Hedge Laying and Why It’s Important

Hedges are not only one of the most attractive forms of fencing in a property, they’re also the most natural. Creating and maintaining a healthy line of hedges provides a wealth of benefits not just limited to the aesthetics of screening off your land or garden.

A well-maintained hedge creates a barrier which will restrain everything from a domestic pet to a herd of sheep or cattle. It also creates a terrific habitat for all manner of wildlife, from insects to birds and small mammals. Strong, healthy hedges additionally act as an effective barrier from the worst of the elements, protecting crops or your garden planting from extremes of wind and rain.

So is it simply a case of planting a line of low-growing shrubs and letting nature take its course? No. for a hedge to grow strong and sturdy, it needs an element of ongoing maintenance, and part of that is hedge laying.

What Is Hedge Laying and Why Is It Necessary?

Firstly, why lay hedges? Left untreated, the shrubs that make up the hedge will mature over the years, growing taller. Foliage will tend to grow higher up where there’s more light, leaving lower branches without leaves and therefore providing less of a barrier to livestock intent on forcing their way through. Some of the shrubs may die off, and larger and larger gaps will start to appear, until all you have left are the few sparse, individual trees that survive.

But by maintaining the hedge through laying, you encourage strong new growth from the base upwards. So how is it done? There are many different methods used across the country – almost every county with a rural element has a style of its own, but the principles generally remain the same.

Hedge laying is implemented at the base of the hedge. A series of stems are bent and partially cut at the base, enabling the hedge layer to bend them downwards without breaking them. Each cut must be done in a way that leaves a strip of bark still connecting the stem to its root, a process known as ‘pleaching’. The cut stems, or ‘pleachers’, are woven horizontally around and between wooden stakes that have been evenly spaced throughout the length of the hedge. This allows new growth to emerge at the base of the hedge, increasing its density at lower levels and providing an effective barrier throughout the height of the hedge.

When and How Should I Have My Hedge Laid?

Hedge laying should be carried out in winter, when the shrubs are dormant – in other words, the sap isn’t running through the stems. This is also a better time for wildlife. There are fewer birds reliant on the hedge for nesting and rearing their young.

If it’s done well, you may only need your hedges laid every ten to fifteen years or so. If you are interested in finding out more about hedge laying or hiring an experienced firm to carry out the work for you, call the team at P A Lumber Fencing today.