Beech Hedge – last week in April 2017

One hundred and fifty bare root Beech trees

We chose a Beech hedge as it should grow up quickly around the veggie plot and give protection from the wind.  It’s a good screening plant and thickens up well. We put in 3 plants per metre and used the slit planting method.  This was suitable as the plants weren’t too big (60 – 80cm).  With this method you lay down some weed control matting.  Then make a slit in the fabric.  Using a spade you make a slit the width of the blade, coat the dampened roots of the plant with Mycorrhizal Fungi and using a side to side swishing motion slot the roots of the plant into the opening.  Fill up the slit with extra soil if necessary and firm in, to the level that the plant was originally growing.  Water well and ensure they do not dry out in the first year.  Our plants were bought from Ashridge Nurseries where we bought the fruit trees from for the orchard

Black plastic matting down to force grass to die down and allow Beech bare roots to grow without competition from nearby grass roots

pegging out the matting

Preparing for a Beech Hedge around the veggie plot. A trial to add protection from the wind and eventually animals

Slit planting the bare root young beech trees

View of veggie plot

Beech hedge completed 26.4.17

Beech hedge completed 26.4.17 – view of top side