Autumn Is the Best Time to Plant a Hedge

If you are planning a new hedge, here is the insider tip: autumn is the very best time to plant one. Plant as the season turns and your hedge gets a long head start before next summer — for less money and far less watering. Here is why, and how to do it.

Why autumn is the best time to plant a hedge

• Warm soil, cool air — roots keep growing in the still-warm ground while the top growth rests, so the plant establishes before winter.
• Autumn and winter rain does the watering for you, so plants settle in with far less effort.
• A flying start — an autumn-planted hedge is established and ready to romp away the moment spring arrives.

Autumn is bare-root season

From November to March, many hedging plants are available bare-root — lifted while dormant and sold without a pot. They are a fraction of the price of container-grown plants, easy to handle, and establish superbly. For a long run of hedge, bare-root is the gardener’s secret to doing it affordably. Browse our bare-root hedging.

Bare-root or container-grown?

Bare-root is the best value and ideal for big hedge projects, but only available in the dormant season. Container-grown hedging can be planted any time of year and is the choice if you have missed the bare-root window or want instant, larger plants. Both establish well when planted in autumn.

How to plant an autumn hedge

• Clear weeds and dig over the planting line, working in plenty of organic matter.
• Space according to the plant — as a rule, three plants per metre, or five for a fast, dense bare-root screen.
• Plant at the same depth the plant grew before, firm in well, and water.
• Mulch along the row to suppress weeds and lock in moisture.

For exactly when to trim it once established, see our guide on when to cut hedges.

Autumn hedge-planting FAQs

When is the best time to plant a hedge?
Autumn is ideal — warm soil and natural rainfall help roots establish before spring. Bare-root plants are available from November to March.

What is bare-root hedging?
Plants lifted while dormant and sold without a pot — excellent value, easy to plant and quick to establish, available in the dormant season.

Can I plant a hedge in winter?
Yes — as long as the ground is not frozen or waterlogged, the dormant season is perfect for planting both bare-root and container-grown hedging.

Ready to plant your hedge?

We grow a huge range of hedging plants — bare-root and container-grown, native and evergreen — all UK-grown. Browse the collection or get in touch and we will help you plan the perfect hedge.