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New hedging

NewnorthernIrishgardenerNewnorthernIrishgardener Posts: 52
in Plants
Hi I have planted a hedge of bare root hornbeam hedging a few months ago

I have staked them and added rabbit spirals as we have A LOT of rabbits, someone told me that the rabbit spirals would hinder horizontal growth and the hedge would be bare at the bottom?

Is this right or is there anything I can do to correct this? 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If you don't use some protection, the whips will get eaten. 
    It's a question of balance. Once the hedging is well enough established, in a couple of years, you can take off the protection  [sometimes it breaks down/falls off by itself ]and then you'll just have to see what happens. You may lose a few and have to replace them.  Often, once something is well enough settled, it can withstand nibbling, as the wood is toughened up. 
    It's often the young rabbits who do the most damage too. The base of the hedge may never be as full as higher up. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited March 2023
    Most hedges become barish at the bottom due to less light, does it matter?  If it does, one idea is to cut every other plant right down so that it branches low down and fills the gap.  Perhaps wait until they are established before doing this.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
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