No.5: Plant a hedge

Well-maintained hedges are always desirable, bringing shelter and shape to a garden, as well as seasonal beauty. They are with us for a long time, and will repay initial investment. Dig your trench well, breaking up the base with a pick if necessary. Bare-root whips, well branched to ground level, should be planted against a line, evenly spaced and firmed in merely by resting the weight of your boot on the soil once they’re all in. Hoe along the line to remove prints, and mulch-it’s better than incorporating muck in the trench. There’s no need to clip just yet.