Posts

Anita Chillmaid
Beech Instant Hedge /by

Beech Instant Hedge

Green Beech Instant Hedging

Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is a popular choice for a deciduous hedge and is native to the UK. The prominently veined green leaves turn yellow-orange in Autumn and often remain through the winter which enhances its value as a year round screen.

Also known as Common or Green Beech, this hedge does well on most well drained soils and is particularly happy on chalk. This deciduous instant hedge can be planted in a position enjoying either sun or partial shade. Seaside locations are best avoided as Beech dislikes salt.

Beech Hedging is relatively slow growing (15 – 30 cm/year) and will need pruning once a year, preferably in August.

Horse Friendly Hedging

Beech 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.

Our Beech Instant Hedges are available at 1/1.2m, 1.2/1.4m and 1.8/2m high as a Practical Instant Hedge™.

90/100cm high Practical Instant Hedge growing at our nursery here in Iver, Bucks.

Click here to contact us if you would like a quote for this instant hedge.

Species Latin Foliage Pruning Annual growth Aspect Soil acceptance pH Leaves
Beech Fagus sylvatica Deciduous Once in August Slow15-30cm Sun to shade All except dry Acidic to alkaline Green turning yellow-brown. Often remain into spring
Anita Chillmaid
Hedge Selecting Guide /by

How To Choose The Best Hedge For Your Home

An instant hedge is pre-grown as a mature hedgerow which creates an immediate, impressive impact, whether its evergreen instant hedging for privacy screening or the seasonal interest of a mature deciduous hedge.

Which Hedge?

Practical Instant Hedge™ is available in various species and sizes, up to 1.8m high, so how will you choose which one is best for your garden? The first choice is whether you would like an evergreen or deciduous hedge.

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, they are many different varieties to suit your individual taste.

Deciduous hedges shed their leaves in the winter. They offer year-round seasonal interest from flowers, coloured foliage, or autumn fruits.

There are many varieties of mature hedge here that will help make your garden the perfect outdoor space – please see the individual product pages for more information on the specific characteristics of each hedge.

Hedge Selecting Guide

Use this table to help select the most suitable instant hedge for your project.  Practical Instant Hedge™ is available in heights ranging from 80cm to 1.8m high and is sold in 1m long pieces.

 

Species Latin Foliage Pruning Annual growth Aspect Soil acceptance pH Leaves
White Cedar Thuja occidentalis ‘Brabant’ Evergreen Once in August Average 20-40cm Sun to shade All well drained Acidic to alkaline Shiny light green needles
Hornbeam Carpinus betulus Deciduous Once in July or August Fast 30-40cm Sun to partial shade All except the poorest Neutral to slightly acidic Dark green turning yellow-brown. Often remain into spring
Common Beech Fagus sylvatica Deciduous Once in August Slow 10-30cm Sun to shade All except dry Acidic to alkaline Green turning yellow-brown. Often remain into spring
Purple Beech Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’ Deciduous Once in August Slow 10-30cm Sun to shade All except dry Acidic to alkaline Green-purple turning red-brown. Often remain into spring
English Holly Ilex aquifolium  Evergreen  Once in August  Slow 5-15cm  Sun to shade  All well drained Acidic to alkaline Thorny, shiny dark green that are pale green underneath
Oval Leaf Privet Ligustrum ovalifolium Semi-evergreen Regularly in Summer Fast 40-60cm Sun to partial shade All well drained Slightly acidic to alkaline Mid-dark green on top and yellow-green underneath
Photinia ‘Red Robin’ Photinia fraseri Evergreen Regularly in Summer Fast 30-40cm Sun to partial shade All well drained Acidic to alkaline Shiny dark green. New shoots are crimson-red
Common Laurel Prunus laurocerasus Evergreen Once in July or August Fast 30-40cm Sun to shade All except shallow chalk Neutral to slightly acidic Large shiny green. Thick and leathery
Portuguese Laurel Prunus lusitanica Evergreen Once in AugustAverage 20-40cm Average 20-40cm Sun to shade All except the poorest Acidic to alkaline Ovate and dark green
Yew Taxus baccata Evergreen  Once in August  Slow 5-20cm  Sun to shade  All except peat  Slightly acidic to alkaline Shiny dark green needles that are pale green underneath
Native Mix (Hazel, Blackthorn,  Hornbeam, Common Privet and Hawthorn) Deciduous Once in July Fast 30-40cm Sun to partial shade All except the poorest Neutral to  slightly acidic Various
Blue Holly Ilex meserveae Blue Maid/ Prince Evergreen Once in August Slow 20-30cm Sun to partial shade All well drained Acidic to alkaline Blue green spiny
Burkwood Osmanthus Osmanthus burkwoodii Evergreen Regularly in Summer Average 20-40cm Sun to partial shade All well drained Any Dark green oval

 

Contact Us

Please use the enquiry form with details of the hedges that you are interested in and we will provide you with a bespoke quotation.

Ready grown, instant hedges in various species, and shades of green growing in rows at Practicality Brown

Practical Instant Hedge™ growing at our nursery in Iver, Buckinghamshire

 

Anita Chillmaid
Evergreen Instant Hedge /by

Evergreen Instant Hedging

Evergreen Instant Hedging has the benefit of providing screening, privacy and shelter all year round. An evergreen instant hedge will also give an immediate, mature look to your garden. This dense hedging is available at heights of up to 2m and can be planted all-year round.

Instant hedges are the perfect way to provide maturity to your garden and have the following benefits:

  • A ready grown hedge providing a mature, practical option
  • Dense hedging, pre-planted and ready spaced out
  • Carefully maintained and regularly clipped to an instant hedge shape
  • Ready to plant all year round and available up to 2m high, species dependent
  • Available in any lengths, and can be bent to almost any shape
  • Instant evergreen hedges provide a year round dense screening, privacy, shelter etc.
  • We have taken the time to grow it, so you don’t have to!

See evergreen pages for more details on specific species:


English Holly

Laurel Evergreen Instant Hedge

Cherry Laurel

Photinia fraseri Red Robin Evergreen

Photinia

Privet Evergreen Instant Hedge

Privet

Portuguese Laurel Evergreen Instant Hedge

Portuguese Laurel

Yew Evergreen Instant Hedge

Yew

Thuja hedge detail

White Ceder


Griselinia

Elaeagnus leaf detail evergreen instant hedge

Elaeagnus


Blue Holly

Osmanthus burkwoodii Instant Hedge, closeup of flower and foliage

Burkwood Osmanthus

Evergreen Instant Hedge

Our current range of evergreen instant hedging includes the following species with their common and latin name:

Best Evergreen Hedging


Happy Customer

Yew Hedge – Instant Hedge

“I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all your help and to let you know, as I’m sure you do, how marvellous your team are. The yew hedging and larger plants went in without the slightest of fuss and the effect was both instant and amazing; it has transformed our garden by adding years of growing in a matter of days. I can’t wait until spring to plant more!” JC, Suffolk.

Anita Chillmaid
Deciduous Hedge /by

Deciduous Instant Hedge

Planting a mature deciduous instant hedge will add an established feel to your garden, as well as offering seasonal interest.

During the winter months screening and privacy benefits are reduced, but this can be out-weighed with blooms, berries and foliage changes throughout the year.

Our deciduous instant hedging is available in heights up to 1.8m (approx. 6ft) and due to the production method,  can be planted at any time of the year.

Click on the images for specific details on our range of deciduous hedge species.

Deciduous Instant Hedge

Green Beech

Deciduous Instant Hedge

Hawthorn

Deciduous Instant Hedge

Hornbeam

Deciduous Instant Hedge

Native Mix

Deciduous Instant Hedge

Purple Beech

Happy Customer

Evergreen and Deciduous hedge – Epsom

“We are absolutely delighted with the plants, the Yew has blended with the existing hedge and the Hornbeam has given us the privacy we thought we would have to wait years for. Please pass on a special thank you to your planting team, they certainly know what they are doing! Needless to say, we shall sing your praises with our friends and family.” Mr & Mrs S

Deciduous instant hedge names along with their latin equivalents:

field of beech instant hedge growing in specially designed trough bags in summer with full green leaves    field of beech instant hedge growing in specially designed trough bags in winter with brown/bronze leaves

Practical Instant Beech Hedge in the summer with green leaves and winter with its retained brown/bronze leaves

Anita Chillmaid
Instant Hedge: Maintenance /by

Instant Hedge Maintenance

Irrigation

The amount of water available to your hedge roots depends on the water retention capacity of the soil (e.g. sandy, or clay soil) and cannot be exactly planned. It is important that you observe the hedge foliage for signs of drought so that your watering regime can be adjusted as necessary; external signs of drought are that the foliage wilts and sometimes rolls or turns.

It is important to note that it is also easy to over water your hedge and if you notice leaves turning yellow or expereince unseasonal leaf drop, then it is likely to be over watered; watered in which case immediate action should be taken to cut back on watering. If the soil surface looks dry but you have symptoms of over watering, then the moisture content needs to be checked 300 – 400mm below ground level.  Dig a small hole beside the hedge rootstrip which will indicate the amount of water getting to the roots; if it’s obviously wet, then the hedge is over-watered.

Watering in the winter is not usually required unless the hedge is evergreen and there have been long periods with little or no rainfall. We recommend that irrigation timers are stored indoors over the winter and re-connected to the system in early spring.

The following table shows you the necessary amount of water required, per linear metre per week, for a newly planted instant hedge. This should be continued until the hedge has fully established, which is usually 24 months after planting. Watering can then be reduced as required.

Soil TypeWeather ConditionsWeekly water requirement per metreIdeal watering frequency
Clay loamAverage20 – 30 litresEvery other day
Clay loamDry30 – 40 litresEvery other day
Sandy loamAverage30 – 40 litresEvery day
Sandy loamDry40 – 50 litresEvery day

Please note that this is a guide only and your observation of the hedge is most important.

Feeding

We advise that you feed your instant hedge annually with a quality nutrient blend fertiliser and the best application time for this is early spring, although any time of the year is beneficial.

Pruning

The best time of the year to prune a hedge depends on the type of plant. If the plant buds in the early spring, it can be trimmed late summer. If it blooms in the late spring, then later in the autumn or winter will be better. For non-flowering hedges, pruning can take place in the autumn or winter as well. See our hedge selection guide which gives suggested pruning months.

Whether using hand shears for smaller hedges or a powered hedge trimmer for larger hedges, you should ensure the equipment is sharp and well lubricated. Plan the trimming in advance, removing any obstacles on the ground before starting and think about the shape you would like to create; a formal, clipped hedge or a more shrub-like and natural.

Happy Customer

Purple Beech, Hockwold

“Nearly 100 linear metres of Purple Beech, 1.8/2.0m high were installed at Hockwold, Suffolk, ensuring that the landscape matched the quality of the property build. The client was delighted, commenting on our overall service from point of contact to completions as “totally professional and it will be a pleasure to work with you again”. JR.

Anita Chillmaid
Instant Hedge: Benefits /by

Instant Hedge Benefits

Hedges are cost effective, compared to a brick wall and form an attractive boundary more quickly than many gardeners imagine.

They can create a really strong framework for the garden, so that it looks good in midwinter and is adapt at providing an attractive background to carry the beautiful floral decoration of spring and summer.  As well as providing structure to the garden, they can be perfect for wildlife, and particularly nesting birds.

Planting a mature, instant hedge has the following benefits:

mature hedging

Instant Hedge on a curve

  • Shelter: reducing wind strength better than a solid barrier
  • Filter: absorbing dust and noise
  • Privacy: as an effective visual screen, particularly evergreen hedging
  • Security: a prickly hedge is a great intruder deterrent
  • Beauty and interest from seasonal changes, particularly deciduous hedging
  • Background texture and colour complement other plants
  • Wildlife: food and shelter for a wide variety of native insects, birds and mammals
  • Weather-resistance: much better than manmade fences or brick walls
  • Economy long term compared with fencing and brick work
  • Long-lived: hedges can last hundreds of years
  • Can be planted to shape, such as a curve
  • Easy to maintain

See our notes on maintaining your instant hedge.

Happy Customer

Hedging and Trees (28 September 2015)

“A big thank you to your team. Everyone was extremely professional, personable and responsive. Steve was excellent in making suggestions and coming up with a planting plan. Conrad was equally consultative during the planting process when we re-ordered the shrubs for the back garden once we had them on site and worked with us on positioning the front hedge. Everything looks great and we couldn’t be happier with the screening set up in the back garden – most importantly, our neighbour loves it!! As Steve knows, we have another project on the go at the moment – we will be in touch next year once we start the landscaping process and need to address another screening challenge.” SB

Marketing
RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival 2024 /in , /by

RHS Show Gardens at Hampton Court Garden Festival 2-7 July 2024

RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is the world’s largest flower show, stretching over 31 acres and attracting around 120,000 visitors. It is a celebration of gardening set in the historic grounds of Hampton Court Palace within easy reach of central London.

Practicality Brown are delighted to support Garden Designers at the event again this year. There is a real variety of ideas at the 2024 festival, bringing gardening traditions of other countries to the classically British setting of Hampton Court Palace,

Show Garden

We have supplied Yew Practical Instant Hedge™ and Pine trees for Sadie May Stowell’s Oregon Show Garden.  This showcases the natural beauty of the state of Oregon, including wildflower planting, natural crisp clear waterfalls and forest planting. The planting is natural in appearance and focuses on pollinating plants and flowers.

Oregon Show Garden at RHS Hampton Court featuring Yew Practical Instant Hedge and Pine trees

Oregon Show Garden design by Sadie May Stowell

Get Started Gardens

The “Get Started Gardens” category aims to inspire beginner gardeners and spark ideas that can be achieved at their own home. We supported two Garden Designers in this section, both of which were awarded a Silver Gilt medal:

 

A Four Seasons Sanctuary created by Tim Jennings included our Hornbeam Elements and Purple Beech Practical Instant Hedge™. Combining striking modern design features with traditional materials.  With naturalistic ‘drift’ planting, this is a garden to be enjoyed by humans and wildlife alike. This garden has a strong stylish aesthetic that also provides the natural, seasonal wild space to sustain a diverse kaleidoscope of life

Four Season Sanctuary designed by Tim Jennings featuring Hornbeam Elements and Purple Beech Practical Instant Hedge

Four Season Sanctuary Garden designed by Tim Jennings

Lastly, Melanie Hick used our Elaeagnus evergreen screens for her award-winning Climate Forward Garden.  A front garden re-imagined for our changing environment with style and sustainability front and centre. It is influenced by Australian garden design.  It has evolved to cope with the demands of harsh climate conditions like drought and flooding rains.

Climate Forward Garden designed by Melanie Hick features Elaeagnus evergreen screens

Climate Forward Garden designed by Melanie Hick

Come and visit our nursery in Iver, Bucks and talk to our Horticultural team about your own garden. Call us on 01753 652022. You can also email us at hedge@pracbrown.co.uk. Or browse our website for specimen trees and instant hedges.

 

 

colour logo of RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 with single multi-coloured flower and text
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RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 /in , /by

RHS Exhibits

This year, our contribution to RHS Chelsea Flower Show took us inside the Great Pavilion, for two gardens designed for special Royal Horticultural Society exhibits and a special showground installation sponsored by Saatchi.

All About Hedges

This Discovery Zone feature, designed by Dave Green with RHS Science showcased the importance of hedges as part of urban and suburban landscapes.  Practicality Brown supplied Yew, Privet, Elaeagnus, Portuguese Laurel and Griselinia from our Practical Instant Hedge™ range for this special exhibit.

RHS x UBS A day on the nursery

This Feature Garden in the middle of the Great Pavilion, was sponsored by UBS and designed by Emma Tipping. It gave visitors an immersive experience of being in a plant nursery. We supplied Practical Instant Native Mix Hedge™ that surrounds the exhibit. The current mix in this very wildlife friendly hedge is Hawthorn, Hornbeam, Hazel, Blackthorn and Common Privet.

Abeba Esse

This showground installation, sponsored by Saatchi Gallery, by Zak Ové and Dave Green depicts a Black Diasporic journey, with planting representing Africa, the Caribbean, and the UK. The garden encourages important conversations about the themes. We supplied Practical Instant Native Mix Hedge™ as a back drop to the exhibit and the yew at the front.

Come and visit our nursery in Iver, Bucks and talk to our Horticultural team about your own garden. Call us on 01753 652022. You can also email us at hedge@pracbrown.co.uk. Or browse our website for specimen trees and instant hedges.

Picture shows the front of the green office building for Practicality Brown at our nursery.
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Screening Trees and Instant Hedges in Stock and Available Now /in , /by

Screening trees and instant hedges are in stock now at our nursery. We have over 800 trees and 15,000m of instant hedging available at our nursery in Iver, Buckinghamshire. We have the perfect tree or instant hedge for your garden project. In stock now and available for delivery at a few days’ notice. Or even better come and visit our nursery and see our stock for yourself!

The Best  Screening Trees

Our range of trees includes those suitable for creating privacy (screening trees). Those that are good for narrow gardens (pleached trees) and also some stunning specimen trees too.

We keep a good stock of our best, and most popular, trees here in Iver. Such as the classic Hollies and Laurels as well as the popular Photinia ‘Red Robin’. You can come to view – and choose – the trees for yourself when you arrange a nursery visit.

Top Quality Instant Hedges

As well as our range of in stock trees, we have an extensive range of home grown Practical Instant Hedge™, across 16 species. From the sea-wind tolerant Griselinia to the classic Yew and the popular Native Mix.  We have taken the time to produce top quality hedging, meaning that you can enjoy the instant impact, from the moment it is planted. Instant privacy, instant screening and instant results!  This hedge is supplied in convenient metre long pieces for ease of handling and planting. Our hedging can also be planted all year round.

 

About Us

Practicality Brown started in the early 1980s and has been at the forefront of many pioneering horticultural practices.  This included supplying large trees to the landscape trade and the development of pre-grown instant hedging.

We pride ourselves on our excellent customer satisfaction ratings.  With the excellent quality of our products and services together with our amazing staff, who create a great experience for customers.

We are on hand to help, guiding your project choice from plant selection, right through to delivery and planting.

Visit The Nursery

We would be delighted to show you around our Tree and Hedge nursery in Iver, Buckinghamshire, whether you are interested in screening trees or instant hedges.

We are located near to M4, M25 and M40 junctions, about 6 miles from Heathrow Airport. Also just 15 miles from central London and 1 mile from Iver Station.  With regular trains from London Paddington.

Please phone us first 01753 652022 to book a nursery visit and we will ensure we have an expert on hand to show you around.

We look forward to meeting and helping you with your enquiry.

 

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.

Pages

Anita Chillmaid
Beech Instant Hedge /by

Beech Instant Hedge

Green Beech Instant Hedging

Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is a popular choice for a deciduous hedge and is native to the UK. The prominently veined green leaves turn yellow-orange in Autumn and often remain through the winter which enhances its value as a year round screen.

Also known as Common or Green Beech, this hedge does well on most well drained soils and is particularly happy on chalk. This deciduous instant hedge can be planted in a position enjoying either sun or partial shade. Seaside locations are best avoided as Beech dislikes salt.

Beech Hedging is relatively slow growing (15 – 30 cm/year) and will need pruning once a year, preferably in August.

Horse Friendly Hedging

Beech 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.

Our Beech Instant Hedges are available at 1/1.2m, 1.2/1.4m and 1.8/2m high as a Practical Instant Hedge™.

90/100cm high Practical Instant Hedge growing at our nursery here in Iver, Bucks.

Click here to contact us if you would like a quote for this instant hedge.

Species Latin Foliage Pruning Annual growth Aspect Soil acceptance pH Leaves
Beech Fagus sylvatica Deciduous Once in August Slow15-30cm Sun to shade All except dry Acidic to alkaline Green turning yellow-brown. Often remain into spring
Anita Chillmaid
Hedge Selecting Guide /by

How To Choose The Best Hedge For Your Home

An instant hedge is pre-grown as a mature hedgerow which creates an immediate, impressive impact, whether its evergreen instant hedging for privacy screening or the seasonal interest of a mature deciduous hedge.

Which Hedge?

Practical Instant Hedge™ is available in various species and sizes, up to 1.8m high, so how will you choose which one is best for your garden? The first choice is whether you would like an evergreen or deciduous hedge.

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, they are many different varieties to suit your individual taste.

Deciduous hedges shed their leaves in the winter. They offer year-round seasonal interest from flowers, coloured foliage, or autumn fruits.

There are many varieties of mature hedge here that will help make your garden the perfect outdoor space – please see the individual product pages for more information on the specific characteristics of each hedge.

Hedge Selecting Guide

Use this table to help select the most suitable instant hedge for your project.  Practical Instant Hedge™ is available in heights ranging from 80cm to 1.8m high and is sold in 1m long pieces.

 

Species Latin Foliage Pruning Annual growth Aspect Soil acceptance pH Leaves
White Cedar Thuja occidentalis ‘Brabant’ Evergreen Once in August Average 20-40cm Sun to shade All well drained Acidic to alkaline Shiny light green needles
Hornbeam Carpinus betulus Deciduous Once in July or August Fast 30-40cm Sun to partial shade All except the poorest Neutral to slightly acidic Dark green turning yellow-brown. Often remain into spring
Common Beech Fagus sylvatica Deciduous Once in August Slow 10-30cm Sun to shade All except dry Acidic to alkaline Green turning yellow-brown. Often remain into spring
Purple Beech Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’ Deciduous Once in August Slow 10-30cm Sun to shade All except dry Acidic to alkaline Green-purple turning red-brown. Often remain into spring
English Holly Ilex aquifolium  Evergreen  Once in August  Slow 5-15cm  Sun to shade  All well drained Acidic to alkaline Thorny, shiny dark green that are pale green underneath
Oval Leaf Privet Ligustrum ovalifolium Semi-evergreen Regularly in Summer Fast 40-60cm Sun to partial shade All well drained Slightly acidic to alkaline Mid-dark green on top and yellow-green underneath
Photinia ‘Red Robin’ Photinia fraseri Evergreen Regularly in Summer Fast 30-40cm Sun to partial shade All well drained Acidic to alkaline Shiny dark green. New shoots are crimson-red
Common Laurel Prunus laurocerasus Evergreen Once in July or August Fast 30-40cm Sun to shade All except shallow chalk Neutral to slightly acidic Large shiny green. Thick and leathery
Portuguese Laurel Prunus lusitanica Evergreen Once in AugustAverage 20-40cm Average 20-40cm Sun to shade All except the poorest Acidic to alkaline Ovate and dark green
Yew Taxus baccata Evergreen  Once in August  Slow 5-20cm  Sun to shade  All except peat  Slightly acidic to alkaline Shiny dark green needles that are pale green underneath
Native Mix (Hazel, Blackthorn,  Hornbeam, Common Privet and Hawthorn) Deciduous Once in July Fast 30-40cm Sun to partial shade All except the poorest Neutral to  slightly acidic Various
Blue Holly Ilex meserveae Blue Maid/ Prince Evergreen Once in August Slow 20-30cm Sun to partial shade All well drained Acidic to alkaline Blue green spiny
Burkwood Osmanthus Osmanthus burkwoodii Evergreen Regularly in Summer Average 20-40cm Sun to partial shade All well drained Any Dark green oval

 

Contact Us

Please use the enquiry form with details of the hedges that you are interested in and we will provide you with a bespoke quotation.

Ready grown, instant hedges in various species, and shades of green growing in rows at Practicality Brown

Practical Instant Hedge™ growing at our nursery in Iver, Buckinghamshire

 

Anita Chillmaid
Evergreen Instant Hedge /by

Evergreen Instant Hedging

Evergreen Instant Hedging has the benefit of providing screening, privacy and shelter all year round. An evergreen instant hedge will also give an immediate, mature look to your garden. This dense hedging is available at heights of up to 2m and can be planted all-year round.

Instant hedges are the perfect way to provide maturity to your garden and have the following benefits:

  • A ready grown hedge providing a mature, practical option
  • Dense hedging, pre-planted and ready spaced out
  • Carefully maintained and regularly clipped to an instant hedge shape
  • Ready to plant all year round and available up to 2m high, species dependent
  • Available in any lengths, and can be bent to almost any shape
  • Instant evergreen hedges provide a year round dense screening, privacy, shelter etc.
  • We have taken the time to grow it, so you don’t have to!

See evergreen pages for more details on specific species:


English Holly

Laurel Evergreen Instant Hedge

Cherry Laurel

Photinia fraseri Red Robin Evergreen

Photinia

Privet Evergreen Instant Hedge

Privet

Portuguese Laurel Evergreen Instant Hedge

Portuguese Laurel

Yew Evergreen Instant Hedge

Yew

Thuja hedge detail

White Ceder


Griselinia

Elaeagnus leaf detail evergreen instant hedge

Elaeagnus


Blue Holly

Osmanthus burkwoodii Instant Hedge, closeup of flower and foliage

Burkwood Osmanthus

Evergreen Instant Hedge

Our current range of evergreen instant hedging includes the following species with their common and latin name:

Best Evergreen Hedging


Happy Customer

Yew Hedge – Instant Hedge

“I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all your help and to let you know, as I’m sure you do, how marvellous your team are. The yew hedging and larger plants went in without the slightest of fuss and the effect was both instant and amazing; it has transformed our garden by adding years of growing in a matter of days. I can’t wait until spring to plant more!” JC, Suffolk.

Anita Chillmaid
Deciduous Hedge /by

Deciduous Instant Hedge

Planting a mature deciduous instant hedge will add an established feel to your garden, as well as offering seasonal interest.

During the winter months screening and privacy benefits are reduced, but this can be out-weighed with blooms, berries and foliage changes throughout the year.

Our deciduous instant hedging is available in heights up to 1.8m (approx. 6ft) and due to the production method,  can be planted at any time of the year.

Click on the images for specific details on our range of deciduous hedge species.

Deciduous Instant Hedge

Green Beech

Deciduous Instant Hedge

Hawthorn

Deciduous Instant Hedge

Hornbeam

Deciduous Instant Hedge

Native Mix

Deciduous Instant Hedge

Purple Beech

Happy Customer

Evergreen and Deciduous hedge – Epsom

“We are absolutely delighted with the plants, the Yew has blended with the existing hedge and the Hornbeam has given us the privacy we thought we would have to wait years for. Please pass on a special thank you to your planting team, they certainly know what they are doing! Needless to say, we shall sing your praises with our friends and family.” Mr & Mrs S

Deciduous instant hedge names along with their latin equivalents:

field of beech instant hedge growing in specially designed trough bags in summer with full green leaves    field of beech instant hedge growing in specially designed trough bags in winter with brown/bronze leaves

Practical Instant Beech Hedge in the summer with green leaves and winter with its retained brown/bronze leaves

Anita Chillmaid
Instant Hedge: Maintenance /by

Instant Hedge Maintenance

Irrigation

The amount of water available to your hedge roots depends on the water retention capacity of the soil (e.g. sandy, or clay soil) and cannot be exactly planned. It is important that you observe the hedge foliage for signs of drought so that your watering regime can be adjusted as necessary; external signs of drought are that the foliage wilts and sometimes rolls or turns.

It is important to note that it is also easy to over water your hedge and if you notice leaves turning yellow or expereince unseasonal leaf drop, then it is likely to be over watered; watered in which case immediate action should be taken to cut back on watering. If the soil surface looks dry but you have symptoms of over watering, then the moisture content needs to be checked 300 – 400mm below ground level.  Dig a small hole beside the hedge rootstrip which will indicate the amount of water getting to the roots; if it’s obviously wet, then the hedge is over-watered.

Watering in the winter is not usually required unless the hedge is evergreen and there have been long periods with little or no rainfall. We recommend that irrigation timers are stored indoors over the winter and re-connected to the system in early spring.

The following table shows you the necessary amount of water required, per linear metre per week, for a newly planted instant hedge. This should be continued until the hedge has fully established, which is usually 24 months after planting. Watering can then be reduced as required.

Soil TypeWeather ConditionsWeekly water requirement per metreIdeal watering frequency
Clay loamAverage20 – 30 litresEvery other day
Clay loamDry30 – 40 litresEvery other day
Sandy loamAverage30 – 40 litresEvery day
Sandy loamDry40 – 50 litresEvery day

Please note that this is a guide only and your observation of the hedge is most important.

Feeding

We advise that you feed your instant hedge annually with a quality nutrient blend fertiliser and the best application time for this is early spring, although any time of the year is beneficial.

Pruning

The best time of the year to prune a hedge depends on the type of plant. If the plant buds in the early spring, it can be trimmed late summer. If it blooms in the late spring, then later in the autumn or winter will be better. For non-flowering hedges, pruning can take place in the autumn or winter as well. See our hedge selection guide which gives suggested pruning months.

Whether using hand shears for smaller hedges or a powered hedge trimmer for larger hedges, you should ensure the equipment is sharp and well lubricated. Plan the trimming in advance, removing any obstacles on the ground before starting and think about the shape you would like to create; a formal, clipped hedge or a more shrub-like and natural.

Happy Customer

Purple Beech, Hockwold

“Nearly 100 linear metres of Purple Beech, 1.8/2.0m high were installed at Hockwold, Suffolk, ensuring that the landscape matched the quality of the property build. The client was delighted, commenting on our overall service from point of contact to completions as “totally professional and it will be a pleasure to work with you again”. JR.

Anita Chillmaid
Instant Hedge: Benefits /by

Instant Hedge Benefits

Hedges are cost effective, compared to a brick wall and form an attractive boundary more quickly than many gardeners imagine.

They can create a really strong framework for the garden, so that it looks good in midwinter and is adapt at providing an attractive background to carry the beautiful floral decoration of spring and summer.  As well as providing structure to the garden, they can be perfect for wildlife, and particularly nesting birds.

Planting a mature, instant hedge has the following benefits:

mature hedging

Instant Hedge on a curve

  • Shelter: reducing wind strength better than a solid barrier
  • Filter: absorbing dust and noise
  • Privacy: as an effective visual screen, particularly evergreen hedging
  • Security: a prickly hedge is a great intruder deterrent
  • Beauty and interest from seasonal changes, particularly deciduous hedging
  • Background texture and colour complement other plants
  • Wildlife: food and shelter for a wide variety of native insects, birds and mammals
  • Weather-resistance: much better than manmade fences or brick walls
  • Economy long term compared with fencing and brick work
  • Long-lived: hedges can last hundreds of years
  • Can be planted to shape, such as a curve
  • Easy to maintain

See our notes on maintaining your instant hedge.

Happy Customer

Hedging and Trees (28 September 2015)

“A big thank you to your team. Everyone was extremely professional, personable and responsive. Steve was excellent in making suggestions and coming up with a planting plan. Conrad was equally consultative during the planting process when we re-ordered the shrubs for the back garden once we had them on site and worked with us on positioning the front hedge. Everything looks great and we couldn’t be happier with the screening set up in the back garden – most importantly, our neighbour loves it!! As Steve knows, we have another project on the go at the moment – we will be in touch next year once we start the landscaping process and need to address another screening challenge.” SB

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RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival 2024 /in , /by

RHS Show Gardens at Hampton Court Garden Festival 2-7 July 2024

RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is the world’s largest flower show, stretching over 31 acres and attracting around 120,000 visitors. It is a celebration of gardening set in the historic grounds of Hampton Court Palace within easy reach of central London.

Practicality Brown are delighted to support Garden Designers at the event again this year. There is a real variety of ideas at the 2024 festival, bringing gardening traditions of other countries to the classically British setting of Hampton Court Palace,

Show Garden

We have supplied Yew Practical Instant Hedge™ and Pine trees for Sadie May Stowell’s Oregon Show Garden.  This showcases the natural beauty of the state of Oregon, including wildflower planting, natural crisp clear waterfalls and forest planting. The planting is natural in appearance and focuses on pollinating plants and flowers.

Oregon Show Garden at RHS Hampton Court featuring Yew Practical Instant Hedge and Pine trees

Oregon Show Garden design by Sadie May Stowell

Get Started Gardens

The “Get Started Gardens” category aims to inspire beginner gardeners and spark ideas that can be achieved at their own home. We supported two Garden Designers in this section, both of which were awarded a Silver Gilt medal:

 

A Four Seasons Sanctuary created by Tim Jennings included our Hornbeam Elements and Purple Beech Practical Instant Hedge™. Combining striking modern design features with traditional materials.  With naturalistic ‘drift’ planting, this is a garden to be enjoyed by humans and wildlife alike. This garden has a strong stylish aesthetic that also provides the natural, seasonal wild space to sustain a diverse kaleidoscope of life

Four Season Sanctuary designed by Tim Jennings featuring Hornbeam Elements and Purple Beech Practical Instant Hedge

Four Season Sanctuary Garden designed by Tim Jennings

Lastly, Melanie Hick used our Elaeagnus evergreen screens for her award-winning Climate Forward Garden.  A front garden re-imagined for our changing environment with style and sustainability front and centre. It is influenced by Australian garden design.  It has evolved to cope with the demands of harsh climate conditions like drought and flooding rains.

Climate Forward Garden designed by Melanie Hick features Elaeagnus evergreen screens

Climate Forward Garden designed by Melanie Hick

Come and visit our nursery in Iver, Bucks and talk to our Horticultural team about your own garden. Call us on 01753 652022. You can also email us at hedge@pracbrown.co.uk. Or browse our website for specimen trees and instant hedges.

 

 

colour logo of RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 with single multi-coloured flower and text
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RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 /in , /by

RHS Exhibits

This year, our contribution to RHS Chelsea Flower Show took us inside the Great Pavilion, for two gardens designed for special Royal Horticultural Society exhibits and a special showground installation sponsored by Saatchi.

All About Hedges

This Discovery Zone feature, designed by Dave Green with RHS Science showcased the importance of hedges as part of urban and suburban landscapes.  Practicality Brown supplied Yew, Privet, Elaeagnus, Portuguese Laurel and Griselinia from our Practical Instant Hedge™ range for this special exhibit.

RHS x UBS A day on the nursery

This Feature Garden in the middle of the Great Pavilion, was sponsored by UBS and designed by Emma Tipping. It gave visitors an immersive experience of being in a plant nursery. We supplied Practical Instant Native Mix Hedge™ that surrounds the exhibit. The current mix in this very wildlife friendly hedge is Hawthorn, Hornbeam, Hazel, Blackthorn and Common Privet.

Abeba Esse

This showground installation, sponsored by Saatchi Gallery, by Zak Ové and Dave Green depicts a Black Diasporic journey, with planting representing Africa, the Caribbean, and the UK. The garden encourages important conversations about the themes. We supplied Practical Instant Native Mix Hedge™ as a back drop to the exhibit and the yew at the front.

Come and visit our nursery in Iver, Bucks and talk to our Horticultural team about your own garden. Call us on 01753 652022. You can also email us at hedge@pracbrown.co.uk. Or browse our website for specimen trees and instant hedges.

Picture shows the front of the green office building for Practicality Brown at our nursery.
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Screening Trees and Instant Hedges in Stock and Available Now /in , /by

Screening trees and instant hedges are in stock now at our nursery. We have over 800 trees and 15,000m of instant hedging available at our nursery in Iver, Buckinghamshire. We have the perfect tree or instant hedge for your garden project. In stock now and available for delivery at a few days’ notice. Or even better come and visit our nursery and see our stock for yourself!

The Best  Screening Trees

Our range of trees includes those suitable for creating privacy (screening trees). Those that are good for narrow gardens (pleached trees) and also some stunning specimen trees too.

We keep a good stock of our best, and most popular, trees here in Iver. Such as the classic Hollies and Laurels as well as the popular Photinia ‘Red Robin’. You can come to view – and choose – the trees for yourself when you arrange a nursery visit.

Top Quality Instant Hedges

As well as our range of in stock trees, we have an extensive range of home grown Practical Instant Hedge™, across 16 species. From the sea-wind tolerant Griselinia to the classic Yew and the popular Native Mix.  We have taken the time to produce top quality hedging, meaning that you can enjoy the instant impact, from the moment it is planted. Instant privacy, instant screening and instant results!  This hedge is supplied in convenient metre long pieces for ease of handling and planting. Our hedging can also be planted all year round.

 

About Us

Practicality Brown started in the early 1980s and has been at the forefront of many pioneering horticultural practices.  This included supplying large trees to the landscape trade and the development of pre-grown instant hedging.

We pride ourselves on our excellent customer satisfaction ratings.  With the excellent quality of our products and services together with our amazing staff, who create a great experience for customers.

We are on hand to help, guiding your project choice from plant selection, right through to delivery and planting.

Visit The Nursery

We would be delighted to show you around our Tree and Hedge nursery in Iver, Buckinghamshire, whether you are interested in screening trees or instant hedges.

We are located near to M4, M25 and M40 junctions, about 6 miles from Heathrow Airport. Also just 15 miles from central London and 1 mile from Iver Station.  With regular trains from London Paddington.

Please phone us first 01753 652022 to book a nursery visit and we will ensure we have an expert on hand to show you around.

We look forward to meeting and helping you with your enquiry.

 

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.