Hedging and hedges – under-planting for hedges

Beneath a hedge is one of the most difficult areas to establish plants because the soil will be full of roots and very dry as the deeper rooted hedging plants take up all the moisture – it will also tend to be fairly sterile because the hedge will be taking all the nutrients out of the soil. To have any chance of establishing under-planting, you need to dig over the area without damaging the roots and work in organic material and if possible, new top soil.

Plants you can try are Hypericum Calycinum, Perrywinkle (Vinca Major) and Hedra Helix. If you want a climber to stray through your hedge the honeysuckle Lonicera Periclymenus is often seen growing in wild hedgerows and a non-native species that copes with these difficult conditions is the Tropeliun Speciosum which is often seen growing amongst evergreen hedges in America. You can try native bulbs too, bluebells grow naturally in woodland and so they can often cope very well with conditions that other plants find impossible.

Where you have a formal hedge, these are not such good options and you might want to try adding to the drama by under-planting with just one variety of plant. Good ones to consider are hosta or crocosmia as their green foliage contrasts well with dark formal hedging.

Alternatively, go for a flowering hedge rather than flowers to grow through your hedge – you can opt for low-growing silver-leaved shrub such as Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) or Santolina chamaecyparissus (cotton bush) or try something like the Myrtus communis (myrtle), which offers an aromatic hedge with white flowers.

Hedge gardening hosta photograph by Kevin 1024, used under a creative commons attribution licence

 

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