When it comes to defining your garden, creating privacy, or adding a touch of natural beauty to your property, nothing beats a properly chosen, well-tended hedge. At World of Hedges, we’ve spent over 40 years helping homeowners and businesses across Lancashire, Cumbria, Manchester, and beyond pick the right plants and keep them thriving. Here’s what you need to know to choose smartly and care confidently.
1. Picking the Right Hedge for Your Space & Purpose
Not all hedges are the same — what works beautifully in one garden might struggle in another. Start by considering:
- Purpose: Is your hedge for privacy? Wind protection? Wildlife habitat? Or simply for decorative structure?
- Sun & Soil: Does your site get full sun, partial shade or be shaded most of the day? What is the soil like — well-draining, clay, sandy, or rich loam? Some hedges handle damp soil better than others.
- Evergreen vs Deciduous: If you want something green all year round, an evergreen hedge is best. But deciduous hedges can bring seasonal colour, blossom or fall interest.
- Growth Rate & Maintenance: Fast-growing hedges can establish quickly, but need more frequent trimming. Slower growers are lower maintenance but take more time to fill out.
Here at World of Hedges, our nursery stocks a broad variety — hardy evergreens, native species, flowering hedges, and rarer specimens from around the world. We also provide guidance on what plant types suit each location and purpose.
2. Installation Tips for Strong, Healthy Growth
A hedge is only as good as its roots — how you plant it will greatly affect its future health.
- Spacing: Don’t overcrowd. Correct spacing lets each plant access light, air and nutrients, helping avoid diseases.
- Soil Preparation: Digging in compost or well-rotted manure can help soil structure, especially in heavy clay or sandy patches.
- Watering: Newly planted hedges need consistent watering until they establish. Be sure the roots don’t dry out completely.
- Support & Mulch: Applying mulch around the base (but not touching the stems) helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Stakes may be needed for tall or top-heavy plants.
At our nursery in Garstang, we grow our hedges without insecticides and use nurturing techniques so they arrive healthy and strong.
3. Maintenance: Keeping Your Hedge Looking Its Best
Once established, a hedge needs periodic care to look its best and serve its role effectively:
- Pruning: Trim regularly, shaping from the bottom up so the base stays dense. Remove dead, diseased or crossing branches to prevent issues.
- Feeding: A balanced fertiliser in spring helps promote lush growth. Avoid over-fertilisation which can weaken a plant’s structure.
- Water in Dry Spells: Especially in hot or dry months, even established hedges benefit from occasional deep watering.
- Pest & Disease Monitoring: Keep an eye out for signs of pest infestation or fungal disease. Early detection makes treatment far easier.
4. Environmental & Aesthetic Benefits
Choosing the right hedge offers more than just privacy and boundaries. Well-chosen hedgerows enhance biodiversity — providing a habitat for birds, insects and small mammals. They help with soil stabilization, reduce noise and wind, and improve air quality. And aesthetically, they frame your garden, add shape, colour and even seasonal interest, especially when you select varieties that flower or change colour.
5. Why Choose World of Hedges?
What sets us apart:
- Over 40 years’ experience supplying both domestic and commercial customers.
- A wide variety of hedges & shrubs from around the world, and a knowledgeable team who’ll guide you from choosing the right hedge to planting & beyond.
- Free quotes, tailored planting schemes, and a nursery with plants cultivated with care.
If you’re considering a hedge for your garden or commercial border, why not drop by at the nursery in Garstang or call us? We’d be delighted to help you pick something perfect — a hedge that reflects your style, suits your lifestyle, and grows beautifully over time.