Plan, clear and dig the line, improve the soil, then plant, firm in and water your new hedge for a strong start.
AB-01Check tree and hedge rules before you startAsk your council's planning department whether your plot is in a conservation area, or whether any tree on the line you want to clear has a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). Working on a tree with a Tree Preservation Order without the council's consent is a criminal offence, and so is working on a tree in a conservation area without giving the council six weeks' written notice first, even on your own land. See HomeGraft's guide 'Can I cut down or prune a tree with a tree preservation order?' before touching anything. If the obstacle is actually a neighbour's existing hedge, see our high hedge rules guide instead — you can't simply remove it.
RULESKNOW 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.
AB-02Clear the planting lineBefore cutting back any existing shrubs, brambles or scrubby growth on the line, check carefully for active birds' nests. The main nesting season runs roughly March to August — avoid cutting then if you can. Use hand tools (loppers, a bow saw) or an electric hedge trimmer plugged into an RCD-protected socket; never a chainsaw, and never cut while standing on a ladder. Anything thicker than your forearm, taller than head height, or near power lines, a building or a road is a job for a tree surgeon.
RULES1 each · Electric hedge trimmer (RCD-protected supply) 1 pair · Gardening gloves 5 each · Rubble sacks for waste KNOW THE RULES
It's a criminal offence to damage or destroy an active bird's nest. Avoid cutting back growth in the March–August nesting season wherever possible.
AB-03Mark out the row and work out spacingRun a string line between pegs along the planting line to keep it straight. If the hedge sits near a boundary, it's worth agreeing the line with your neighbour first, even though it's not a legal requirement. Space bare-root whips 300-450mm apart in a single row, or use two staggered rows 400mm apart for a thicker, faster-establishing hedge. Mark each plant position with a dab of spray marker paint or a short cane.
1 set · String line and pegs 1 each · Tape measure (5m+) 1 can · Spray marker paint AB-04Dig the planting trenchDig a trench 300-400mm wide and about one spade depth (250-300mm), lifting out turf and weeds as you go. Loosen the base of the trench with a fork so roots can spread. If you're digging near a path, drive or a known pipe or cable run, work carefully by hand and stop straight away if you hit anything solid or unexpected.
AB-05Improve the soilMix well-rotted manure or garden compost into the dug soil before backfilling, plus a general-purpose fertiliser if the ground is poor. On heavy clay, fork in horticultural grit to improve drainage so roots don't sit in waterlogged soil over winter.
2 bag (50L) · Well-rotted manure or compost 1 bag (1.5kg) · Blood, fish and bone fertiliser 1 bag (25kg) · Horticultural grit AB-06Prepare the plantsFor bare-root whips, stand the roots in a bucket of water for about an hour before planting and trim off any damaged or broken roots with secateurs. For pot-grown plants, water the pot well and gently tease out any roots that have circled round the pot before planting.
AB-07Plant each one at the right depth and spacingPlant each one at the same depth it was growing before — look for the darker soil mark on the stem as a guide. Backfill around the roots, firming the soil gently with your heel as you go so there are no air pockets. Follow the spacing you marked out earlier, and don't bury the stem deeper than it was in the pot or nursery row.
10 each · Hedging plants (bare-root whips or pot-grown) AB-08Water, mulch and stakeWater each plant in thoroughly straight after planting, even if it's been raining. Spread a 50-75mm layer of mulch or bark chip along the row, keeping it clear of the stems to avoid rot. Stake taller whips with a short cane and a soft tie, and fit spiral guards or rabbit guards if you're in a rural area with grazing animals.
10 each · Rabbit/spiral guards AB-09Give a light formative trim, then tidy upIf your whips are tall and leggy, lightly trim the tips to encourage bushy growth from the base — check again for nests before cutting if there's any established growth nearby. Water weekly in dry spells for the first growing season while roots establish. Clear away tools and offcuts, and offer any usable cuttings from boundary clearance back to your neighbour before binning the rest.
RULES2 each · Garden waste sacks KNOW THE RULES
It's an offence to damage or destroy an active bird's nest — always check before cutting, even a light trim.
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