October is an excellent A good time to plant a hedge an evergreen hedge, as we usually have fairly mild temperatures and a decent amount of rainfall. Not only are they a stunning natural sustainable barrier for your garden, but they are a diverse and healthy habitat for all types of British wildlife.
An evergreen hedge is a great idea if you want to provide year-round privacy, and both hornbeam and beech are great choices for standard hedges.
However, if you want something a little different – and to provide wildlife with food – go for a hedging plant that produces berries.
Here’s my top three hedging plants with berries:
Holly
A classic spiky evergreen with shiny leaves, this is a really stunning border plant. The female plant will carry the bright red berries. Holly is fairly slow-growing so once you’re happy with the size, it won’t take over the garden.
Pyracantha
I adore this plant, also known as Firethorn, for its bright orange berries in autumn. As the above, it has spikes which deter unwanted human visitors, but will still encourage wildlife visitors. The berries are loved by birds, which also will nest in the hedge.
Hawthorn
Another brilliantly versatile and hardy native British tree that will grow beautifully into A good time to plant a hedge. As both the above suggestions, hawthorn also has long thorns, which will help provide security. The white flowers in spring will brighten up any garden, while red berries in autumn are also loved by thrushes, blackbirds, blue tits and yellowhammers.
More research into peat-free growing
The RHS is funding research into sustainable growing medium, to help stop the use of peat in potting compost. The research will look at growing protocols, best practice, and developing peat-free alternatives to replace the estimated 1.7m3 of peat used by the UK horticulture industry in 2021.
This is so important and the RHS should lead the way within the industry into stopping the destruction of the UK’s carbon-rich peat landscapes. Pictured above is RHS Hilltop, the UK’s first horticultural scientific centre of excellence.
Read more here: https://www.prolandscapermagazine.com/new-1m-rhs-research-project-to-accelerate-horticultures-transition-to-peat-free
What am I reading?
I’ve been reading about the new Banksy exhibition – The Art of Banksy – which has just started at Salford Quays. The touring exhibit brings together 145 pieces of art, loaned by private collectors. The work is always thought-provoking and controversial, commenting on the ills of the modern world, as well as being influenced by popular culture. It runs until January 8, so it’s worth booking tickets.
https://artofbanksy.co.uk/
