Fill a gap in a hedge

Plant new shrubs into a bare patch in an existing hedge, checking permissions and nesting birds before you cut anything.

FH-01Check permissions and look for nests before cutting anythingBefore you trim or remove anything from the gap, check whether the hedge is protected by a Tree Preservation Order or sits in a conservation area — ring your council's planning team, it's free to ask. A hedge itself can't have a Tree Preservation Order, but trees growing in it can, and cutting a protected tree without consent is a criminal offence. HomeGraft's guide 'Can I cut down or prune a tree with a tree preservation order?' explains how to check. Also look carefully through the hedge for birds' nests — nesting season runs roughly March to August, and damaging or destroying an active nest is an offence, so if you find one, leave the cutting until later in the year.

RULES

KNOW THE RULES

TPO trees need the council's consent, and trees in a conservation area need six weeks' written notice first. Skipping either is a criminal offence. It's also an offence to damage an active bird's nest, so check before you cut, especially March–August.

FH-02Measure the gap and buy matching plantsMeasure the width and height of the gap in mm. Most hedging goes in at one plant per 300–450mm of gap width, so a 1.5m gap needs roughly 4-5 plants. Take a photo or cutting from the existing hedge to a garden centre so you match the species — mixing species leaves an obvious patch. Bare-root whips are cheap and best planted November to March; pot-grown plants cost more but can go in at any time of year.

4 each · Hedging plants (whips or pot-grown, matching species)

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FH-03Clear the gap with hand toolsCut back any dead stubs or overgrown stems with secateurs or a pruning saw, working from the ground. Never use a chainsaw, and never cut while standing on a ladder — if a stem is thicker than your forearm, or the hedge is taller than head height, call a tree surgeon instead. Clear out dead wood, weeds and old roots so the new plants have a clean start. If the hedge sits on a shared boundary, you can cut overhanging growth back to the boundary line from your own side, but don't go onto your neighbour's land, and offer the cuttings back to them.

1 each · Secateurs

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1 each · Pruning saw

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1 pair · Gardening gloves

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FH-04Dig over and improve the soilDig a hole or trench along the gap about 300mm deep and 300-400mm wide, enough for roots to spread. Break up the base with a garden fork and mix in well-rotted compost or manure, especially if the soil either side looks tired or compacted — established hedge roots nearby will have used up a lot of the nutrients.

2 bag (50L) · Well-rotted compost or manure

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1 each · Garden fork

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1 each · Spade

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FH-05Plant and water inSpace the plants 300-450mm apart, matching the spacing of the existing hedge. Set each one at the same depth it was growing at before — look for the soil mark on the stem — then backfill with soil mixed with compost. Firm gently by hand, don't stamp it down hard, and water each plant in thoroughly straight away.

1 each · Watering can

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FH-06Stake exposed plantsBare-root whips in a windy or exposed spot may need a short bamboo cane and a soft tie to stop them rocking while roots establish. Pot-grown shrubs are usually heavy enough not to need staking. Leave ties loose enough for the stem to keep growing.

4 each · Bamboo cane

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4 each · Soft plant tie

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FH-07Mulch and tidy upSpread a 50-75mm layer of bark chip or garden compost around the base of each new plant, keeping it clear of the stems to stop them rotting. This holds in moisture and keeps weeds down while roots settle in. Bag up all cuttings and debris — offer any from a shared boundary hedge back to your neighbour — and clean your tools before putting them away.

1 bag (70L) · Bark mulch

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FH-08Keep new plants wateredWater new plants once or twice a week through their first growing season, more often in dry spells — newly planted hedging usually fails from drying out, not frost. Check stakes and ties after windy weather and loosen any that have gone tight as the stems thicken.

KNOW THE RULES

Before you start: What can I do about a neighbour's high hedge?

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