Native Mix Instant Hedge
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Instant Hedge In Focus: Native Mix Hedge /in , /by

Why Plant a Mixed Native Hedge?

Native mix instant hedges are the perfect hedging option for a natural look. They contain plants that are all native to the UK and as such emulate traditional country hedgerows found throughout Britain.

Top 5 features of Mixed Native Instant Hedges

  1. Seasonal year-round interest
  2. A great natural windbreak and reduces noise
  3. Will thrive in all but the coldest or waterlogged locations
  4. Increased security, such hedges have kept livestock in check for centuries
  5. Attract wildlife to your garden.

Mixed native instant hedges will create a natural look and contain a variety of colours and textures, which provide a rich living collage for excellent seasonal interest.  From the structural beauty of bare winter twigs, to the early spring blossom and lush summer foliage. The autumn brings fruits, berries and wonderful golden colours.

All kinds of wildlife will be attracted to these native hedges.  They provide food, shelter and nesting places for birds, mammals and invertebrates.

Native mixed instant hedging, by its very nature, will thrive on most soil types and can be planted in all but the deepest of shade.  It will tend to grow quite quickly at some 20 – 40 cm per year and will require pruning once a year, ideally in July. It can also be left un-pruned, when it will prove even more wildlife friendly.

British Grown Native Mix Instant Hedging

Our homegrown native mix hedge generally contains roughly equal quantities of the following species:

  • Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
  • Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
  • Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
  • Hazel (Corylus avellana)
  • Privet (Ligustrum vulgare)

Our Practical Instant Native Mix Hedge™ has also been used in many award-winning Show Gardens at RHS Flower Shows, from Hampton Court to Chelsea. Grown at our nursery in Iver, Bucks.

We currently have this Practical Instant Hedge™ available in heights of 1 to 1.2m, 1.5 to 1.8m and 1.8 to 2m high, in ready to plant trough bags.

Email hedge@pracbrown.co.uk us if you would like a quote for this instant hedge. Or buy online here. 

Species Latin Foliage Pruning Annual Growth Aspect Soil preference PH Leaves
Native Mix n/a Deciduous Once in July Fast30-40cm Sun to partial shade All except the poorest Neutral to slightly acidic Various
Osmanthus Instant Hedge growing on our nursery ideal hedge for small gardens.
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Instant Hedge In Focus: Hedges for Small Gardens /in , , /by

Choosing the Perfect Hedge for Your Small Garden

In the world of gardening, hedges are the unsung heroes of landscape design, offering a blend of functionality and beauty. For those with smaller gardens, selecting the right hedge can be challenging but fortunately, there are several species of our Practical Instant Hedge™ that could be the perfect choice for your small garden.  Whether its the classic charm of Holly, the sweet fragrance of Osmanthus, or the timeless Yew.

Our pre-formed, top-quality Practical Instant Hedge™ range is produced in specially designed hedging bags and supplied in pieces that are 1m long by 40 – 50cm deep. When replanted into your garden, these evergreen instant hedges will give instant maturity, and require minimal maintenance.

Osmanthus Instant Hedge

Holly

Holly, with its glossy, spiky leaves and vibrant red berries, adds a touch of traditional charm to any garden. Their dense growth habit creates a natural privacy screen, and the presence of both male and female plants ensures the iconic bright berries during the winter months. Practical Instant Hedge™ is available as English Holly (Ilex aquifolium) and Blue Holly (Ilex meserveae). Both hedges are relatively low maintenance, requiring only occasional pruning to maintain their shape and density.  It’s also very hardy, resistant to pests and diseases, and can tolerate a variety of soil conditions.

Osmanthus

Osmanthus hedges are our favourite choice for fragrance. Known for their small, white flowers that bloom in late winter or early spring, Osmanthus hedges infuse the garden with a sweet, apricot-like aroma. Practical Instant Hedge™ (Osmanthus burkwoodii) is a compact evergreen, making them well-suited for small spaces. These hedges require moderate pruning to maintain their shape and promote bushier growth with more flowers the following season. Their versatility extends to both sunny and partially shaded locations.

Yew

Yew hedges have adorned gardens for centuries, standing as a symbol of enduring beauty. Known for their dark green, needle-like foliage, Yews provide an evergreen backdrop throughout the seasons. Their slow growth rate makes them ideal for small gardens, allowing for easy maintenance and shaping. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, Yews also have a remarkable tolerance for different soil conditions and are shade-tolerant, making them a versatile choice for various garden settings. Practical Instant Yew Hedging is available in various heights.

In the world of small gardens, the right hedge can transform a confined space into a verdant sanctuary. They are easy to manage and enhance any environment with their natural charm; whether you opt for the enduring elegance of Yew, the traditional charm of Holly, or the fragrant blooms of Osmanthus, each species brings its unique character to your outdoor space.

Osmanthus Instant Hedge

Osmanthus

Blue Holly Instant Hedge

Blue Holly

Holly leaf and berry

English Holly

Yew Instant Hedge

Yew

 

How to order Practical Instant Hedge™

If you like to find out more about our comprehensive range of evergreen and deciduous Practical Instant Hedges, you can:

  • Book a visit to our nursery in Iver, Buckingham to view our hedges and trees
  • Call 01753 652022 to speak to our horticultural team
  • Email hedge@pracbrown.co.uk with your requirements (such as hedge length and size, species, and your location) and we can provide you with a bespoke quote.
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Instant Hedge In Focus: New Hedges /in , , /by

New Practical Instant Hedge™ ranges

We are proud to introduce two new evergreens to our Practical Instant Hedge™ range:

  • Ilex meserveae Blue Maid/ Prince or Blue Holly
  • Osmanthus burkwoodii or Burkwood osmanthus

Blue Holly

Ilex meserveae Blue Maid/ Prince has dense, lustrous, blue-green, spiny leaves from purple stems and tiny, white flowers are produced in spring. These cultivars are some of the best blue hollies available. Our Practical Instant Hedge™ has a mix of Blue Maid and Blue Prince to ensure the delightful profusion of bright red berries in autumn and winter. Late summer pruning will reveal dark purplish-green stems, which add to the ornamental effect.

 

 

Burkwood osmanthus

Osmanthus Instant Hedge growing in hedge bags in Iver

Burkwood osmanthus is a dense, slow-growing, evergreen. The glossy, finely toothed, dark green leaves beautifully offset by highly scented, jasmine like, white flowers in mid and late spring. If pruned after flowering, it will increase the blooms for the following year.

 

The addition of these attractive new instant hedges brings our range of evergreens to a dozen species, with 5 deciduous to complete our offering. There really is a Practical Instant Hedge™ for all gardens.

The Practical Instant Hedge™ Difference

  • Densely pre-planted and ready-grown to 30 – 40cm wide and up to 2m high, species dependent
  • British grown by us!
  • Grown in 1m long pieces and supplied specially designed hedge bags
  • Easy to handle and plant
  • Can be planted all year round
  • All stock is carefully maintained, irrigated, and treated with controlled release nutrients to optimise health
  • Available in any lengths, and can be bent to almost any shape
  • Supplied on standard 1m x 1.2m pallets
  • Prices vary according to species, height, quantity, and planting logistics
  • Available direct on a supply only or supply and plant basis throughout the UK by the metre
  • Recommended automatic irrigation systems can be installed at the same time as planting

How to order Practical Instant Hedge™

If you like to find out more about our comprehensive range of evergreen and deciduous Practical Instant Hedges, you can:

  • Book a visit to our nursery in Iver, Buckingham to view our hedges and trees
  • Call 01753 652022 to speak to our horticultural team
  • Email hedge@pracbrown.co.uk with your requirements (such as hedge length and size, species, and your location) and we can provide you with a quote within a few days.
  • Order online here.

Did you Know – We offer our Instant Hedge as both supply only, or supply and plant as well.

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Best Hedges for Homes /in , /by

How to choose the best hedge for your home

If you are thinking about using hedging in your garden, you may want to consider buying a pre-grown instant hedge, whether its evergreen instant hedging for privacy screening or the seasonal interest of a mature deciduous hedge. Why wait for individual plants to grow, when we’ve done the work for you?

Which Hedge?

Practical Instant Hedge™ is available in various species and sizes, up to 2m high, so how will you choose which one is best for your garden? The first choice is whether you would like one that is evergreen or one that is deciduous:

 Evergreen hedges maintain their foliage throughout the year.

This provides screening, privacy and shelter all year round. Despite their name, an evergreen hedge isn’t just one colour. It comes in many different varieties to suit your individual taste. If you like bright colours, then the apple green leaves of Griselinia could be your favourite. If shiny leaves are more your thing, then its Common Laurel. For classic elegance, nothing can really beat the traditional Yew. Or if subtle greys are what your garden needs, then Elaeagnus would be perfect.

 Deciduous hedges tend to shed their leaves in the winter.

They offer year-round seasonal interest from flowers, coloured foliage, or autumn fruits. Hawthorn, for example, has an abundant display of white scented early spring blossom, and red haws in the autumn. Both Beech (Green and Purple) and Hornbeam have wonderful autumn bursts of coloured foliage, and Beech retains most of its leaves through the winter too. Native Mix hedging replicates the traditional country hedgerows found across Britain and local wildlife will be attracted by the food and shelter opportunities.

There are many more varieties of Practical Instant Hedge that will help make your garden your perfect outdoor space, and you can plant it all year round!

Book a visit our nursery in Iver, Bucks or to talk to our Horticultural team on 01753 652022 to find out more.

Or buy online here.

 

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Best Hedges for Horses /in , /by

Hedging for Horses

Practical Instant Hedge™ is the best choice for a horse friendly boundary. Our hedging range is a mature, ready to plant product, so the animals can feel the immediate benefits, including protection from the elements. These stockproof hedges will give interest all year round and will be beneficial to other wildlife too.

Best Hedges for Horses

We are frequently asked about hedges suitable for horses, and can recommend the following Practical Instant Hedge™, that, if grazed by horses, should cause no harm.

Hawthorn – Crataegus monogyna
One of the most popular deciduous horse-friendly hedges, as it looks perfectly natural in the landscape and is loved by birds and insects. Horses like to nibble on the new shoots too.

Griselinia littoralis
An attractive evergreen hedge, with soft lime green leaves and suited to salt laden winds of coastal locations.

Hornbeam – Carpinus betulus
A deciduous hedge whose leaves turn yellow in the autumn and then emerge bright green in early spring. Similar in look to beech but with finely ribbed leaves.

Oleaster – Elaeagnus ebbingei Compacta
A dense evergreen hedge that is particularly suitable for seaside locations. Horse friendly with a lovely grey / green leaf.

Beech – Fagus sylvatica
This deciduous hedge retains its leaves in to the winter, offering additional screening in the coldest months. Horses quite often nibble leaves, twigs, and bark of the trees. Beech nuts are poisonous but if your hedge is trimmed in summer, nuts are unlikely to be produced.

Benefit of Horse Friendly Hedging

  1. Keeps horses in and/or other animals out.
  2. Offers shelter against winds and rain in winter and the sun and flies in summer.
  3. It can supplement your horses’ diet.
  4. Seasonal interest from hedgerow flowers, catkins, berries and Autumn foliage.

Planting

If you are planning to include trees in your horse friendly hedging, then autumn and winter are the perfect time to plant semi-mature large trees. Our Practical Instant Hedge™ can be planted at any time of the year, meaning you can plan around your needs.

Learn more here or contact our Horticultural team for more details by email Hedge@pracbrown.co.uk or call 01753 652022

 

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1.8m high Native Mix Hedging available now! /in , , /by

Native Mix Instant Hedge

Native Mix hedging is one of the most popular in the UK, and it’s easy to see why. Hedgerows are a common sight in the British countryside and are part of our rich heritage. Hedges are usually planted to define property boundaries and provide privacy or to give shelter from prevailing winds. Our Native Mix Instant Hedging contains plants that are all native to the UK and as such emulate these traditional country hedgerows.

Mixed Native hedges create a natural look and contain a variety of colours and textures which provide a rich living collage for excellent seasonal interest from the early spring blossoms to fruits and berries in the autumn.  Hedges made from flowering and fruiting native plants are a massive boon for wildlife too, as many will be attracted by the food and shelter opportunities.

Even if you only have a relatively small garden, a native hedge can look very attractive, especially if your garden backs onto open fields.

Native hedging, by its very nature will thrive on most soil types and can be planted in all but the deepest of shade. It will tend to grow quite quickly at some 30 – 60 cm per year and will require pruning once or twice a year, ideally in the summer. A native hedge can be kept to a formal shape if clipped regularly, or it can be left to have a wilder look, when it will prove even more wildlife friendly.  However this hedge is cared for, the mixture of plants gives it plenty of interest at different times of the year.

Practicality Brown’s Practical Native Mix Instant Hedge generally contains roughly equal quantities of the following native species: Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Hazel, Hornbeam and Privet.

Blackthorn

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) has long spikes that make a good deterrent to unwanted intruders while wildlife benefits from the early white spring flowers and fruit known to gardeners (and gin drinkers!) as sloes

Hawthorn

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) is a native hedging staple. Its dense habit and thorny growth give it excellent stock-proofing properties and a good site for birds looking for somewhere discreet to nest or roost. Creamy-coloured flowers are followed by red berries.

Hazel

Large, downy leaves of hazel (Corylus avellana) support a range of moth caterpillars, while the flowers attract many bee species. The fruits (nuts) are popular with squirrels.

Hornbeam

Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) has significant wildlife value as a food, shelter and roosting site.  It does not shed all of its leaves in winter, which can provide shelter throughout the winter months. While the catkins are a rich food source for insects, birds and mammals.

Privet

Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) is attractive to wildlife. Bees visit the clusters of cream flowers and birds feed on the black berries. Privet Hawk Moth, the UK’s largest resident Hawk-moth, feeds on the nectar and whose caterpillars can be found on the foliage.

 

Practicality Brown’s award-winning Practical Native Mix Instant Hedge is available from 1m to 2m high. This mixed native instant hedge has been used in award-winning RHS Flower Show Gardens. For more details, see the project page on our website.

For more details, including a quote, please email trees@pracbrown.co.uk or call 01753 652022 for more information

 

Close of Blackthorn hedge with ripe sloes growing on branches

Blackthorn hedge with sloes

Native Mix Instant Hedge growing at Practicality Brown's nursery in Iver

Native Mix Instant Hedge growing at Practicality Brown’s nursery in Iver

close up of Mixed Native Hedging showing leaf detail

Mixed Native Hedging close up

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RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022 /in , , /by

Practical Instant Hedge At Chelsea Flower Show

The Container Garden category at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show create positive green spaces for health, wellbeing and the environment. The aim is to show that any space, no matter how small, can be turned into a gardening haven. These small gardens offer plenty of inspiration for making the most of limited space and resources.

We are delighted to be working with multi award-winning garden designer Paul Hervey-Brookes again at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. As well as creating his own show garden, Paul is mentoring five newly qualified designers for the Container Garden category.

Each of the five gardens is enclosed by our Practical Instant Hedge™.

Container Gardens

The Still Garden

Designed by Jane Porter Gold Medal and Best in Category Winner

This is inspired by the plants that thrive across the Highlands and Islands. The plants reference native species and the climate to evoke an atmosphere that is immersive, secluded and still.

Wild Kitchen Garden

Designed by Ann Treneman Silver Gilt Medal and People’s Choice Winner

Wild edible plants and trees are brought into a small urban setting. The planting is informal colourful, airy, natural, and tasty too. It would work perfectly in the back garden of a city terrace.

The Enchanted Rain Garden

Designed by Bea Tann Silver Gilt Medal

Inspired by a rainy garden in Manchester, this container garden is designed to thrive in wet conditions, influenced by UK forests

Mandala, Meditation and Mindfulness Garden

Designed by Nikki Hollier Silver Medal

This garden offers a safe haven to spend time sitting and meditating, listening to the tranquil water, bees humming and birds singing – a calm and restful but rejuvenating space.

Mediterranean Reflection

Designed by Tanya K Wilson and Johanna Norlin – Mallorca Garden Design Silver Medal

Inspired by the Mallorcan landscape, this container garden utilises the colours and stone textures of the Mediterranean through artisan elements.

 

Gallery



More Information

You can see these gardens, and much more of the Chelsea Flower Show, in the BBC’s comprehensive TV coverage on the BBC iPlayer.

Talk to our Horticultural team about how Practical Instant Hedge™ could be right for your own garden.

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RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021 /in , /by

Chelsea Flower Show

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show was back, with an unfamiliar September date, and we were delighted be work with a number of designers at the world’s most prestigious flower show.

Artisan Gardens

Guide Dogs’ 90th Anniversary Garden

Adam Woolcott and Jonathan Smith (The Grey Gardeners) have created a garden to celebrate 90 years of British guide dog partnerships with an emotive, wildflower garden. Ferns and dark foliage plants feature and are contrasted with colourful meadow planting, predominantly of British native species, including our Practical Native Mix Instant Hedge. With its dog-friendly planting, this is a simple but striking and memorable garden.

Container Gardens

Multi award-winning garden designer Paul Hervey Brookes mentored five newly qualified designers for this new category. Targeting the increasing number of people choosing to use containers to maximise their outdoor space at home, and those who rent and want to take their gardens with them when they move home. Each garden is just 4m x 3m, enclosed by Practical Beech Instant Hedge, a gravel or slate floor and include repurposed IBC containers.

The Hot Tin Roof Garden designed by Ellie Edkins was inspired by a life lived by the beach, but designed for an urban area.

Pop Street Garden by John McPherson created a vibrant, playful garden, inspired by pop art and jump-starting the transition from ‘lockdown to on-the-town’.

The IBC Pocket Forest designed by Sara Edwards was reminiscent of Milan’s Bosco Verticale, an urban pocket forest and haven for wildlife.

A Tranquil Space in the City by Japanese designer Mika Misawa evoked a sense of tranquillity, an autumn seasonal celebration and a way of contemplating life.

The Stolen Soul Garden from Anna Dabrowska-Jaudi where human emotions were given form in this garden, which seeks to draw attention to ‘invisible’ mental health issues.

Great Pavilion

Dave Green created the Mains2Rains installation in the discovery zone inside the Great Pavilion about water management in gardens.  We have supplied Practical Native Mix Instant Hedge plus individual Thuja plants.

You can see these gardens, and much more of the Chelsea Flower Show, in the BBC’s comprehensive TV coverage on the BBC iPlayer.

Talk to our Horticultural team about how Practical Instant Hedge™ could be right for your own garden.

Simply email us on hedge@pracbrown.co.uk

Sculpture with Practical Instant Hedge behind
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RHS Shows July 2021 /in , /by

RHS Shows made a welcome return in July. Visitors were treated to wonderful show gardens and trade displays at both the Hampton Court Garden Festival and the Tatton Park Flower Show.

RHS Shows July 2021

RHS Shows made a welcome return in July. Visitors were treated to wonderful show gardens and trade displays at both the Hampton Court Garden Festival and the Tatton Park Flower Show.

Every year, we work with leading garden designers who choose our instant hedge and plants as an integral part of their show garden concepts, either forming an important green backdrop or as part of the structure within the design itself.

Hampton Court Garden Festival Review

The first major show in quite some time, this year’s Hampton Court Garden Festival enjoyed BBC coverage and many visitors to the stunning grounds of the Historic Royal Palace in Richmond upon Thames.

We worked with two designers at this year’s show:

Global Impact Garden: Message in a Bottle

Award winning design from Tracy Foster at Hampton Court Garden Festival featuring a giant metal framed bottle containing a beautiful garden

Designed by Tracy Foster Built by Firstlight Landscaping Ltd Sponsored by Canal & River Trust

Tracy Foster won a Silver Medal for her Global Impact Garden designed for Canal & River Trust’s Plastics Challenge.

The message from this garden is that we can all take action to help prevent plastic pollution, in our own gardens, urban green spaces and around our canals and rivers. We supplied several specimen shrubs as part of the innovative bottle garden.

Lifestyle Garden: The Communication Garden

Communications Garden by Amelia Bouquet featuring our Practical Instant Hedge

Designed by Amelia Bouquet Built by Urban Meadows Sponsored by London Stone Practicality Brown and Urbis Design

Amelia Bouquet’s Lifestyle Garden, in support of Mental Health UK, is a place to meet, talk, listen and to highlight the importance of face-to-face communication for our mental wellbeing. Practical Instant Native Mix Hedge was used as a backdrop to the design, which won a Silver medal and Best Construction (Global Impact and Lifestyle Garden).

In addition the two show gardens, we also supplied Practical Portuguese Laurel Instant Hedge for sculptor Matt Maddocks and John O’Connor’s trade stand.

RHS Tatton Park Flower Show Review

The Tatton Park Garden Show is in Knutsford, Cheshire is lovely event full of “colourful gardening inspiration”.

Once again, PBL supported Young Designer Gardens at the show. This is a category for those hoping to launch their careers in design, and showcases some of the promising college graduates.

Young Designers Gardens: It’s Okay Not To Be Okay

Designed by James Smith Built by Topoforma Landscape

James Smith has created a garden that draws attention to the stigma associated with mental ill health and the difficulties that men face in coping with such issues. This garden represents that ’it’s ok not to be ok’ and was awarded a Silver Medal. The Hornbeam Practical Instant Hedge forms an integral part of James’s design.

Young Designers Gardens: Rehearse Garden


Emilie Bausager designed the Rehearse Garden for the Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. It’s for a family and provides a green oasis that supports wildlife and provide space for the family to enjoy. Emilie chose Beech Practical Instant Hedge to enhance the courtyard effect of the design. The garden won a Silver Medal and the public vote ie People’s Choice Award for Best Large Garden (Tatton Garden/Young Designer Garden).

We also work with established garden designers and at Tatton Park this year we worked with Leon Davis on his design for the Back to Back Garden category.

Back to Back Garden Garden of Resilience

Leon Davis created the Garden of Resilience for United Utilities, with climate resilience in mind. The garden provides practical and creative ideas on how water can be managed, conserved and reused.  Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam) Practical Instant Hedge was used as a boundary. Leon’s design was awarded a Gold Medal plus Best Back to Back Garden and Best Construction Award (Back to Back Garden and Tatton Garden).

Congratulations to all the designers and their teams on the RHS medals and awards.

We’re now looking forward to an unseasonably late Chelsea Flower Show later in September and will share news of our involvement nearer the time.

Talk to our Horticultural team about how Practical Instant Hedge™ could be right for your own garden.

Simply email us on hedge@pracbrown.co.uk

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RHS Tatton Park July 2021 /in , /by

RHS Flower Shows The RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival was a welcome return to garden shows for the first time this year. Our attentions now turn to Tatton Park in Knutsford, Cheshire. This Garden Show promises to be “a fabulous day out bursting with colourful gardening inspiration, fun family activities, have-a-go workshops and shopping” RHS […]

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