Spring care for hedges in is key if you want to give them the best start in their growing season. As we’re all looking more closely as bio-diversity and sustainability of the eco-system, some of the traditional tasks we undertake in the garden in Spring are being rethought as we change our attitudes to conservation.
Hedges are the perfect habitat for some wildlife, including hedgehogs, nesting birds and invertebrates. With this in mind, here is our Spring Time checklist to care for your hedges whilst being empathetic to nature. In fact, there are certain laws in the UK surrounding the trimming of hedging at this time of year, and you can find out more information here.
Spring Care for Hedges Checklist
1. Remove any weeds and unwanted growth from around the base of the hedge
It’s important to remove any growth or fallen leaves from around the base of the hedging in order to allow the roots to breathe and for any mulching or fertilizer to penetrate through the soil. Equally, when you remove the debris from around the base, you’ll have a good eye for how healthy the trunk looks.
2. Water the soil around the base
This may sound a bit peculiar at this time of year, when we’ve just come out of the cold and wet weather of winter, but a good soaking of the roots at this time of year will give your hedges a good start in the upcoming growing season.
3. Firm the soil back down around the base of the hedge
During the winter weather, some of the soil around your hedging plants could have become displaced by the wet and windy weather conditions, so a good tip is to push any wayward soil back around the hedge base and firm it down.
4. Mulch around the hedge after you’ve watered it
Spring is the perfect time of year to apply a good quality mulch around the base of your hedges. Mulch will hold back any weed regrowth, as well as shading the soil from brighter Spring sunlight and stops the water within the soil from evaporating. If you’re interested in making your own mulch for your hedges, a good choice would be compost, rotting manure, leaf mould or grass cuttings. Bark chippings should be avoided because of their ability to suck out any free nitrogen out of the soil. This is not what you want when you want your hedges to put on new growth!
5. Trim back any brown or dead leaves, twigs or branches
A light trim of your hedges is more appropriate in the Spring time rather than a hatchet job. Pruning is important to remove any debris from the hedge and to keep them tidy, but it’s important to understand that the Spring time is when the breeding season for nesting birds is most prolific, and by severely cutting back your hedging at this time of year will surely interrupt this important process.
Sure, trim back any wind damaged, dead twigs or branches on your hedging,during the Spring, but be mindful of the essential eco-system that lives within them.
Conclusion
So there you have it! Our top tips for Spring Care for hedges! Readyhedge is a responsible and ethical nursery, situated in the south of Worcestershire. Our team at Readyhedge are a group of experienced horticulturalists with a passion for what we do. The reputation of our business has been built on our expertise, commitment to our customers and the overall quality of our hedges and screening. We specialise in growing instant hedging in metre long lengths, available in either Readyhedge bags or Readyhedge troughs. Choose from various heights from 30cm tall up to 200cm tall
If you’d like some more information about Spring Care for hedges, then we’d be happy to help you, or just give us a call on 01386 750 585 or take a look at our website here