{"id":612933304646,"date":"2026-01-09T09:30:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T09:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/blogs\/uncategorized\/hedging-not-fencing\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T08:42:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T08:42:19","slug":"hedging-not-fencing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ashridgetrees.co.uk\/blogs\/hedging\/hedging-not-fencing\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Fence It, Hedge It!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why Choose Hedges Over Fences?<\/h2>\n

Hegemony – in the spirit of \u2018I\u2019m sorry I haven\u2019t a clue\u2019 – has a new definition. It\u2019s the money saved in the long term by planting a hedge instead of fencing \u2013 well, it is in our book! Hedges have multiple advantages: they\u2019re beautiful, super wildlife friendly, sustainable and storm resistant. And unlike fences that lose their looks, deteriorate over time and need repair and\/or replacement, they grow stronger, denser and lovelier with longevity.<\/p>\n

For speedy and instant results, go for rootball yew<\/a> which grows like topsy. Beech<\/a> is perfect for those who love the contrast of bright green spring foliage and fluttery copper autumn and winter pyjamas, whilst hornbeam<\/a>, architectural box<\/a>, brightly berried cotoneaster<\/a> and holly, roses and a multitude of other hedging options provide styles and sizes to suit all places and pockets.<\/p>\n

And if you need a fast-growing<\/strong> hedge for privacy, Cherry Laurel<\/a>, Privet<\/a> or Western Red Cedar<\/a> will do the trick!<\/p>\n

Go formal or informal, fluffy or architectural, mixed or single variety, toweringly grand or small and discreet \u2013 your garden or yard is a blank canvas and your living screen will be a transformational and triumphant addition to it. To blow our own trumpet, our bare-root hedging plants have won us a Which \u2018Best Buy<\/a>\u2019 award, so have a look at the website and don\u2019t fence it, hedge it!<\/p>\n

\n
@ashridgenurseries<\/a> Why would I pay for a fence that blocks nature when I can grow a boundary that: \u2705 Brings wildlife \u2705 Cleans the air \u2705 Looks better every year!\u201d Don\u2019t fence it, hedge it! #DontFenceItHedgeIt<\/a> #HotTake<\/a> #SustainabilityTok<\/a> #GardenDesign<\/a> #BarerootSpecialists<\/a> #HedgingExperts<\/a> \u266c original sound – Ashridge Nurseries<\/a><\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The best time to plant bare-rooted hedging is between November and April, when plants are dormant and have time to establish before the growing season starts and they gallivant into life.<\/p>\n

In terms of maintenance, hedges, like people, benefit from regular hair-cuts. There\u2019s a fine line between casually tousled and shaggily overgrown and regularly trimmed hedges are not only neater but don\u2019t go leggy. Ideal trimming times vary according to the kind of hedge you\u2019ve planted (see our hedge pruning advice pag<\/a>e) and do remember wild birds nest in hedges between early March and early August \u2013 sometimes earlier and sometimes later. Check you won\u2019t be damaging or destroying a nest or the eggs – it\u2019s illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and carries an unlimited fine and up to 6 months in clink\u2026<\/p>\n

So enjoy planning your boundaries and hedging and \u2013 as we\u2019ve said before – don\u2019t fence it, hedge it! It\u2019s great for the environment, great for wildlife and great for the feel good factor of doing something fabulous.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

\n\t\n\t
\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRelated Products\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Mature\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Bird\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t
\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHawthorn Hedge Plants\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\u00a30.99\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Common\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Mature\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t
\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHazel Hedge Plants\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\u00a31.49\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Wild\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Wild\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t
\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWild Crab Apple Hedge Plants\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\u00a31.34\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Guelder\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Guelder\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t
\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tGuelder Rose Hedge Plants\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\u00a31.99\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Field\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Field\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t
\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tField Maple Hedge Plants\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\u00a31.29\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Common\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Common\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t
\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCommon Red Dogwood Hedge Plants\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\u00a31.99\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t