Sarah Raven outlines her favourites for garden hedging and explains how to care for them
Well known garden designer and grower Sarah Raven is turning her attention to shrubs and hedges for garden design and biodiversity, with plans to add 3,000 metres of hedging to her Perch Hill Farm.
Since moving to Perch Hill in 1994, Sarah has planted roughly 750 metres of hedging, in the process creating safe nesting habitats for wildlife and providing food for bees, hedgehogs and birds. She recommends using shrubs for their self-sustaining and beautiful qualities and says that for new gardeners, hedges are the perfect choice, as many are low-maintenance and easy to care for, while also creating natural wildlife havens. Sarah’s plan to plant more in Perch Hill will make for a traditional yet easy-to-care-for garden thriving with life and scent.
Sarah explains : “I think that hedges and shrubs make a perfect addition to any garden.
“I find that introducing shrubs is a relatively easy way to elevate your garden, helping to create a lived-in look and feel. My favourites are long-lasting, hardy shrubs with glorious scent, which is always a welcome addition to a garden.
Getting started with hedges can be tricky as there’s not a great deal of advice but so many options to choose from. You may not know which will suit your garden best. To make things easier, here are some care tips for some of my favourite choices.”
An all-rounder for wildlife – beech green hedging
If you have a smaller garden this works well and is easy to care for. Sarah suggests using five plants per metre length, setting them in a zigzag to encourage a thick and bushy hedge that is ideal for wildlife shelter and nesting.
A low-maintenance showstopper – Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’
There are two types of the delightful Viburnum opulus, one which produces eye-catching red berries, while the second emerges with the most beautiful green pom poms. Viburnums are self-sustaining and Sarah recommends lightly pruning after planting, then mulching with well rotted compost or manure.
Cut back viburnum by a third each year to keep them in shape.
A scented sensation – Daphne ‘Perfume Princess’
Daphnes are a strong winter shrub with an abundantly spicy fragrance, making them an extravagant and gorgeous addition to your garden. They can be temperamental during planting, so try to avoid disturbing the roots, as this can cause the plant to sulk for a year and prevent the long-lasting delicate blooms from emerging.
A shady garden’s dream – Hydrangea arborescens ‘Incrediball’
Sarah recommends hydrangea ‘Incrediball’ and its vast pompom flowers.
These are an absolute delight and often stay upright thanks to ‘Incrediball’ having a stronger neck and larger head than its offspring ‘Annabelle’. When caring for this shrub, remove any faded flowerheads once the danger of frosts has passed, before cutting back flowered stems to a strong pair of buds.
If you’d prefer a shorter, sturdier plant, Sarah suggests pruning ‘Incrediball’ to the ground, or if you’d like a taller plant, prune less.
About Sarah Raven
Sarah’s aim is to help gardeners create colour and beauty through a practical, easy-to-achieve approach. Her love of gardening includes growing cut flowers and vegetables from seed, and designing gardens full of variety, colour and scent to help the environment and biodiversity. She also hosts the gardening podcast Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange.
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