Further Information about Rootball Hedging

Our most popular Rootball hedging species

Common Box (Buxus sempervirens) Rootball hedging plants

Common Box (Buxus sempervirens) is the most popular low hedging species for an evergreen hedge, its tiny leaves and versatile bushy habit make it the perfect subject for all manner of small hedges or edgings and the topiary possibilities with Common Box are limited only by the gardeners imagination. Despite being used almost exclusively for small hedges (under 100cm or so), Common box will grow steadily at 10-15cm per year into much larger hedges several metres high if you are patient. Click here for our guide on how to revive your Buxus Plant

Green Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Rootball hedge plants

Fagus sylvatica or Green Beech is one of the most popular hedging plants, planted because it is easy to maintain, will grow in any soil that does not become waterlogged (where Hornbeam is a better choice) and gives year-round privacy because the coppery brown winter leaves are retained on the plant. Green beech hedge plants grow quickly at 30-60cm per year once established.

Purple Beech (Fagus sylvatica Purpurea) Rootball hedging plants

Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’ or Purple Beech is the more colourful version of this popular hedging plant, planted because it is easy to maintain, will grow in any soil that does not become waterlogged (where Hornbeam is a better choice) and gives year-round privacy because the coppery brown winter leaves are retained on the plant in the same way as the more common Green Beech. Purple beech hedge plants grow quickly at 30-60cm per year once established.

Common Laurel or Cherry Laurel Rootball hedging plants

Laurel Common (Prunus Laurocerasus Rotundfolia) is a favoured hedge across the UK thanks to its evergreen, dense nature and the capability to reduce noise pollution and improve a homeowners privacy.

They are renowned for their deep green, oval glossy leaves, that provide year round colour and privacy. They also develop miniature, fragrant white flowers if left untrimmed, that are followed by red berries that eventually turn black in colour.

The Laurel Common enjoys full sunlight and/or partial shade, so this should be considered when deciding where you want to plant them. They won’t survive in waterlogged sites but do enjoy being planted in moist soil that is well draining. This hedge can grow tall, up to eight metres in fact and the same again in width, over a twenty to fifty year period.

Read our guides on How To Make Your Laurel Grow Faster and Common Pests Diseases and Problems with Laurel Hedge Plants for more information on getting the best out of your Laurel Hedging Plants

Portuguese Portugal Laurel Rootball hedge plants

The Portuguese Laurel is one of the most useful and popular members of the Laurel family as it will grow in any soil that is not waterlogged, including chalky soil where Cherry Laurel varieties will not flourish. This is also the hardiest variety and better suited to exposed sites and cold conditions.

Use Portuguese Laurel for hedges of any size from 90cm up to several metres, these are indispensable hedging plants where creating privacy is the main objective.

Green Privet Rootball hedging plants (Ligustrum ovalifolium)

Green Privet is a semi evergreen hedge, during milder winters and in the comparative shelter of more suburban gardens the leaves will usually be retained all winter, in colder more exposed situations and during harder winters some leaves will drop and the hedge will re leaf fairly early the next spring.

Green Privet hedges can be successfully grown in any soil that does not become waterlogged during wet spells, from thin sandy to heavy clay, and chalk – all are ok. Privet hedges will grow in any situation, full sun or full shade and anything in between, this really is a versatile and very tolerant plant. As we say in the trade, it’s a hard one to kill!

Thuja plicata Atrovirens rootballed conifer hedging plants

Thuja atrovirens is an excellent evergreen hedging plant, this is one of the few conifers that re grows from old wood, chop overgrown hedges back hard into unpromising woody stems and new young growth should emerge in time especially if encouraged with a feed and mulch.  More routine trimming can be carried out once a year ideally in Autumn, two trims a year will give a very formal and impressive hedge. With a fast growth rate up to 60cm a year these hedging conifers cover quickly, even the smaller sizes come together to make a hedge in a reasonably short timescale.

English and Irish Yew (Taxus baccata) Rootballed hedge plants

English Yew or Taxus baccata to give its horticultural name is one of the most widely planted UK hedging species. An evergreen hedging conifer with small deep green foliage that is perfectly suited to clipping, not just into hedges but any topiary shape you can imagine.

Yew hedges can be maintained at any size from small decorative features of just 30cm up to tall majestic hedges, screens and mazes of several metres. This is a low maintenance hedge needing just a single annual trim, ideally in autumn. Overgrown Yew hedges can be drastically pruned back hard into the old branches, new young shoots will emerge from even the most unpromising skeleton of old branches.