Laying a gappy hedge instead of replanting it

Sarah M. · Devon · 11 acres of improved pasture

The problem

A 200m boundary hedge was leggy and full of gaps. Quotes for replanting came back at £4,000 and it felt wrong to grub out living stock.

What we tried

We hired a hedgelayer for two days to teach us the Devon style, then laid the rest ourselves over three winter weekends. Stakes cut from our own hazel. Gaps under 2m were left to fill from the laid stems rather than planted.

Timeline

Thick enough to be stockproof in the third season.

Cost and effort

£620 including two days of teaching. Around 60 hours of our own labour.

Verdict

Would recommend

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