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NATIVE HEDGING

mariafjohnstonmariafjohnston Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hi - My landscapers planted over 400 native hedging whips just before the frost this year, and now only about 20 have got new growth. Is it really possible that the frost has killed most of them, or perhaps poor stock before planting?  Any thoughts anyone?

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    As well as being frosty, April was very dry. We’re the whips watered generously and often?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • mariafjohnstonmariafjohnston Posts: 4
    Hi - thanks your answer.  Well funny you should mention that but the landscapers took a week to put in the watering system and it could not be done by hand as it was too far from the house for a conventional hose pipe watering system.  Once in, they were watered twice a week for 3 hours on a drip system.  Thoughts please?
  • mariafjohnstonmariafjohnston Posts: 4
    Ive checked all the dates and the plants were picked up a week before being planted and then were not watered for a week as the irrigation system was not in place.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2021
    My thoughts are that I would ask your landscapers for their thoughts ... there are always some casualties, but my feelings are that if fewer than 80% of the whips are alive then they should be replaced at their expense.  

    It may be that they needed more watering at the start, but the fact that that didn't happen was initially their responsibility.  At a push they could've hired a bowser and given the hedge a good soaking when they planted them if they were not going to install the drip system for a week.  They must've been aware of the unusually dry conditions ... the rest of us were praying for rain and farmers across the country were losing fields of winter-sown wheat. 

    I would contact them now with dated photographs ...  I would then keep a dated photographic record of the development or not of the hedge, together with a record of waterings etc.  If the landscapers are reputable I would expect them to replace the dead whips this autumn/winter.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • mariafjohnstonmariafjohnston Posts: 4
    I quite agree.  Thanks for your input.
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