and ready grown to 35 – 60cm wide and up to 2m high, species dependent
• Supplied in one metre long pieces in hedge bags
• Easy to handle, and plant, all year round
• Available in 16 species
• Supplied on standard 1m x 1.2m pallets
• All stock is carefully maintained, irrigated and treated with controlled release nutrients to optimise health
• Available in any lengths, and can be bent to almost any shape
• Contract growing available – contact us for details
• UK grown in Buckinghamshire – you are welcome to visit to view our stock for yourself
• Acts as natural air purifiers, reducing pollution levels by capturing particulate matter and filtering airborne pollutants.
• Reduces noise pollution.
• Absorbs carbon – Contributing to Carbon Sequestration
Incorporating Practical Instant Hedge™ into housing and infrastructure projects can support the Biodiversity Net Gain policy. Not only does mature hedging provide immediate ecological benefits, but they can also address some of the broader environmental challenges associated with urban growth, including pollution mitigation and climate resilience. By using instant hedges, developers can create vibrant green corridors that support wildlife, enrich communities, and ultimately contribute to a more sustainable future for the UK’s urban landscape.
Contact our Horticultural Team to find out more.
from our Habitat colleagues
Biodiversity Net Gain
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), is a way of creating and improving natural habitats, leaving the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was beforehand – From February 2024, new projects must deliver a BNG of 10%, Meaning a development will result in more or a better-quality, natural habitat than there was before development.
Carbon Sequestration
Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing carbon compounds from the environment, reducing the greenhouse effect and mitigating climate change. This can be achieved on a large scale by reclaiming land and creating natural habitats.
Habitat Connectivity
Urban landscape often fragments wildlife habitats, but providing green corridors can enable the safe passage of wildlife between habitats, increasing access to food, water, and shelter. This connectivity is particularly vital for pollinators, small mammals, and other fauna that rely on hedgerows for movement across these environments.
BREEAM certification
BREEAM is a holistic sustainability assessment framework for buildings and infrastructure. It is used to specify and measure the sustainability performance of buildings, ensuring that projects meet sustainability goals and continue to perform optimally over time.
Native mix instant hedges are the perfect hedging option for a natural look. They contain plants that are all native to the UK and as such emulate traditional country hedgerows found throughout Britain.
Mixed native instant hedges will create a natural look and contain a variety of colours and textures, which provide a rich living collage for excellent seasonal interest. From the structural beauty of bare winter twigs, to the early spring blossom and lush summer foliage. The autumn brings fruits, berries and wonderful golden colours.
All kinds of wildlife will be attracted to these native hedges. They provide food, shelter and nesting places for birds, mammals and invertebrates.
Native mixed instant 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 also be left un-pruned, when it will prove even more wildlife friendly.
Our homegrown native mix hedge generally contains roughly equal quantities of the following species:
Our Practical Instant Native Mix Hedge™ has also been used in many award-winning Show Gardens at RHS Flower Shows, from Hampton Court to Chelsea. Grown at our nursery in Iver, Bucks.
We currently have this Practical Instant Hedge™ available in heights of 1 to 1.2m, 1.5 to 1.8m and 1.8 to 2m high, in ready to plant trough bags.
Email hedge@pracbrown.co.uk us if you would like a quote for this instant hedge. Or buy online here.
| Species | Latin | Foliage | Pruning | Annual Growth | Aspect | Soil preference | 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 |
In the world of gardening, hedges are the unsung heroes of landscape design, offering a blend of functionality and beauty. For those with smaller gardens, selecting the right hedge can be challenging but fortunately, there are several species of our Practical Instant Hedge™ that could be the perfect choice for your small garden. Whether its the classic charm of Holly, the sweet fragrance of Osmanthus, or the timeless Yew.
Our pre-formed, top-quality Practical Instant Hedge™ range is produced in specially designed hedging bags and supplied in pieces that are 1m long by 40 – 50cm deep. When replanted into your garden, these evergreen instant hedges will give instant maturity, and require minimal maintenance.
Holly, with its glossy, spiky leaves and vibrant red berries, adds a touch of traditional charm to any garden. Their dense growth habit creates a natural privacy screen, and the presence of both male and female plants ensures the iconic bright berries during the winter months. Practical Instant Hedge™ is available as English Holly (Ilex aquifolium) and Blue Holly (Ilex meserveae). Both hedges are relatively low maintenance, requiring only occasional pruning to maintain their shape and density. It’s also very hardy, resistant to pests and diseases, and can tolerate a variety of soil conditions.
Osmanthus hedges are our favourite choice for fragrance. Known for their small, white flowers that bloom in late winter or early spring, Osmanthus hedges infuse the garden with a sweet, apricot-like aroma. Practical Instant Hedge™ (Osmanthus burkwoodii) is a compact evergreen, making them well-suited for small spaces. These hedges require moderate pruning to maintain their shape and promote bushier growth with more flowers the following season. Their versatility extends to both sunny and partially shaded locations.
Yew hedges have adorned gardens for centuries, standing as a symbol of enduring beauty. Known for their dark green, needle-like foliage, Yews provide an evergreen backdrop throughout the seasons. Their slow growth rate makes them ideal for small gardens, allowing for easy maintenance and shaping. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, Yews also have a remarkable tolerance for different soil conditions and are shade-tolerant, making them a versatile choice for various garden settings. Practical Instant Yew Hedging is available in various heights.
In the world of small gardens, the right hedge can transform a confined space into a verdant sanctuary. They are easy to manage and enhance any environment with their natural charm; whether you opt for the enduring elegance of Yew, the traditional charm of Holly, or the fragrant blooms of Osmanthus, each species brings its unique character to your outdoor space.
Osmanthus
Blue Holly
English Holly
Yew
If you like to find out more about our comprehensive range of evergreen and deciduous Practical Instant Hedges, you can:
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 Update22 May 2026 - 3:33 pm
In Stock: 1.8m high Portuguese Laurel Practical Instant Hedge™4 June 2026 - 11:33 am
Instant Hedge In Focus: Purple Beech12 May 2026 - 12:45 pm
Large Trees Available Now22 April 2026 - 1:53 pm
Tree of the Week – Prunus serrulata ‘Kanzan’10 April 2026 - 2:05 pmAll photographs and content are Copyright © Practicality Brown (Horticulture) Ltd.
All Rights Reserved.
Practicality Brown (Horticulture) Ltd
Registered Company number: 11483747
VAT number: 302 1149 64
Elaeagnus 
