Hawthorn Hedging for Sale

Hawthorn Hedge Plants

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) is the most widely used hedge plant in the UK. It has all the virtues you look for in hedging: it is fast growing (hence the other common name, quickthorn), incredibly tough, happy in almost any soil, easy to clip, and so dense that even in winter when it is leafless, a well-grown hawthorn hedge is almost impossible to see through.
Visually, it provides year-round interest. Masses of simple, white blossom contrast with its dark wood in spring. The glossy green foliage looks good all summer and is followed in autumn by bunches of bright red haws. And when leaf and berry are gone, the black bark looks great on a frosty day.
Added to all that, it's a perfect stock proof hedge.

Take look at the rest of our range of hedging plants, many of which can be interplanted with Hawthorn for more variety: have a look at our mixed country hedge packs for inspiration. 

Looking for larger Hawthorn trees? We have a selection of ornamental Hawthorn trees in standard size here.

Hawthorn in Summary

• Uses: Country and stockproof hedges from 100cms upwards
• Good Points: Native, cheap, almost literally bomb-proof
• Position: Anywhere there is drainage
• Growth: 40-50cms p.a.

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Growing a Hawthorn Hedge

Planting Hawthorn

Our film on How to Plant a Country Hedge was made with mixed hedging in mind, but it applies equally to a solid Hawthorn hedge. If you prefer the written word, then have a look at our Hedging Advice Section.

Hawthorn is truly tough, however, a little preparation (and protection from rabbits if necessary) will help ensure your plants establish as quickly as possible. We always recommend Rootgrow when planting, especially in poorer soils: it makes a big difference! And it is important to keep weeds under control for the first 2- 3 years. Either spray them off before planting and again when there is no leaf on the hedge, or suppress them using organic mulches or Mypex.

If you want a stock proof hedge, plant in a staggered double row at five plants per metre. If your hawthorn hedge is just for screening, then plant in a single row at three plants per metre. It will no longer stop a charging bull, but it will still be dense enough to keep out trespassers and prying eyes.

For the best display of flowers and haws, the trick is to clip your hedge every other year. This gives the plants a chance to produce flowering wood.

Kept clipped, your hedge should give you decades of service. However, if it is neglected, after 10-15 years, gaps can appear at the base. These can be dealt with by "laying" which will make your hedge as good as, or sometimes even better than, new.

Pruning Hawthorn Hedging

Pruning work is required right after planting in order for your new hedge to become as bushy as possible from the ground. The first two "prunings" are easy, but important. Get them right and it will become impenetrable!

Cut Hawthorn Hedge plants back after Planting

On the day you plant them, cut your hedging back by HALF. As in 50%. Many people cut them back a bit more, down to 6" (15 cms), with great success. This is a bit like pruning a rose; dormant buds below the cut put out new growth in spring. Each little "stump" can produce as many as 5 (but more usually 3 or 4) new branches as a result.

And cut Hawthorn Hedges back again a year later

Assuming you planted between October and April, make the second cut the following winter, roughly a year later when the leaves have fallen. With secateurs or hedge trimmer, carefully cut all the NEW growth (i.e. growth that is no more than a year old) back by HALF. Yes, that really is 50% and it really applies to ALL the new growth made since the first cut. This will have the effect of causing each newly pruned branch to put out 3-5 new growths the following March.

Hawthorn - Trimming in later years

As a result of the first two cuts, your plants are now sturdy, rounded bushes with between 9 and 15 branches each. Over the following years, these will lengthen and thicken and you will not have to make savage cuts like the first two again. Trim the sides of your hawthorn hedge when they look ragged in autumn and keep the tops reasonably level at the same time. Try to clip your hedge to a tapered shape - all hedges whether native or formal should be wider at the bottom than at the top to let light get to the lower branches and keep them leafy.

Buying Hawthorn Hedging

You can buy hawthorn plants singly in a range of sizes. The more you buy, the cheaper they get per plant. The most economic option our packs of 50 plants, which come in the two most popular sizes and are sufficient for 17 metres at three plants per metre, or 10 metres at 5 plants per metre in a staggered double row.

All our hawthorn is covered by our no-quibble Guarantee, which means you can order with complete confidence. Free delivery on orders over £60. Best advice & friendly support throughout.