Throughout the garden we have a number of traditional Devon hedge banks that we have been maintaining by laying (or steeping as it is often called) over the past few years. At Rosemoor we wish to preserve and maintain the traditional hedges within the garden, as traditional natural hedgerows are sadly diminishing in number.
Over the past few years we have been fortunate in being able to call upon the services of local Coast & Countryside rangers to conduct hedge laying demonstrations for visitors and short courses for Rosemoor staff. These courses have been invaluable in showing staff the best practices to follow in maintaining our traditional hedgerows.
Hedge laying is usually carried out to rejuvenate an ageing hedgerow, encouraging new growth and improving the structure of the hedge, which aids it in its important role of providing shelter and protection for our local wildlife.
With so many formal clipped hedges in the garden, the process of hedge laying also shows visitors another way of maintaining a barrier or screen in the form of a more natural and informal hedge.
I find the art of hedge laying challenging and satisfying, as I set about creating a structure from the natural material that is available. During December I started to work on several of our traditional hedges with help from some of my colleagues.
The procedure for hedge laying is as follows:
• In order to provide good material to lay the hedge, reasonably long young stems are very useful (over 1.5m or 5 feet is ideal). They can be allowed to develop over a couple of seasons prior to laying.
• Remove all dead wood and unwanted growth such as bramble from the hedge.
• Small hand axes or bill hooks are used to cut the stems.
• Generally, if the hedge is on an incline it’s best to lay the stems uphill. The cut stems are more likely to sustain new growth as the sap rises in the following spring.
• The upright stems that will be laid are reduced in thickness by cutting away the wood on one side of the stem so as to bend it over to lie flat on the bank of the hedgerow.
• The laid wood is then secured by either tying down with string or secured by wooden crooks, V-shaped stakes with one ‘leg’ longer than the other.
• This process is repeated until all the stems have been laid.
• Finally any ragged stems are trimmed to give a neat finish to the hedgerow.
Mastering the technique of hedge laying is quite involved: I recommend attending courses that teach this craft.
Graham Hunt, Gardener - Decorative and Nursery.