Page 40 - Simply Vegetables Summer 2023

Why not plant an edible hedge?
GERRY EDWARDS FNVS
Yes – I really do mean an edible hedge and I hope that I am going to give you something to think of over the next few paragraphs!
An edible hedge is definitely a much cheaper and more attractive way of creating a boundary than erecting a fence or building a wall and if you don’t have space for a boundary hedge or have an existing hedge which you can’t convert, how about screening a compost bin,
shed or vegetable plot? Perhaps the best thing is to consider an edible hedge as an extension to your existing fruit plot thereby extending your range of fruit cultivation to the very limits of your garden. If planted properly bare-root plants should fill out happily in just a couple of years and may start fruiting the year after planting. Any produce not eaten by you will be happily devoured by the wildlife and birds in particular - who will also enjoy nesting and roosting in the tightly knit heart of
an established hedge - so everyone’s a winner!
Hedges are a natural part of most landscapes, especially in urban and suburban areas and so why not use them for your benefit? Homeowners often grow hedges to define their property boundaries, block an unsightly view, or keep animals and people from wandering into their gardens. Hedges are much friendlier
than fences and walls and offer anyone interested in fruit growing an additional opportunity to grow some fruit and yet have a living boundary; growing an edible hedge is a good way to soften the blow of your property’s limits. The edible side of the hedge is one bonus, but springtime will also produce a bonus when everything is
Rosa rugosa rubra
in flower. The sight - and smell - of densely planted fruiting hedging is just magnificent!
Of course, there are certain things to consider when growing an edible hedge. What will be the function of the hedge - for example if it is a property boundary and you wish to keep
people and animals out you may wish to either plant quite densely (so as to form an impenetrable barrier) or incorporate some particularly prickly plants such as blackberry, gooseberry, dog rose, hawthorn, blackthorn or Rosa rugosa. You will need to consider the ultimate height of the hedge - if you’re growing it to block a view you are best growing “woodland” type plants which naturally grow
tall such as the cherry
plum, cornelian cherry, elder, hawthorn, wild cherry and hazel understanding that whilst hedges can be trimmed, most edible hedges will look their best, and produce
the most fruit, if allowed to grow to their natural height. If you only want a low hedge that will perhaps grow to 900mm to 1200mm (3 to 4 feet) tall it’s better to select the guelder rose, beech, mock orange and sloe which will look good and grow well
with regular trimming. Remember that these hedges will be deciduous which means that they will lose their leaves in winter. Dense planting - which is quite natural for hedging - will ensure a minimum of transparency!
Unless you particularly want a hedge of one plant type always go for
a mixed edible hedge as this provides diversity of plants for wildlife and an interesting mix of foliage, flowers, and berry colours and textures. While the
plants don’t all have to be the exact same size in the hedge, it’s good to select ones that are similar in growth habits so that no one plant dominates the hedge. Also, consider the growth habit of the hedge
- blackberries and roses are some of the plants that will spread by underground roots. This could be a benefit if you want your hedge to fill in quickly, but also can get out of control when suckers show up in flower beds and other unwanted areas.
If you so wish you can also train the more traditional fruit trees into fences
and hedges that make for a good barrier. Espalier apples and pears along with fan trained cherries, nectarines, peaches, and plums can be used as an edible hedge but by their very nature will not be so dense as the woodland type plant and will be considerably more expensive to plant. This
Hedges are a natural part of most landscapes, especially in urban and suburban areas and so why not use them for your benefit?
Hawthorn
Hazel
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