Choose the root form that best suits your planting timeline, budget and project scale. Instant hedging delivers an established-looking boundary from day one, planted as mature sections in a prepared trench. Pot grown hedge plants are available year-round, establish reliably in any season and suit smaller projects or summer planting. Root ball hedge plants offer larger specimens at a lower cost than container stock, despatched in autumn and winter when conditions favour planting. The right choice depends on the time of year, the length of run and how quickly you need results.
The main factors for choosing hedges by root type are budget, time of year, convenience and speed of results. For a practical guide to the economics of each form, the T&M guide to choosing hedge plants to save funds compares the different root types in detail. The FAQs below cover several of the main questions people ask: what instant hedging is, how bare root compares to pot grown, when to plant each type and whether root ball plants are worth the cost.
Instant hedging consists of mature plants grown in long, trough-like containers and planted as complete sections to create an immediate boundary. Instant hedging delivers a finished look from day one and suits projects where rapid privacy or structure is the priority, though it costs more than bare root or pot grown alternatives.
The difference is that pot grown hedging is grown in containers and available to plant year-round, whereas bare root plants are lifted during dormancy, between November and March. This makes them more economical for longer runs. Bare root plants establish strongly when planted correctly and typically match pot grown stock in active growth by the end of their first summer.
Root ball hedge plants should be planted between October and March, when the ground is workable and the plant is dormant or slowing. Planting in mild, moist conditions gives roots the best chance to establish before spring growth begins.
Pot grown hedging isn’t necessarily better than bare root, but it is more flexible. Pot grown plants can go in at any time of year and suit smaller projects or situations where planting outside the dormant season is unavoidable. Bare root plants offer better value for larger runs and establish just as well when planted correctly in the dormant season.
Yes, you can plant instant hedging in summer. Because it’s supplied as container-grown sections with an established root system, it tolerates summer planting better than bare root stock. It’s essential to water consistently during dry periods in the first season to support establishment.
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