Planting hedges without guards

[Pan mixer]

I have a bit of a hedge planting plan coming up this winter, several thousand plants at least all being well.

I don't particularly suffer from rabbits or deer and wondered if it is stupid to try and plant the whips without guards or canes as there is a considerable cost implication.
If I were to use sprials I wouldn't want to use the cheap plastic ones and the biodegradable options add another £1 or so to the cost of each plant which would itself only cost about 50p it also takes ages putting the spirals on the plants.

Anyone tried planting hedges like this?

 

[Blue.]

Yes,did a few hundred without canes or guards,only lost a few and they were caught by the mower.

 

[toquark]

If you've no herbivores, you'll be fine to fire them straight in. Less maintenance and less cost.

 

[steveR]

I have a bit of a hedge planting plan coming up this winter, several thousand plants at least all being well.

I don't particularly suffer from rabbits or deer and wondered if it is stupid to try and plant the whips without guards or canes as there is a considerable cost implication.
If I were to use sprials I wouldn't want to use the cheap plastic ones and the biodegradable options add another £1 or so to the cost of each plant which would itself only cost about 50p it also takes ages putting the spirals on the plants.

Anyone tried planting hedges like this?

My experience is that it's amazing how quickly the hares and rabbits move in to nibble at the whips when not guarded, so good luck!

 

[Grassman]

If you are fencing as well it doesn't add too much for some rabbit netting.
I hate to see an established hedge with rows of plastic spirals still stuck there for the next few hundred years.

 

[Boohoo]

Planted a few hundred last winter without guards and don't think we lost any to rabbits. The late frosts and lack of rain did them a lot more harm.

 

[upnortheast]

Planted some last winter. Grandkids were coming behind doing the stakes & tubes. About 20 metres were unguarded for 24 hours. Hares nibbled about 20% of them.

 

[Dave6170]

Watch for vole damage when not using gaurds.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Is it only willow that will grow from a stick without roots

 

[7610 super q]

Health & Safety won't like it.

 

[Cowmansam]

Is it only willow that will grow from a stick without roots

No most thorn hedge plants do

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Voles And hares will chipin too. I think the guards protect them from elements too.

small extra cost, more faff to remove though

 

[Robt]

Health & Safety won't like it.

what rabbits have their own H&S officer?

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I have planted hedges here without guards, no problems

 

[Derrick Hughes]

No most thorn hedge plants do

Have or have no roots . The ones I bought had quite a lot if roots , was hard work planting them , pick and spade job

 

[Cowmansam]

I’ve planted plenty of thorn just ripping branches off a established hedge and planted them get a 80 percent take that way and costs nothing but time. @Derrick Hughes

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I have tried that in the last two years with Golden Chain, but it has not be very successful

 

[Cowmansam]

I’ve done it with black thorn quick thorn and hawthorn you have to rip the branches down and off so you get that little tail on where you rip them off

 

[Bogweevil]

Is it only willow that will grow from a stick without roots

Poplars will. Poor take of many other subjects if field inserted, although many can be induced to root in nurseries from cuttings.

A plant with no roots, whether lost on lifting or cut off to speed up planting, usually take well enough after leaf fall.

 

[Chasingmytail]

We find it keeps them upright - def helps if you have long grass too if you dont plan to weed. Our hedging is double fence so not easy to maintain. If you push the tubes into the ground properly. Bear in mind the tubes come in different sizes we found some too narrow. We reused some of the tree guards as these are much wider and by cutting in half its good reuse value. So you could see if any used ones available.

We spent a lot on these. Look out for used ones on marketplace. On the last lot of trees we sold in a few hundreds at a time. We dont like the spiral ones they go brittle and not ideal to reuse - they splinter plastic all over the place. Buy thicker bamboo canes than the rubbish ones they offer. You can find them on the net. Those thin ones snap when you push them in.

Bear roots we bought from WyeVale Hereford way - quality is excellent.

We have done miles of hedge. Last lot was 3000 so the tubes silly money.