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Elaeagnus leaf detail evergreen instant hedge
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Instant Hedge In Focus: Elaeagnus /in , /by

Instant Hedge In Focus: Elaeagnus

Elaeagnus ebbingei Compacta, also known as Oleaster, makes a wonderful evergreen instant hedge.

Elaeagnus instant hedge is great for coastal locations

Elaeagnus leaf detail

Top 5 features of Elaeagnus

  1. Attractive silver green foliage
  2. Tolerant of maritime exposure and windy conditions
  3. Thrives in all but the coldest or waterlogged locations
  4. Fragrant flowers and attractive fruits
  5. Easy to care for, prune once a year

Why choose Elaeagnus Instant Hedge?

Oleaster has very attractive leathery leaves that are metallic grey-green above and silver underneath. This mix of colours gives a silver shimmering effect when the leaves of an Elaeagnus hedge flutter in the wind. Newly emerging leaves are almost entirely silver, adding to the sparkly appearance.

Elaeagnus Instant Hedge is a robust hedging plant that is very tolerant of site conditions, except those that become waterlogged. It prefers a well-drained soil although it can grow in very poor soils. It is also very drought resistant and will succeed in dry soils. This versatile plant is as happy in full sun as it is in deep shade.

This hedging plant is one of those species that is extremely resistant to maritime exposure and salt-laden winds. It can grow right next to the sea and in such a position would give very good wind protection. The plants are fairly hardy in temperate areas, and although they are not best suited for the coldest, harshest of winters, they can be seen at the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens in Scotland.

Another attractive feature of Elaeagnus Ebbingei  is how it flowers and produces fruit. Exquisitely scented tiny bell-shaped, silvery flowers appear in clusters during October and November. The flowers then ripen into fruits in spring, which are red with a very attractive silver marbling effect. Known as Wild Olives these are edible when fully ripe and are popular in south-eastern Europe.

Elaeagnus Ebbingei is excellent for creating a dense evergreen screen with seasonal interest anywhere but has particular value in coastal or windy areas.

Elaeagnus Practical Instant Hedge Currently is available in heights of 1.6-1.8m and 1.8m high.

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

Mature hedging growing at our hedge nursery in Iver, Buckinghamshire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Species Latin Foliage Pruning Annual Growth Aspect Soil preference PH Leaves
Oleaster Elaeagnus ebbingei Compacta Evergreen Once in July or August Fast 40-60cm All – excellent for coastal areas All well drained Acidic to slightly alkaline Silvery Green

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:

  • Explore our website for more details, including current size availability
  • We offer supply only, or supply and installation
  • Call us on 01753 652022 and speak to our horticultural team
  • Email us on hedge@pracbrown.co.uk with your requirements (including size and length of hedge, your location and whether you would like a price for installation) and we will return a quote within 2 working days.
Griselinia growing at Iver
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Top 5 Hedges for Screening & Privacy /in , , /by

Top 5 Hedges for Screening & Privacy

What are the best hedges to provide screening and privacy in your garden?

When looking for hedging to provide screening in your garden, the best solution is to plant mature hedging to give you instant privacy.  Buying pre-grown hedges, such as our Practical Instant Hedge™ ensures that you have a solution to create a private, secure garden for you to enjoy.

You could plant individual plants, but you will need to wait for them to grow into a hedge. The best hedges to provide screening and privacy are those that are ready grown for that purpose, and in particular, evergreen instant hedge.

Which Instant Hedge is best for screening and privacy?

There are many garden hedges, and many are suitable for specific issues or requirements.  Deciduous hedges offer season interest, from spring blossom to autumn fruits, however due to the annual leaf drop, they may not be suitable for year-round screening.

The best hedging to provide great screening for the whole of the year are evergreen, and they will give an attractive backdrop in your garden. Evergreen hedges are the best for screening and privacy.

Why use Evergreen Instant Hedges

Evergreen Instant Hedges are attractive hedges and give an immediate privacy screen.  Our Practical Instant Hedge™ is grown in nine varieties at our hedge nursery in Iver, Buckinghamshire.  Our production method that ensures this mature hedge is easy to handle, as it is pre-grown in 1m troughs at our nursery which means it can be planted all year round with no worry about “transplant” shock.

Our Top 5 Evergreen Instant Hedges

From our range of 9 evergreen Practical Instant Hedges, these are our pick of the top five hedges that are ideal for screening:

Common Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Rotundifolia’)

Laurel Leaf detail

Common Laurel (or Cherry Laurel) makes a bright, dense evergreen hedge. It’s shiny lime green leaves are thick and leathery, making it a good choice for noise reduction, for example, from a busy road. Common Laurel Instant Hedge will thrive in most soils, including clay, but it dislikes (shallow) chalk.

Yew (Taxus baccata)

Yew leaf detail

Practical Yew Instant Hedge is a very popular choice, a timeless classic that is at home in any garden style from formal traditional to elegant contemporary. The dark-green, conifer foliage is easy to maintain and trim. Yew hedges are perfect choice for dense, mature evergreen hedging.

Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica ‘Angustifolia’)

Portuguese laurel leaf

Practical Portuguese Laurel Instant Hedge will work well in any garden setting. The dark green leaves are neat and attractive, giving this evergreen hedge an attractive compact and refined appearance.  Portuguese Laurel hedging likes most soils including clay and shallow chalk.

Broadleaf (Griselinia littoralis)

Griselinia Evergreen Instant Hedge

Practical Griselinia Instant Hedge™ (as known as Broadleaf) makes a wonderful evergreen instant hedge with its attractive light apple-green leathery leaves. Griselinia hedging is excellent for coastal locations as it is particularly tolerant of salt laden winds, ‘littoralis’ translates as ‘growing by the sea’.

Oleaster (Elaeagnus ebbingei  ‘Compacta’)

Elaeagnus Instant Hedge leaf detail

Elaeagnus ebbingei ‘Compacta’ is a robust hedging plant with tough silvery grey leaves that are frost, wind and salt resistant. Also known as Oleaster, this Instant Hedge. is excellent for creating a dense evergreen screen anywhere but has particular value in coastal areas.

Why Plant Practical Instant Hedge™?

  • Create an attractive backdrop for your garden project.
  • Provides highly effective screening for privacy and security.
  • Give your garden more shelter for your garden and filter pollution such as dirt and noise
  • Hedges are more cost effective and weather resistant than fence or brickwork
  • Help protect birds and wildlife by creating a natural habitat
  • Enhance or section off parts of your property for sale.

 

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:

  • Explore our website for more details, including current size availability
  • We offer supply only, or supply and installation
  • Call us on 01753 652022 and speak to our horticultural team
  • Email us on hedge@www.pracbrown.co.uk with your requirements (including size and length of hedge, your location and whether you would like a price for installation) and we will return a quote within 2 working days.

 

Evergreen Instant Hedges are the best for screening and privacy in your garden

 

Instant Hedge at RHS Tatton Park
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RHS Tatton Park 2019 /in , , /by

Young Garden Designers at RHS Tatton Park

RHS gives young garden designers the chance to kick start their careers and gain invaluable exposure at a prestigious RHS Show with its Young Designer Competition, now in its 11th year. This year, four young designers created gardens at the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show.

Practicality Brown like to support young designers, see blog post on Hampton Court for the garden we were involved with this year.  At Tatton Park, we supplied our elegant Portuguese Laurel Practical Instant Hedge for a garden in the Young Designers category.  Grown here at our nursery in Iver, we have taken great care with these instant hedging solutions to supply a premium quality product, as befits a Show Garden.

The Phytosanctuary Garden

Gold medal  winner and Young Designer of the Year 2019

Our Practical Instant Hedge on Kristian Reay’s Phytosanctuary Garden

This beautiful garden was designed by Kristian Reay and is planted with a Mediterranean theme to raise awareness of Xylella fastidiosa disease that poses a threat to many of our much-loved plants.

At first glance, this garden is a beautiful and desirable space awash with ornamental grasses and a palette of fragrant perennials evocative of the Mediterranean. But look beyond its fragile beauty and a darker message is revealed – the growing threat of the deadly plant disease.

At the centre of the garden is a graceful Olea europaea, the olive tree that has been devastated by the disease throughout southern Europe.

Similarly, the Lavandula (lavender), and Prunus lusitanica hedge are also ‘at-risk’ species that have been severely affected by Xylella. We supplied the Practical Portuguese Laurel Instant Hedge, which in integral to this statement garden.

The art designed on the back wall depicts Xylella. The circle represents xylem, while Xylella can be seen inside. It shows how Xylella multiplies and restricts water flow within the xylem, threatening the plant.

Kristian was announced as the winner of the Young Designer of the year 2019 at the RHS Flower Show Tatton Park and will also take home an RHS Gold medal for his thoughtful design.  Speaking ahead of the competition, Kristian said: “As a Young Designer I’m deeply concerned about the risk from plant diseases like Xylella to our gardens and landscapes, so I think this is a really important topic to discuss at the show.

“I’ve included at-risk garden favourites like lavender in the planting to highlight the impact the disease could have if these plants were to vanish.”

The role of gardeners and the scientific community in responding to the threat posed by Xylella is explored in a display describing the BRIGIT project and the Defra and Animal and Plant Health Agency’s Don’t Risk It! campaign.

Congratulations to Kristian, a Gold medal winner and now Best Young Designer!

RHS Tatton Park 2019 instant hedge

Phytosanctuary Garden designed by Kristian Reay

 

 

 

Links

RHS Young Designer of the Year 

The Phytosanctuary Garden

Practical Instant Hedge

Kristian Reay

BBC coverage

RHS Hampton Court
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RHS 2019 Hampton Court Garden Festival /in , , , /by

Practicality Brown at RHS Hampton Court

Every year, Practicality Brown have the pleasure of working with talented Garden Designers at the Royal Horticultural Society’s prestigious Garden Shows and this July we supplied six gardens at Hampton Court with 75m of our Instant Hedge as well as five semi-mature trees.

Five gardens used our Practical Native Mix Instant Hedge, which has plants that are all native to the UK, reflecting traditional country hedgerows and are therefore very wildlife friendly. Grown here at our nursery in Iver, we have taken great care with these instant hedging solutions to supply a premium quality product.

BBC Springwatch Garden (Feature Garden)

Practical Instant Hedge for BBC Springwatch garden

This special Feature Garden, designed by Jo Thompson, was inspired by Kate Bradbury’s wildlife garden for BBC Springwatch. British gardens cover an area bigger than all of the country’s nature reserves combined which is being represented in the BBC Springwatch Garden, as it shows three gardens belonging to different neighbours. Each with its own character and features to attract wildlife, working towards a common cause through gardening. Our Practical Native Mix Instant Hedge reinforces these wildlife benefits. Built by Bespoke Outdoor Spaces

Through Your Eyes (Show Garden)

Practical Instant Hedge for Lawrence Roberts

Silver medal winner

This Show Garden, designed by Lawrence Roberts  of Elements Garden Design, provided an immersive experience for the show visitor. The garden was overlooked by a large William Roobrouck sculpture that can be entered, allowing each person a moment alone to contemplate the garden and its message. Mental health, age, family and friendships are all addressed in the garden through the materials and the choice of planting. Our Native Mix formed the borders to this thoughtful garden. Built by Shrub and Stone.

The Naturecraft Garden (Lifestyle Garden)

Practical Instant Hedge for Naturecraft Garden

Silver medal winner and Peoples’ Choice Award for Lifestyle & Global Impact Garden

Designed by Pollyanna Wilkinson, and inspired by botanical crafts, the garden explored how we can create beautiful objects from the plants that we grow. Crafts included natural dyes, herbal medicines, flower pressing and willow weaving. As well as their decorative value, the plants in this country garden all have a purpose, whether it be medicinal, edible or practical. Our Native Mix instant hedge created a framework for the garden’s features, which form a sanctuary where creativity can thrive. We also supplied the trees for this beautiful garden. Built by Burnham Landscaping.

The Urban Pollinator Garden (Lifestyle Garden)

Practical Instant Hedge for Urban Pollinator garden

Silver Gilt medal winner

The garden, designed by Caitlin McLaughlin, was a magnet for bees and other insects, fusing design, function and wildlife-friendly values. After a long day at work this garden is designed to offer a place for the owners to relax, connect with nature, and surround themselves with pollinators, without the pressure of keeping bees themselves. Our Native Mix Instant Hedge helped support a range of wildlife and promote biodiversity. Built by Conway Landscapes
This garden is now rehomed at Cransley Hospice in Kettering, Northamptonshire, for patients, visitors and staff to enjoy.

Stop and Pause Garden (Lifestyle Garden)

Practical Instant Hedge for Dave Green

Gold medal winner Best Lifestyle & Global Impact Garden and Best Construction Award

Designed by Dave Green, this garden is a calm, still and quiet space offering mental wellbeing and meditation opportunities. Surrounded by trees, the space has a slightly secretive quality, hiding its sense of tranquillity within. At the centre, a reflection pool, surrounded by soft woodland planting, adds to the relaxed feeling. Seating areas create places to stop, pause and reflect while enjoying the sight, sounds and smells of nature. Our Native Mix Instant Hedge is integral to the design. Built by PC Landscapes.
The garden has been donated to Solihull Hospital Charity and will be reconstructed in the hospital grounds.

Outdoor Living Garden (Lifestyle Garden)

Purple Beech Instant Hedge

Silver Gilt medal winner

This garden is a nod to the growing trend of outdoor living and alfresco dining, designed with a young couple in mind. Designed by Robert Grimstead, its features an almost seamless terrace within the garden and an outdoor kitchen for an alfresco dining experience, providing the ability to cook and socialise with friends. A reflective gravel pool creates a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. UK grown Purple Beech Instant Hedge provides a framework to this stylish garden. Built by Lower Barn Farm

Inspired?

If you would like a garden inspired by RHS Flowers Shows please contact us on 01753 652022 or email to talk to our friendly Horticultural team.

See more about these gardens on the RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival web page

Award Winning

Congratulations to all the designers, builders and volunteers involved with these fabulous projects; see more on the BBC coverage of the RHS Hampton Court Garden festival on BBC iPlayer

Links

RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival – The Gardens

Jo Thompson

Lawrence Roberts

Pollyanna Wilkinson

Caitlin McLaughlin

Dave Green

Robert Grimstead

Practical Instant Hedge at Hampton Court Flower Show - Hampton Gardens 2018
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RHS Hampton Court Flower Show 2018 Awards /in , , /by

Hampton Court Flower Show 2018

The RHS created a new category at Hampton Court Flower Show 2018 this year;
Lifestyle Gardens: real gardens for real people

The featured gardens were designed to resonate with different lifestyles and reflect the owner’s way of life and was perfect for visitors wanting ideas to take away for their garden at home.
The RHS, as part of their commitment to inspiring new talent and encouraging more young people to pursue a career in horticulture, invited four up-and-coming female designers from the next generation for their take on garden design.

Practicality Brown proudly supplied Practical Instant Hedge to three of the four gardens in the Lifestyle Garden category at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show 2018.

The Family Garden designed by Lilly Gomm

Silver Gilt medal winner

Gardener, designs seen at Tatton Park. First time at Hampton

Hampton Court Flower Show 2018

Family Garden at Hampton Court

The Family Garden: A garden to inspire young environmentalists

A relaxing space where insects thrive and children are immersed in nature. Intended for an environmentally-conscious family, the garden is a learning environment inspired by the enchanting and lasting impression a garden can have on children through play and discovery, instilling an awareness of our collective responsibility towards our natural surroundings. The garden is relaxed and unmanicured. Fruit trees and a shaggy lawn are surrounded by soft, informal planting, creating habitats for insects and other wildlife.

We supplied Practical Instant Native Mix Hedge

The Health and Wellbeing Garden designed by Alexandra Noble

Silver medal winner and People’s Choice Best Lifestyle/Conceptual/Changing World Garden

Winner of The One Show Garden Design Challenge, second year at Hampton

Practical Instant Hedge at RHS Hampton Court - Hampton Gardens 2018

Health & Wellbeing Garden at Hampton Court

The Health and Well-being Garden: A new look at medicinal plants.

This garden’s scheme was to create “naturalistic, floaty, dreamlike” experience with masses of fragrance around a clever continuous path that takes its inspiration from both abstract art and meditative process. The aim of the garden is to slow one’s pace and mind and encourage a sense of being in the moment.

We supplied Practical Instant Griselinia Hedge

The Entertaining Garden designed by Anca Panait

Silver medal winner

Landscape architect and illustrator, first time at Hampton

Practical Instant Hedge at RHS Hampton Court - Hampton Gardens 2018

Entertaining Garden at Hampton Court Flower Show

The Entertaining Garden: Gin and botanicals

The garden celebrated gin, the nation’s most fashionable alcoholic drink, and its botanicals. Designed as an entertaining space for parties, it’s perfect for mingling with friends and exploring new botanical associations. Immersed within the

planting, visitors are indulged with both the taste and aroma of the plants

We supplied Practical Instant Native Mix Hedge

 

 

 

We supplied elegant taxus hedge elements for Paul Richardson’s Steel Sculptures trade exhibition,

RHS Hampton Court trade exhibition - Hampton Gardens 2018

Steel Sculptures

which was awarded 5 Stars by the RHS

During June, we were also involved with two other award-winning gardens – see blog for details.

If you would like a garden inspired by Flower Shows please contact us on 01753 652022 to talk to our friendly Horticultural team.

Beech instant hedges at Chatsworth
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Garden Flower Shows 2018 /in , , /by

Flower Shows 2018 focusing on Instant Hedges

June

Congratulations to everyone at the June Flower Shows, Practicality Brown proudly supplied instant hedges to:

  • The Brewin Dolphin Installation designed by Paul Hervey-Brookes won People’s Choice at RHS Chatsworth Flower Show
  • Inspiration in the Raw designed by Peter Cowell awarded Gold Medal at BBC Gardeners’ World Live

The Brewin Dolphin Installation

Inspired by a past landscape of the Chatsworth Estate, this conceptual garden echoes a ‘lost’ village that once stood in the shadow of Chatsworth House before being removed to make way for Capability Brown’s famous landscape. The planting references the indigenous landscape combining native plants with decorative varieties introduced in later years.

Sponsored by Brewin Dolphin, this garden affirmation from the public with The People’s Award for Installation at RHS Chatsworth Flower Show. We supplied Elveden Instant Beech Hedge for this garden.

Inspiration in the Raw

The garden focuses on using natural materials to create a more peaceful area to live in the garden. With an emphasis on recycling and reusing materials, this garden caters for a family, the garden is divided into sections by sliding barn doors. At the rear of the garden there is a dedicated play area with rope swing and playhouse, meanwhile, parents can entertain in the free-form concrete seating and dining area or relax in a quiet corner.

This garden was awarded a Gold Medal by the judges at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live. We supplied Practical Instant Native Mix Hedge for this garden.

July

At RHS Hampton Court, we are supported three out of the four Lifestyle Gardens, as well as a trade exhibit.

And Paul Richardson’s Garden Steel Sculptures – see blog here for more details

If you would like a garden inspired by Flower Shows please contact us on 01753 652022 to talk to our friendly Horticultural team.

Welcome to Yorkshire show garden design by Tracy Foster
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RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017 preview /in , , , , /by

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017 preview

Practicality Brown are proud to be supporting garden designers for Show and Artisan Gardens at RHS Chelsea 2017 this May by supplying top quality large hedging plants.

Show Garden: The Welcome to Yorkshire Garden

Welcome to Yorkshire show garden design by Tracy Foster

Welcome to Yorkshire

 

Designed by Tracy Foster | Built by Landform Consultants

This Welcome to Yorkshire garden is inspired by the Yorkshire coast, the drama of the county’s many historic buildings and Yorkshire’s special relationship with its agricultural heritage.  The garden will feature a ruined abbey, chalk cliffs, a beach and the sea, with gently rolling waves lapping the shore. The inclusion of a trompe l’oeil painting within the ruin links this coastal paradise to the farmland beyond. The planting has a wild feeling with plenty of colourful wildflowers, grasses and native trees.

With seven RHS medals to her name including four gold, Tracy Foster has also won Best in Show, People’s Choice and Best in Category at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

Tracy is keeping her facebook up to date during the Chelsea 2017 building phase.

 

Artisan Garden: The World Horse Welfare Garden

World Horse Welfare designed by Woolcott Smith

World Horse Welfare

Designed by Adam Woolcott and Jonathan Smith | Built by Conway Landscapes

The garden has been designed to celebrate 90-years for World Horse Welfare charity and aims to highlight the plight of abandoned, neglected and abused horses in the UK and abroad. The garden is a traditional wildflower garden that will tell the story of one of these ‘invisible’ horses. A derelict stable in one corner will be surrounded by plants harmful to horses, which open up into an open, bright and secure meadow, with horse friendly plants. It will feature a life-sized sculpture of a horse made from reclaimed horseshoes by Tom Hill.

Woolcott Smith have won three Gold medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and two BBC/RHS People’s Award for Best Small Garden in Show as well as Best Courtyard Garden in Show.

Adam and Jon had kept a diary of their work during the process for Chelsea 2017.

The designers have been working hard in the preceding months, sourcing materials and plants for their gardens, ensuring their vision comes to fruition at the world’s most prestigious flower show. The show opens on Tuesday 23 May 2017.

Native Mix Instant Hedging
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Native Mix Hedges /in , , , , /by

Garden Hedges

Hedges are aesthetically pleasing and add character to a property, whether they are an integral part of the design, or form a boundary fence.  We have a number of mature hedge options across a range species, both evergreen and deciduous, including the popular Native Mix.

 

A good hedge has many benefits in addition to being a garden boundary:

Native mix hedge in private garden

Native mix hedge in private garden

  • It provide a good shelter; reducing wind strength better than a solid fence
  • It acts as a filter; absorbing dust and noise
  • It offers privacy; as an effective visual screen
  • It offers a level of security; a prickly hedge is a great deterrent
  • It has natural beauty and interest with seasonal changes
  • It provides background texture and colour to complement other plants
  • Wildlife can benefit from its food and shelter for insects, birds and mammals
  • It is long-lived; many hedges can last hundreds of years

 

Native Mix Instant Hedges

Native mix hedging contains plants that are all native to the UK and as such emulate traditional country hedgerows found throughout Britain.  Our Native Mix would usually contain a combination of Hazel, Blackthorn, Hornbeam, Dogwood and Hawthorn, all of which are indigenous species.

Close up of Native Mix hedge leaves

Close up of leaves in Native mix hedge

 

Native Mix hedges creates 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.  All kinds of wildlife will be attracted by the food and shelter opportunities.

 

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 20 – 40 cm per year and will require pruning once a year, ideally in July; it can be left un-pruned, when it will prove even more wildlife friendly.