BTCV Handbooks Online

Book:	How & Why
Chapter:	How to lay hedges
Section:	Hands-on techniques
Metadata:	Details	Buy this book

Clearing

Clear around the bottom of the hedge to give yourself room to work. Get rid of any broken glass and rubbish.

Clean away dead rotting timber from the hedge litter.

Take note of old wire fencing - billhooks can bounce off it.

Selecting pleachers

Pleachers are the stems that are cut and laid.

Cut out all dead wood and all growth that is out of line with the hedge. Keep sufficient spare pleachers until you are certain they are not needed.

Always remove elder. It grows vigorously and suppresses other plants, but cannot be laid properly.

Whenever there is a choice between young and old pleachers, lay the young ones because they regenerate better.

Try to use relatively evenly spaced pleachers.

Preliminary trimming

Trim excess brush from the nearside of the hedge, ie the side opposite the stock, cutting back to the line of the hedge.

Laying the pleachers

The first group of pleachers cannot be laid into the standing hedge alongside. They should be cut and laid out to one side so that they are available to fill the gap left when the last pleachers of the adjacent section are laid.

Make sure the pleacher you are about to lay is not tangled in the rest of the hedge.

Cut so that the trimmed stump will be at between 3-10cm above the ground.

If you are forced to cut higher than this, cut a notch in the stump to encourage low resprouting.

Cut through far enough that the pleacher will lower into place without forcing, but leave sufficient cambium and sapwood uncut to allow the pleacher to survive. (see Why lay hedges?)

Lay uphill where possible to help the sap flow. But lay all the pleachers to the same angle, according to local style.

Staking

Stakes should be about 4cm diameter and long enough to be knocked about 50cm into the ground but still project about 10cm above the top of the hedge.

Put the stakes in as you go so that the brushy tops of the pleachers can be woven in between the stakes as you lay them.

Binding

Binding or heathering is done on most hedges to keep the pleachers in place and strengthen the newly-laid hedge.

Binders should be about 3m long and about 25mm in diameter. Hazel is best. Sweet chestnut, elm and willow are adequate.

Trimming

Trim the tops of the stakes after binding a section of hedge, then trim off all the spriggy bits sticking out of the hedge on the far side and even up its overall shape.

Fires

A fire (or fires) will be needed to burn the trimmings. Keep them small and situate them so that smoke does not blow across the work area, close enough to minimise the amount of dragging, but not so close as to scorch the hedge. After work make sure the fire is out.

Leaving the site

Find out how stockproof the hedge must be overnight or between work sessions and ensure you leave it so. This may mean erecting a temporary fence to fill the gaps.

For more information:

On planting, trimming, dead hedging and laying in different styles refer to: Hedging - a practical handbook
> A Brooks & E Agate (1998) BTCV

This information is believed to be correct but does not obviate the need for further enquiries as appropriate.

This is not a comprehensive statement of all safety procedures to ensure the health and safety of all users.

No responsibility is accepted by BTCV for accidents or damage as a result of its use. This information can assist you to gain National Vocational Qualifications in Environmental Conservation with BTCV.