Proper aftercare in the first year is critical for establishing a healthy, thriving hedge that grows strongly in subsequent years.

The Five Essential Aftercare Tasks

1. Watering - Life Support for New Hedges

New hedges are on "water life support" for their first summer at least. Their roots are still establishing and cannot get adequate moisture without your help.

Watering schedule: Soak the soil around your plants twice a week in dry weather. We recommend an irrigation system like a leaky pipe for consistent watering without daily effort.

How to check if watering is needed: If the earth is damp 2-3cm (1") down, there is no need for water. If it is dry, then water really well. Remember that lots, occasionally, is better than little and often.

2. Weeding - Your Hedge's Biggest Competition

Weeds kill hedging more than rabbits in most gardens. Grass and weeds compete for water and nutrients, dramatically slowing your hedge's growth.

Action required: Hoe down weeds and grass for about 75cm on either side of your hedge. Hand-pull weeds that grow out from under mulch fabric right next to your plants.

A tree or hedge plant trying to grow new roots into soil already dominated by grass will grow much slower than one surrounded by open soil.

3. Mulching - The Growth Accelerator

Mulches suppress weeds and preserve soil moisture, which gives an astonishing boost to your hedge's growth rate. If it's going to be hard to frequently water and weed your new plants, mulch is essential for them to thrive.

What does mulch do?

• Keeps the sun off the soil
• Traps moisture while allowing water in
• Makes it harder for weeds to grow
• Improves soil fertility by encouraging soil life

When to mulch: Apply mulch yearly, when the soil is moist and warm (late winter/early spring is ideal).

Organic Mulches (Best for Garden Hedging)

These break down to feed soil life and improve fertility over time:

• Grass clippings: Free and readily available. Fresh clippings are fine as mulch (they don't steal nitrogen when on the surface)
• Compost or well-rotted manure: Best for hungry plants because they release nutrients immediately
• Woodchips or bark chips: Look attractive and last for years. Free wood chips from arborists work great
• Cardboard: Plain cardboard (not glossy) suppresses weeds effectively. A great combo is cardboard boxes over the soil hidden by grass clippings or leaves
• Autumn leaves: Excellent when mowed over or shredded
• Natural fabrics: Old cotton or wool clothes, carpet felt, hessian sacks - anything that rots and smothers

Important: Don't pile organic mulch up around the trunks of your new plants - keep it a few inches away from stems.

Plastic Mulch Fabric

One application of woven polypropylene weed control fabric lasts for years. While not pretty, it:

• Dramatically improves soil fertility by trapping moisture
• Eliminates weeding for years
• Works perfectly for long hedge runs
• Encourages soil life, which drives fertility

Long term, good mulching can transform the worst soils into rich, deep, dark topsoil.

4. Frost Protection

Firm the soil back down after a frost, or if your plants are pushed around by the wind. Frost heave can lift new plants out of the ground, exposing roots to air and death.

If necessary, put up a temporary windbreak to protect newly planted hedges from strong winds.

5. Recording Losses for Replacement

Check the hedge regularly to remove dead plants and record losses. Replace them in one go next planting season rather than leaving gaps.

Don't panic about leaf drop: Do not be concerned if evergreens drop some of their leaves in the first year - this is normal as they adjust to transplanting. A few yellow leaves here and there are natural, especially in the early years.

Why Aftercare Matters So Much

A newly planted hedge has to urgently grow strong new roots, which in the early stages are sensitive to drying out and vulnerable to competing weeds. 

Without proper care:

• Plants simply die
• New growth rate of survivors is greatly reduced
  
• Your hedge will take years longer to reach maturity
• Even though bareroot plants are covered by our Bareroot Guarantee, you'll waste time with replacements

With good aftercare:

• 100% survival rates are typical
• Plants establish quickly with vigorous root growth
• Your hedge reaches screening height faster with dense, bushy growth from the base up

In general your new hedges are well mulched, you can water them thoroughly and safely go away for a week.
Without mulch, new plants in full sun may suffer serious setbacks or die in a dry spell.

Quick Aftercare Checklist

Every week in dry weather:

• Water twice weekly (deep soaking)
• Check for and remove weeds

After frost or wind:

• Firm soil back down around plants

Every spring:

• Top up mulch when soil is moist and warm
• Fertilise if soil is poor

Throughout first year:

• Record any losses for replacement next season
• Don't worry about some evergreen leaf drop

Related Guides

• How to plant your hedge
• Formative pruning for new hedges
• How to trim a mature hedge