Hedge growth

I planted 2 hedges last year.
1.Hawthorne along top of the garden.
2.Privet up side of the garden.
I have managed to grow on about 95% of both hedges but in both cases there are plants which are producing lots of leaves but only about 1 quarter of their normaal size and no side shoots. Pretty much looks like a straight up stem with leaves all down the sides and no branches.
Any ideas as to cause and what I should do.

John.

 

Hedges sometimes take a while to get established. You could try a good watering and liquid feed. A hedge needs to be treated like any other new plant but once it gets established it will usually look after itself apart from cutting. I used to water my hedge, on dry spells, for the first 2 years. [privet now 6 ft x 4 ft x 60 yards and giving good privacy]

 

Don't be in too much of a hurry to get it to go up, sometimes better to cut top off, get a good bushy start and grow up in stages.

 

Not too concerned about the height. I actually topped it last year about 2mths after planting it. Just concerned that some plants are slow growing and the leaves are only a fraction of the normal size. I have applied a feed and a mulch so will see if that helps.

 

My 2 year old Yew Hedge was slow on the growing side last year, had to put up with the other half going on about, if i had chosen the right type of hedge, of this i got very defensive, especially as he knows NOTHING about gardening. This year it has already grown double of the total growth of last year, so i guess they just take a while to find their feet (roots). I have a smaller laurel hedge which will be 2 in September and that has really taken off in the last month as well. My Yews birthday is in March, does anyone else have birthdays for their plants or should i get out more.

 

Yes sharon, you need to get out more - but definately in your garden! You have made the right decision about your yew so take no notice of other half, they are slow to get going but will reward you in time.

Don't forget to prune it though, you will have a much bushier stronger hedge if you do so.

 

Hi, chkm! As I understand it, most of your hedge is growing as you want it, but the odd plant is doing a stick-impersonation - is that it? If so - that's not unusual. What I've generally done is to take lots of cuttings (from the clippings every time I cut the hedge), and pop them in the ground once they've taken, and this has gradually filled in the gap.
Other than that, a common mistake when getting a hedge going is not to trim the base. As plants respond to hard cutting back by growing vigorously, you really have to cut back everywhere, so that everywhere grows at the same rate, although the temptation is to cut back straggly bits less than vigorous bits - that's exactly the wrong thing to do!! Hope that helps!

 

dendrobium thats exactly it. Most is growing well with the rest doing a stick impersonation as you so well described it. As it is in it's 2nd year I suppose it is time to prune it back to encourage thicker growth. I intend to use a cane to ensure all are cut to the same height (easier than running a line across about 100ft of hedging). Then I hope to top the hedge and cut back all the new growth by about half. Is this hard enough or should I cut back harder. Also is this the right time of year to do both the cutting back and also plant some of the cuttings to fill the gaps.

 

ought to have added that one extra thing is to keep the top narrower - avoids damage from snow, etc. This shape of the sides is called batter - here's a description of it, to do with dry-stone dyking, to give a bit of an idea. http://handbooks.btcv.org.uk/handbooks/content/section/1630
Hawthorn and privet- both grow pretty fast - I'd say use your own skill and judgement about the right time to do things. If it's looking a bit straggly, I'd tidy it back, but I prefer to do the main pruning at the beginning and end of the season. A third to a half is what I'd do - again, see what it looks like to you. If it's very straggly - make it nearer a half, but if fairly compact, go for less. Can you post photos? Good luck!

 

BTW - re cuttings - when you clip hedge, pop the cuttings in a small pot of compost, put a plastic bag over them (so they don't touch the plastic), and they should come on ok - then plant when they're ready. You'll know if they're developing roots if you give them a gentle tug and they resist.

 

dendrobium
thanks for the help. I will try potting some cuttings to use for filling in the gaps. I am having problems posting pictures which for some reason are visible on the preview and even after posting but a few hrs later are gone. I have posted a link to some pictures I have of the garden including the new wildlife pond on this site in the water garden section titled update on the wildlife pond. I will work on more detailed pictures as things progress but it gives an idea of what I have to work with.