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.
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 are proud to introduce two new evergreens to our Practical Instant Hedge™ range:
Ilex meserveae Blue Maid/ Prince has dense, lustrous, blue-green, spiny leaves from purple stems and tiny, white flowers are produced in spring. These cultivars are some of the best blue hollies available. Our Practical Instant Hedge™ has a mix of Blue Maid and Blue Prince to ensure the delightful profusion of bright red berries in autumn and winter. Late summer pruning will reveal dark purplish-green stems, which add to the ornamental effect.
Burkwood osmanthus is a dense, slow-growing, evergreen. The glossy, finely toothed, dark green leaves beautifully offset by highly scented, jasmine like, white flowers in mid and late spring. If pruned after flowering, it will increase the blooms for the following year.
The addition of these attractive new instant hedges brings our range of evergreens to a dozen species, with 5 deciduous to complete our offering. There really is a Practical Instant Hedge™ for all gardens.
If you like to find out more about our comprehensive range of evergreen and deciduous Practical Instant Hedges, you can:
Did you Know – We offer our Instant Hedge as both supply only, or supply and plant as well.
If you are thinking about using hedging in your garden, you may want to consider buying a pre-grown instant hedge, whether its evergreen instant hedging for privacy screening or the seasonal interest of a mature deciduous hedge. Why wait for individual plants to grow, when we’ve done the work for you?
Practical Instant Hedge™ is available in various species and sizes, up to 2m high, so how will you choose which one is best for your garden? The first choice is whether you would like one that is evergreen or one that is deciduous:
Evergreen hedges maintain their foliage throughout the year.
This provides screening, privacy and shelter all year round. Despite their name, an evergreen hedge isn’t just one colour. It comes in many different varieties to suit your individual taste. If you like bright colours, then the apple green leaves of Griselinia could be your favourite. If shiny leaves are more your thing, then its Common Laurel. For classic elegance, nothing can really beat the traditional Yew. Or if subtle greys are what your garden needs, then Elaeagnus would be perfect.
Deciduous hedges tend to shed their leaves in the winter.
They offer year-round seasonal interest from flowers, coloured foliage, or autumn fruits. Hawthorn, for example, has an abundant display of white scented early spring blossom, and red haws in the autumn. Both Beech (Green and Purple) and Hornbeam have wonderful autumn bursts of coloured foliage, and Beech retains most of its leaves through the winter too. Native Mix hedging replicates the traditional country hedgerows found across Britain and local wildlife will be attracted by the food and shelter opportunities.
There are many more varieties of Practical Instant Hedge that will help make your garden your perfect outdoor space, and you can plant it all year round!
Book a visit our nursery in Iver, Bucks or to talk to our Horticultural team on 01753 652022 to find out more.
Practical Instant Hedge™ is the best choice for a horse friendly boundary. Our hedging range is a mature, ready to plant product, so the animals can feel the immediate benefits, including protection from the elements. These stockproof hedges will give interest all year round and will be beneficial to other wildlife too.
We are frequently asked about hedges suitable for horses, and can recommend the following Practical Instant Hedge™, that, if grazed by horses, should cause no harm.
Hawthorn – Crataegus monogyna
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.
Griselinia littoralis
An attractive evergreen hedge, with soft lime green leaves and suited to salt laden winds of coastal locations.
Hornbeam – Carpinus betulus
A deciduous hedge whose leaves turn yellow in the autumn and then emerge bright green in early spring. Similar in look to beech but with finely ribbed leaves.
Oleaster – Elaeagnus ebbingei Compacta
A dense evergreen hedge that is particularly suitable for seaside locations. Horse friendly with a lovely grey / green leaf.
Beech – Fagus sylvatica
This deciduous hedge 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. Beech nuts are poisonous but if your hedge is trimmed in summer, nuts are unlikely to be produced.
If you are planning to include trees in your horse friendly hedging, then autumn and winter are the perfect time to plant semi-mature large trees. Our Practical Instant Hedge™ can be planted at any time of the year, meaning you can plan around your needs.
Learn more here or contact our Horticultural team for more details by email Hedge@pracbrown.co.uk or call 01753 652022
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.
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 are proud to introduce two new evergreens to our Practical Instant Hedge™ range:
Ilex meserveae Blue Maid/ Prince has dense, lustrous, blue-green, spiny leaves from purple stems and tiny, white flowers are produced in spring. These cultivars are some of the best blue hollies available. Our Practical Instant Hedge™ has a mix of Blue Maid and Blue Prince to ensure the delightful profusion of bright red berries in autumn and winter. Late summer pruning will reveal dark purplish-green stems, which add to the ornamental effect.
Burkwood osmanthus is a dense, slow-growing, evergreen. The glossy, finely toothed, dark green leaves beautifully offset by highly scented, jasmine like, white flowers in mid and late spring. If pruned after flowering, it will increase the blooms for the following year.
The addition of these attractive new instant hedges brings our range of evergreens to a dozen species, with 5 deciduous to complete our offering. There really is a Practical Instant Hedge™ for all gardens.
If you like to find out more about our comprehensive range of evergreen and deciduous Practical Instant Hedges, you can:
Did you Know – We offer our Instant Hedge as both supply only, or supply and plant as well.
If you are thinking about using hedging in your garden, you may want to consider buying a pre-grown instant hedge, whether its evergreen instant hedging for privacy screening or the seasonal interest of a mature deciduous hedge. Why wait for individual plants to grow, when we’ve done the work for you?
Practical Instant Hedge™ is available in various species and sizes, up to 2m high, so how will you choose which one is best for your garden? The first choice is whether you would like one that is evergreen or one that is deciduous:
Evergreen hedges maintain their foliage throughout the year.
This provides screening, privacy and shelter all year round. Despite their name, an evergreen hedge isn’t just one colour. It comes in many different varieties to suit your individual taste. If you like bright colours, then the apple green leaves of Griselinia could be your favourite. If shiny leaves are more your thing, then its Common Laurel. For classic elegance, nothing can really beat the traditional Yew. Or if subtle greys are what your garden needs, then Elaeagnus would be perfect.
Deciduous hedges tend to shed their leaves in the winter.
They offer year-round seasonal interest from flowers, coloured foliage, or autumn fruits. Hawthorn, for example, has an abundant display of white scented early spring blossom, and red haws in the autumn. Both Beech (Green and Purple) and Hornbeam have wonderful autumn bursts of coloured foliage, and Beech retains most of its leaves through the winter too. Native Mix hedging replicates the traditional country hedgerows found across Britain and local wildlife will be attracted by the food and shelter opportunities.
There are many more varieties of Practical Instant Hedge that will help make your garden your perfect outdoor space, and you can plant it all year round!
Book a visit our nursery in Iver, Bucks or to talk to our Horticultural team on 01753 652022 to find out more.
Practical Instant Hedge™ is the best choice for a horse friendly boundary. Our hedging range is a mature, ready to plant product, so the animals can feel the immediate benefits, including protection from the elements. These stockproof hedges will give interest all year round and will be beneficial to other wildlife too.
We are frequently asked about hedges suitable for horses, and can recommend the following Practical Instant Hedge™, that, if grazed by horses, should cause no harm.
Hawthorn – Crataegus monogyna
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.
Griselinia littoralis
An attractive evergreen hedge, with soft lime green leaves and suited to salt laden winds of coastal locations.
Hornbeam – Carpinus betulus
A deciduous hedge whose leaves turn yellow in the autumn and then emerge bright green in early spring. Similar in look to beech but with finely ribbed leaves.
Oleaster – Elaeagnus ebbingei Compacta
A dense evergreen hedge that is particularly suitable for seaside locations. Horse friendly with a lovely grey / green leaf.
Beech – Fagus sylvatica
This deciduous hedge 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. Beech nuts are poisonous but if your hedge is trimmed in summer, nuts are unlikely to be produced.
If you are planning to include trees in your horse friendly hedging, then autumn and winter are the perfect time to plant semi-mature large trees. Our Practical Instant Hedge™ can be planted at any time of the year, meaning you can plan around your needs.
Learn more here or contact our Horticultural team for more details by email Hedge@pracbrown.co.uk or call 01753 652022
All 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 
