Safe hedging around cattle

lazyman

Hi all
I want to plant hedging around our border fence but there are cattle in the fields surrounding our site
I had hoped to plant laurels but I have read that they are poisonous and could kill cattle if they eat them
Apart from whitethorn, what are my other options? Ideally something that is evergreen and hardy
Thanks

Hard Knocks

lazyman wrote: »

Hi all
I want to plant hedging around our border fence but there are cattle in the fields surrounding our site
I had hoped to plant laurels but I have read that they are poisonous and could kill cattle if they eat them
Apart from whitethorn, what are my other options? Ideally something that is evergreen and hardy
Thanks

Beech looks nice too

lazyman

Hard Knocks wrote: »

Beech looks nice too

Ya I agree but its not evergreen

Say my name

Griselinia is not poisonous.

Just fence stock off it obviously or you won't have a hedge.

lakill Farm

lazyman wrote: »

Ya I agree but its not evergreen

its not evergreen but only 5/8 days a year where there are no dense leaf cover on the hedge

Feisar

Just on hedges, my Dad had to move his one at the back of the house as the horses were tearing into the copper beach leaves.

lakill Farm

Feisar wrote: »

Just on hedges, my Dad had to move his one at the back of the house as the horses were tearing into the copper beach leaves.

you can buy extended insulator or pigtails to attach to the posts and extend the wire out .

I put them on the field side of stud railing here to stop animals scratching off it

minerleague

lazyman wrote: »

Hi all
I want to plant hedging around our border fence but there are cattle in the fields surrounding our site
I had hoped to plant laurels but I have read that they are poisonous and could kill cattle if they eat them
Apart from whitethorn, what are my other options? Ideally something that is evergreen and hardy
Thanks

always like to see holly in any hedge

49801

Hard to go wrong with hawthorn
Ok not green year round but is reliable stockproof type hedge and will stand test of time.

We had a groove by yard for animals that had loads of laurels and never had a problem with cattle eating it of sick from it. But understand it’s not recommended! For a hedge I wouldn’t think it really a problem so long as some fencing in place and the hedge is trimmed annually

lazyman

49801 wrote: »

Hard to go wrong with hawthorn
Ok not green year round but is reliable stockproof type hedge and will stand test of time.

We had a groove by yard for animals that had loads of laurels and never had a problem with cattle eating it of sick from it. But understand it’s not recommended! For a hedge I wouldn’t think it really a problem so long as some fencing in place and the hedge is trimmed annually

Ya we have a post and rail four foot high timber fence around the site and it would be inside that but the cattle will get to it even if we put an electric fence a few feet back from it

Hawthorn might be the only option

Tig98

beech looks a bit more professional i suppose, a lot of stud farms would use it. if you maintain it as a hedge (just by clipping fresh growth at the top) it retains its leaves for most the year, only very brief period when it sheds them before sprouting fresh green ones. Holly is a nice hedging plant too with small flowers on it early in spring, handy if youre inclined to bring in a twig of holly with berries at christmas. I dont know if holly would be covered under any biodiversity scheme which there probably will be a lot of coming up in the next few years, so maybe beech or some other more native species (as beech is only naturalised)

Birdnuts

A mix of Whitethorn, Privet and Holly should tick all your boxes

49801

lazyman wrote: »

Ya we have a post and rail four foot high timber fence around the site and it would be inside that but the cattle will get to it even if we put an electric fence a few feet back from it

Hawthorn might be the only option

If it’s laural you want go for it IMO. Cattle won’t be that interested in it over grass.

There is so many hedge options out there. The 3 way mix suggestion is a nice one too!

HillFarmer

A nice native hedge of whitethorn blackthorn, guilder rose, holly etc is a beauty.
Plus you are providing for local wildife.

Much nicer than laurel in my view.