Planting a hedge

Ordinary Man · Hazel Tree Joined: 22 Jul 2009 Posts: 3

A friend of mine told me that you can plant a hedge by breaking off branches of an existing hedge and placing them directly in the ground. He says that they will develop roots and grow. Is this true or is he waiting to have a laugh at me when I do it?

Sive · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 1:38 pm Post subject:

Cuttings maybe (....unless like me, you don't have green fingers! ) And I believe willow will grow....but "branches" ???? I don't think so, but I'm no expert.......

James Kilkelly, was GPI. · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 3:05 pm Post subject:

There's a possibility with certain plants such as Griselinia,Escallonia, or willow as mention by Sive.
Ordinary Man what you are talking about in your post is shoots here rather than branches.......right?
You may get a small percentage to take root in this way.

But try it with anything other than the easy root species, and you are on a hiding to nothing.

Say in the case of Escallonia, an easy and rewarding method of gaining new plants is to carry out simple layering

1. Simply choose the branch that will bend easily to touch the ground.
2.Dig a small hole and press the branch into it. Fill the depression with soil and firm well. To keep the branch in place and preventing the new roots from being lifted out of the ground put the rock or a brick over the buried branch spot.
3. New plans should be rooted within a few months and be ready for cutting free from the parent plant then transplanted. Smile