Rejuvenate farm hedgerows with colour.

80sDiesel

I have thought about rejuvenating some of the old hedgerows (stone walls) around the fields. Ivy is beginning to take hold on the older trees ( natural coppicing so unconcerned) so figure I might help out.

Would be nice to increase the colour so my list of trees that I have thought about are:

Rowan, Crab apple, Hawthorn and holly. The first 3 will give a lovely spring colour to the place.

Any other suggestions of any other native species ?

Would planting them about a foot or two away from the stone walls be sufficient in protecting the walls ?

thinkabouit

Have you thought about laying whatever hedgerows & trees are there? Also resting the land ie (let what ever grows grow) would cost you nothing.

80sDiesel

Fairly inexpensive (except for the tree tubes) to plant trees and have done it before. Laying is an art so would not attempt that.

thinkabouit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120401505#Comment_120401505

i layed our hedge in the back garden last year after watching some basic videos on YouTube & it’s come back fantastic.

Rome wasn’t built in a day.

my recommendation though for the route your going is have a look at the all Ireland pollinator plan.

They have a lot of great information & recommendations.

80sDiesel

.Cheers

yosemitesam1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058289783/rejuvenate-farm-hedgerows-with-colour

Sounds like a good plan

iniscealtra

Spindle & guelder rose

Itryhard

Beech has colour and leaves all year

80sDiesel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120401969#Comment_120401969

Dont think that's native although it is well established now in ireland. Doesn't grow in my place so wouldn't fit the current landscape.

Although I did think about adding some Scots pine but they are a pain to grow.

Danzy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120401505#Comment_120401505

Laying to make a stock proof fence is an art, laying to thicken a hedge is not, you'd be well able for it, time is running out now though.

Viburnum opulus, the guelder-rose is always a great colour boost, native, nice leavea, great colour with berries and flower's and a long time.

Dog roses as well.

Honey suckle.

Native privet.

Your hedge probably has lots of whitethorn, add in black thorn and Holly.

With regards to the Ivy, it can get out of control and smother a tree, though the tree is probably in trouble as is.

I often just cut some of the stalks at the bottom, to knock the Ivy back a bit .

Danzy

Scots Pine are a pain in the proverbial, one is better off keeping them in a pot for another year or two, till they get size.

80sDiesel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120402554#Comment_120402554

Yes great idea. I planted about 30 and lost 20 before but they are a beautiful specimen of a tree. Had only one original in the whole place which was knocked in that storm a few years back.

80sDiesel

I used to cut the ivy at the base too until I read more about the habitat it provides. Now I just let nature do its thing.

Hadn't thought of the guelder-rose. Will do some research on it.

Base price

Woodbine or honeysuckle is a native climbing plant and excellent to have in hedgerows. It is very attractive for pollinators like bumble bees and moths and small birds eat the berries in Winter. It has a lovely sweet scent that wafts through the air when your out herding on a Summer's morning/evening. It's one of my favourite plants.

SnowyMuckish

Dog rose is very colourful it has made a huge difference to our hedgerow in terms of insects and the hips have attracted a lot of thrushes and blackbirds.

80sDiesel

This guys videos are great with regards to Irish flora.

Forgot about the wild cherry which I might add.

Wild cherry

https://youtu.be/u58biQy0W2g

Honeysuckle

https://youtu.be/UQ5BG7_tOpA

Holly

https://youtu.be/pnpKJMktDos

Crab Apple

https://youtu.be/dQuDxPeJRJY

Guelder Rose

https://youtu.be/4iXA_DeNITk

Hawthorn

https://youtu.be/FKDt0TailAo

And this channel has some 'Year in the life' tree videos

Rowan

https://youtu.be/pHoCsCsxExA

https://youtu.be/9wJoPfTFXIU

And finally the spindle which like the guelder has a fantastic autumn colour.

https://ibb.co/Qf1NSK1

Think the above is my list. Will look to grow some scots pine in the old haggard where I can fence them off against animals (deer,rabbits,hares) and replant in later years.

Edit: Also thought about an awkward half an acre beside a stream which I was letting the black thorn colonise. Might turn this also into a mini forest after spending the weekend reading and watching videos.

Deub

You could also try to take cuttings of what you like and plant them close to each other somewhere. In autumn (before they lose their leaves), remove the ones that died. You will have new trees used to your soil to plant next winter.

Furze99

Woodbine is great but temporary too. Fuchsia is commonly seen in hedgerows now, not sure if native but very characteristic of parts of Ireland. Flowers a long time.

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120403157#Comment_120403157

Due to time constraints (a cow with the crubs out/calving) I only watched the woodbine/honeysuckle video which was very informative. Thanks for sharing and I will watch the other videos later.

Water John

Thanks guys, very informative. Have a good bit of planting to do, ACRES scheme. All along by fences, both tress and hedges.

bogman_bass

If you want colour you can’t beat cherry