10 STEPS FOR SUCCESSFUL HEDGE PLANTING (bareroot) IMPORTANT: IF YOU DELAY PLANTING YOUR HEDGE PLEASE KEEP THE PLANTS IN THE BAGS WITH THE TOPS TIED. STAND THEM UPRIGHT AGAINST A SHADY WALL. 1. Put out line of string 6 inches to one side of where you want the hedge to go. 2. With a spade remove a thin layer of sod (as thin as you can make it) and leave it on the far side of the string, (the right). 3. Dig your trench breaking up the soil as you go and leave the soil beside the trench on the left side of the trench. About 9 inches deep. Loosen the soil at the base of the trench. 4. If you are adding compost or well rotted manure then do so now and cover with a thin film of soil. 5. Holding the plant in position kick in the soil over the roots and when the roots are covered shake (agitate) the plant so that the soil finds its way in contact with all the roots. 6. The correct planting depth is important. The distance between the point at which the top root comes out of the stem should be 1 inch from the finished level of the soil. 7. Firm up the soil with the full weight of the flat of your foot. 8. They will need watering during the first spring and summer after planting. The amount will depend on your soil conditions and the weather. 9. The best method for weed control is to use weedol (available from garden centres and hardware stores). Keeping a strip a foot each side of the hedge clean will aid establishment and growth. Do it when the weeds/grass are small. With weedol if you hit the stem of the beech it’s ok and if you hit a leaf of the hedge it will kill that leaf but it does not go into the plant. Nor are the roots affected. But you will need to do it three times during the season. 10. Please ring us on 045 525757 or 086 2561276 if you have any queries. For further information, or to place an order, please contact: Derrylea Trees, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, Ireland. Tel. 045 525757. Mobile: 086 2561276. E-mail: info@derryleatrees.com