Diary: February 2004

Today I finally managed to plant a new 5 metre section of mixed deciduous hedge using native species.

I ordered the shrubs from a good supplier back in October. The bare-rooted saplings that I use can only be lifted, transported and planted during the dormant season. Unfortunately my supplier had trouble sourcing the blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) and I didn't receive the order until just over a week ago. The weather was too wet to plant them last weekend, so I just 'heeled' them into the ground to keep them healthy (after soaking the roots for an hour).

This weekend the weather was kinder and I managed to plant the five blackthorn, 15 hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), two hazel (Corylus avellana), three field maple (Acer campestre) and five guelder rose (Viburnum opulus). After planting, fairly densely at 8 inch intervals, I cut them all back by about half to encourage a good low bushy growth and watered them in well.