Setting a new hedge

lakill Farm

I'm setting a new hedge. Approx 400ft long. Approx 300ft of this is replacing a hedge I removed on Feb 2015 and I piped the drain inside of it.

The new boundary fence I put up is 4 strands of high tensile barb wire and pdm posts and esb post as king posts. It's a good strong job on its own

I now plan on putting in 4ft beech hedge and 12 oak trees at set out intervals to the inside/field side of the barb wire fence. Then inside of that 2 stands of electric fence operated off mains. Plan is to top the oak trees out at max 20ft (esb wires at 30ft) and the beech approx 5ft.

So my question. What distance from the barb wire will I set the hedge and trees (these will be parallel to the fence and in single row )

And once hedge is set how close will I put up the fence with 2 strands of electric fence

blue5000

Do you want to use a hedge cutter on the beech on the electric fence side?

lakill Farm

blue5000 wrote: »

Do you want to use a hedge cutter on the beech on the electric fence side?

Yes.

And let the hedge grow out through the Barb wire side

blue5000

You'd want about 5ft from the trees to electric fence and 3 from the barb I reckon, 2 staggered rows with a tree every 18 inches might thicken faster. Easiest way is with a 2 furrow plough.

Bass Reeves

If you only want it to grow 5' high you will want to let the bottom thicken. To do that you need tomorrow weeds and the grass clear from the bottom of the hedge. Not sure if a hedgecutter will! Do a good job on a beech hedge. Beech hedges need to be trimmed each autumn so that they will retain there leaves.

Omallep2

We done a beech hedge before to grow through sheep wire. Set the hedge in 2 lines 1 foot apart with 2 ft between each plant. Ie diagonal planting. Key is to 1. keep weeds out and 2. keep watered first few years. We achieved this by 1. spreading tree mulch around plants and 2. digging trench, fill with cow manure, backfill, plant (per above). Dung keeps water and fertilises.
Follow up with annual trimming - starting at 18', 24', 36' etc to thicken hedge. Follow with light shake of 10:10:20 for next few years.
Result: mouse wouldn't go through it!
I'd keep only 1 ft back from barbed wire and let it grow through.

Genghis Cant

blue5000 wrote: »

You'd want about 5ft from the trees to electric fence and 3 from the barb I reckon, 2 staggered rows with a tree every 18 inches might thicken faster. Easiest way is with a 2 furrow plough.

5' may seem excessive, however, we have a good fence to move because we put it too near the hedge. The hedge rapidly filled the gap.

Would you consider putting up an electric fence semi permanently, that can be moved if required.

On the subject of beech hedging. A couple of things I'd do is I'd stick in a double staggered row. And when you're planting them, plant them from a bin of water so as that the roots never dry out. Beech ain't as hardy as whitethorn quicks.

Sheep breeder

If you removed hedge in 2015 very important to get it sown quickly to avoid a BPS penalty for hedge removal of a landscape feature,

lakill Farm

Sheep breeder wrote: »

If you removed hedge in 2015 very important to get it sown quickly to avoid a BPS penalty for hedge removal of a landscape feature,

Not in any schemes

Hedge is around a "stables " and is for visual purposes.

Muckit

lakill Farm wrote: »

Not in any schemes

Hedge is around a "stables " and is for visual purposes.

Aka home office?

lakill Farm

Muckit wrote: »

Aka home office?

possibility in time :pac:

jimini0

Hi lakill, if you don't mind me asking how much is that hedge type costing?
I'm planning a 100m but might put some alder in it too

lakill Farm

jimini0 wrote: »

Hi lakill, if you don't mind me asking how much is that hedge type costing?
I'm planning a 100m but might put some alder in it too

4ft green beech - €1.30 ea
12/15ft Oak trees - €10.00 ea

blue5000

lakill Farm wrote: »

4ft green beech - €1.30 ea
12/15ft Oak trees - €10.00 ea

Just thinking that if the oak is near the hedge it will shade out the beech and leave gaps in future. Might be better to plant them in a corner somewhere else.

lakill Farm

blue5000 wrote: »

Just thinking that if the oak is near the hedge it will shade out the beech and leave gaps in future. Might be better to plant them in a corner somewhere else.

the oak trees aren't going to be allowed grow over 20ft as there are ESB wires at 26/30ft

Genghis Cant

lakill Farm wrote: »

the oak trees aren't going to be allowed grow over 20ft as there are ESB wires at 26/30ft

In that case would you consider a tree that would mature less than 20' or so. Something like Holly could look very well and you mightn't need to ever top it.