Comprehensive Guide to Rootballed Hedging Plants: Benefits, Varieties, and Planting Tips

Creating a wonderful garden often means you want to combine aesthetic appeal with practicality. Hedging is the perfect way to achieve this, providing structure, privacy, and a natural backdrop to highlight other garden features. 

Rootballed hedging stands out for its robustness, size, and eco-friendly qualities when choosing hedge plants. This article explores everything you need to know about rootballed hedging, including its benefits, planting techniques, and the different varieties available to help you make the right choice.

Quick Facts About Rootballed Hedging

Definition: Rootballed hedging involves plants grown in open fields, lifted with a ball of root and soil (usually done by machine) and wrapped in biodegradable material for easy transplantation.

Best Planting Time: Mid-autumn to early spring, during the dormant season, is ideal for planting rootballed hedging plants.

Benefits: Mature Plants: Provides larger, well-established plants for instant impact.
Resilient Growth: Less transplant shock due to more intact root systems than bare rooted plants.
Cost-Effective: Often cheaper for large projects compared to container-grown plants.
Eco-Friendly: No plastic pots to dispose of. Only biodegradable burlap is used.

Popular Varieties:

Holly (Ilex aquifolium): Glossy leaves, red berries, wildlife-friendly.
Yew (Taxus Baccata): Dense evergreen, ideal for formal hedging.
Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica): Purple/reddish stems, dense growth.
Green Privet (Ligustrum Ovalifolium): Fast-growing, semi-evergreen.
Green Beech (Fagus sylvatica): Deciduous with golden-brown winter leaves.
Purple Beech (Fagus sylvatica atropurpurea): Striking purple foliage.
Common Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus): Large, glossy leaves, fast-growing.
Thuja ‘Brabant’ (Thuja Occidentalis): Vibrant, coniferous evergreen.

Uses: Ideal for privacy screening, windbreaks, noise reduction, and decorative garden boundaries.

Eco-Friendly and Sustainable: Grown without plastic containers or peat, reducing environmental impact.

Care Tips

Watering: Water regularly in the first season to help establish roots.
Mulching: Use mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Pruning: Trim regularly to maintain shape and promote dense growth.

What is Rootballed Hedging?

Rootballed hedging refers to a method where plants are grown in open fields for several years and are then lifted with a suitably sized ball of soil around their roots. This “rootball” is wrapped in a biodegradable material, such as hessian, to hold the ball tightly together. This keeps the roots protected and moist during transport and transplantation. The idea behind this technique is to minimise the stress of transplantation, offering a higher chance of success in establishing a healthy, mature hedge in your garden.

Compared to container-grown plants, rootballed hedges grow naturally in open soil without constraints on root growth. This results in strong, healthy plants, which tend to be thicker and fuller than potted nursery stock. As rootballed plants are dug from a field, they do lose some of their root system. This increases the risk of loss compared to potted plants which is why they are only lifted in the dormant period to reduce this stress. This significantly increases their chances of success.

Why Choose Rootballed Hedging?

• Natural and Resilient Growth
  Rootballed plants are grown naturally in open fields rather than in confined pots. This allows the roots to grow outwards unrestricted, leading to stronger and fuller plants. If the transition from their growing ground to your garden is smooth and quick, this will significantly reduce transplant shock.
• Larger, More Mature Plants
  Rootballed hedging plants are typically larger and more mature when compared to container-grown alternatives. This makes them an excellent choice for those who want to create an instant impact in their garden. A mature rootballed hedge can provide instant privacy, shade, and noise reduction, transforming a garden in a matter of weeks rather than waiting years for a smaller plant to mature.
• Cost-effective for Large Projects
  If you need a large number of plants for a substantial hedge, rootballed options can often be more affordable compared to container-grown plants of a similar size. This makes them an attractive choice for larger projects by allowing you to create beautiful boundaries without exceeding your budget.
• Eco-friendly and Sustainable
  Rootballed hedging is also an environmentally friendly choice. Since these plants are grown in fields rather than plastic pots, the production process generates significantly less plastic waste. The wrap we use to protect the rootball during transit is biodegradable, meaning you don’t have to worry about removing it when planting.

When to Plant Rootballed Hedging

One of the crucial aspects of success when establishing rootballed hedging is timing. These plants are generally available during the dormant season, which runs from mid-autumn to early spring. Planting during the dormant season allows the root system to establish itself without the pressure of supporting new growth, resulting in healthier plants with stronger root systems when the active growing season arrives.

Planting Tips for Rootballed Hedging

Preparing the Planting Site

Preparation of the planting site is essential for rootballed hedging plants. Start by digging a trench or individual holes that are around twice the width of the rootball and slightly deeper than the rootball itself. This extra space will make it easier for the roots to grow outward, helping the plant establish more quickly.

Loosen the soil at the bottom of the trench and mix in compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil structure and provide a good source of nutrients. If you’re planting a line of hedging, ensure you maintain even spacing between plants to promote healthy growth without overcrowding.

Planting the Rootball

Place the rootballed plant into the prepared hole, making sure that the top of the rootball is level with the ground surface. It’s best to plant with the burlap still intact, as this will biodegrade naturally in the soil. The burlap will hold the rootball together, which prevents damage to the roots during planting.

Backfill the hole with soil, firming it down gently as you go to remove any air pockets. Finish by watering thoroughly to help the soil settle and ensure good contact between the roots and the surrounding soil.

Mulching and Aftercare

Once planted, a layer of mulch around the base of the plant helps to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Wood chips, bark, or leaf mould can all be used as mulch, creating a barrier that helps reduce competition for nutrients and water. During the first growing season, water regularly, especially during dry spells, as this helps the roots establish well in their new location.

Rootballed Hedging Varieties Available

To help you select the perfect hedge for your garden, here’s an overview of the different varieties of rootballed hedging that are available:

• Holly (Ilex Aquifolium)
  Holly is a stunning evergreen hedge with glossy, spiked leaves and bright red berries that attract wildlife and bring winter interest to the garden. Holly is well-known for its dense growth and its resilience to different soil conditions, making it ideal for creating secure boundaries, Holly also adds beauty throughout the year with its vibrant green foliage and attractive berries as Autumn approaches.
• Yew (Taxus Baccata)
  Yew is a highly versatile and traditional choice for hedging, known for its dark green needle-like leaves and dense growth habit. Yew is a conifer that responds well to regular pruning, making it ideal for creating formal hedges or topiary. It is a slow-growing species, but its longevity and ability to be shaped to precise forms make it a favourite among gardeners seeking a timeless, elegant hedge.
• Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)
  Portuguese Laurel provides rich, deep green leaves with a distinctive reddish tint to the stems, offering a lush appearance all year round. It has a dense growth habit, which is perfect as privacy screening. This species is appealing due to its attractive white flowers that bloom in summer thus providing seasonal interest as well as a pleasant fragrance which attracts pollinators.
• Green Privet (Ligustrum Ovalifolium)
  Green Privet is a semi-evergreen hedge that retains most of its foliage throughout winter, making it suitable for year-round privacy. It’s known for its small, glossy green leaves and rapid growth rate, which makes it perfect for quickly establishing a dense boundary.
• Green Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
  Green Beech is a beloved deciduous hedge with attractive, vibrant green leaves that turn coppery brown in autumn. The beech leaves persist on the branches through winter, creating a beautiful golden-brown screen. Green Beech is tolerant of pruning and is perfect for creating a more formal look, whether for boundaries or decorative hedging.
• Purple Beech (Fagus sylvatica atropurpurea)
  Purple Beech offers the same features as Green Beech but with deep purple leaves that turn a rich, coppery hue in autumn. The striking colour provides an interesting contrast and is particularly effective when mixed with other hedge varieties or planted alongside flowering shrubs.
• Common Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
  Common Laurel, also known as Cherry Laurel, is well-loved for its large, broad, glossy green leaves that offer dense coverage. It’s a fast-growing species, ideal for creating tall, effective privacy screens or windbreaks. Common Laurel also produces attractive white flowers in spring, followed by red berries that eventually turn black, which adds extra interest to the garden.
• Thuja Occidentalis ‘Brabant’
  Thuja ‘Brabant’ is a variety of Cedar that provides a soft, coniferous option for hedging. The bright green foliage of Thuja ‘Brabant’ creates a vibrant year-round screen, making it ideal for privacy. It grows at a fast to moderate pace and is tolerant of different soil types, which makes it a perfect choice for those seeking a lower-maintenance hedge.

Caring for Your Rootballed Hedge After Planting

Watering
Watering is essential, especially during the first growing season. Newly planted rootballed hedging should be watered frequently, ensuring the rootball and surrounding soil remain moist. You should aim to avoid waterlogging but keep the soil consistently damp to support root establishment.

Feeding
Once your hedge has started to grow actively, you can boost its growth by applying a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring. This will provide the nutrients needed for healthy growth and help the plant develop a dense and lush appearance.

Pruning and Maintenance
Rootballed hedges will require regular pruning, depending on the variety chosen. Formal hedges like Yew and Beech can benefit from two prunings per year to maintain a neat shape. Informal varieties may need less frequent trimming. Pruning also encourages denser growth, making the hedge even more effective for privacy or as a windbreak.

Mulching and Weed Control
Mulching should be topped up every year to maintain an adequate thickness around the base of the plants. This will also help to keep weeds at bay, ensuring they don’t compete with your hedge for water and nutrients. Always keep the mulch from directly contacting the stem or trunk of the hedge to prevent rot and fungal issues. A gap of a few centimetres between the mulch and the trunk ensures good air circulation and helps reduce the risk of pests or diseases affecting the plant. Mulch also aids in temperature regulation, protecting the roots from extreme cold in winter and retaining moisture during hot summer months.

Browse our range of root balled hedges now.