This is all so helpful. As the garden is a wild chaotic cottage garden the privet, although dull, provided a clean clipped green backdrop for the chaos And contrasted with the planting to show it off.
I realise a native hedge will give the garden a completely different look as the hedge will be wild and misshapen but I do feel it's time for a change.
when I've arranged for the privet to be dug out and the soil improved should I wait till winter to replant or do it straight away?
Thanks for that. However, if I plant whips theres a risk the wind will whistle thru my garden and could cause damage for year or more. Also my neighbour on the other side of the hedge has an overgrown garden full of brambles and bindweed which would take over while my hedge was small. So on balance would it be better to plant big established plants, although expensive it would prevent the above problems.
Does anyone one have experience of planting 80/120 litre pot grown hedging plants?
You can buy 3 to 4 year old bare rooted plants. That's what I generally go for. Large shrubs in pots will take longer to establish and will need more watering.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
I would plant bare rooted plants as Redwing advises, and then use debris netting and posts to screen the wind and let the hedge establish. You'll have to keep marauding brambles and bindweed at bay for the first few years, whatever you plant.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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This is all so helpful. As the garden is a wild chaotic cottage garden the privet, although dull, provided a clean clipped green backdrop for the chaos And contrasted with the planting to show it off.
I realise a native hedge will give the garden a completely different look as the hedge will be wild and misshapen but I do feel it's time for a change.
when I've arranged for the privet to be dug out and the soil improved should I wait till winter to replant or do it straight away?
Wait til the winter as bare rooted plants will be available from November onwards and they are much cheaper.
Thanks for that. However, if I plant whips theres a risk the wind will whistle thru my garden and could cause damage for year or more. Also my neighbour on the other side of the hedge has an overgrown garden full of brambles and bindweed which would take over while my hedge was small. So on balance would it be better to plant big established plants, although expensive it would prevent the above problems.
Does anyone one have experience of planting 80/120 litre pot grown hedging plants?
You can buy 3 to 4 year old bare rooted plants. That's what I generally go for. Large shrubs in pots will take longer to establish and will need more watering.
I would plant bare rooted plants as Redwing advises, and then use debris netting and posts to screen the wind and let the hedge establish. You'll have to keep marauding brambles and bindweed at bay for the first few years, whatever you plant.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.