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How to create a border hedge - HELP PLEASE

prozach21zJ7zJceBprozach21zJ7zJceB Posts: 3
in Problem solving
hi I installed this hedge in November 2020 . It's almost a year on now and I've not seen much growth. How best can I trim it to ensure I create a dense border? Any help would be greatly appreciated

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117


    I think the biggest problem is that there isn't a proper border, so the grass is constant competition for moisture and nutrients, and has taken over the space, at the expense of the hedging plants.

    Did you prune it back on planting? What type of hedging is it? It's hard to see from the photos. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • prozach21zJ7zJceBprozach21zJ7zJceB Posts: 3
    It's a red robin the were already 6ft when I bought them. I pruned the tops and that has grown fairly dense. I also dug channel so they don't have much competition
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    All the surrounding area at the base needs to be cleared of grass and weeds. Then a layer of mulch applied.  Compost, rotted manure or bark are all fine and help keep weeds down. If you haven;t pution a proper barrier between them and the grass, that's also worth doing, or the grass will keep trying to encroach on the space, at the expense of the hedge.  :)
    Photinia Red Robin at that height will take a while to establish, so they'll only be getting there now. It's rarely worthwhile buying larger specimens because of that. They should grow a bit next year, but only if your conditions are suitable for them.  They're quite fussy.
    Ideally, they'd have been cut back hard on planting to encourage them to branch out lower down too. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • prozach21zJ7zJceBprozach21zJ7zJceB Posts: 3
    Ok thanks I'll do that over the winter. If I cut the lower branches back hard before growing season will that work ?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It might, but I don't grow these as they don't like the climate here very much.  :)

    There are others on the forum who do though, and they might be able to advise. Ideally, you want the base of a hedge to be wider than the top, so that the lower sections get plenty of light   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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