ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
P.O. Box 3657
Fayetteville, AR 72702

Western Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education
(SARE) Farm Internship Curriculum and Handbook

The printable PDF version of the entire document is available at:
http://attra.ncat.org/intern_handbook/pdf/hedgerows.pdf
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Hedgerows

A hedgerow is a densely planted pattern of trees or shrubs used to create a protective barrier around a field of crops.

Learning Objectives
The learner will:

Functions of Hedgerows

Physical barrier – to humans or livestock
Visual barrier – aesthetically pleasing
Wind barrier – block wind, thus decreasing evapotranspiration in fields
Create shade – creates niches in field for shade tolerant plants; stops evaporation of water from soil
Temperature regulation – vegetation tends to moderate climate extremes
Create habitat – habitat for pollinating insects, birds and small critters
Create food source – fruits and nuts
Create usable material – fuel wood, fencing material, weaving material, posts
Prevent erosion – root mass holds soil and blocks runoff

Design
Factors influencing layout and species selection of hedgerows

Create edge - An edge exists where two systems meet and overlap. (i.e. where a forest meets a meadow.) Maximum biological activity takes place along edges. The designer emphasizes this effect by planting a curving hedge because a curving line has more linear distance between to fixed points than a straight line.
Pathways - The paths between hedgerows can be either clean cultivated, meaning bare-earth with vegetation either hoed or tilled; or paths can have vegetative cover which is managed to fix nutrients, choke weeds, hold soil, and provide mulching material. (i.e. buckwheat, clover, fescue combination.)
Special plants - Certain nitrogen-fixing shrubs can be planted amongst fruit and nut trees to provide nitrogen to the trees. (i.e. ceanothus, pea shrubs, eleagnus)

Planting Stock

If from a nursery, plants should be grown in a similar climate. Plants can come from the nursery in a variety of forms: potted, balled and burlap, and bare root (most common)
Home sourced plants can be grown from seed or cuttings and are especially good because they come from the same climate and ecosystem in which they will live.

Planting

Choose a time to plant that is appropriate for species and region
Scalp surrounding area clean of any competing vegetation
Make a hole large enough not to impinge roots
Trim off broken roots
Plant to proper depth (avoid creating a basin for the trees to be submerged in if the rainy season is long.
Use appropriate soil amendments. Too much can coddle the tree and the roots will remain in the planting hole and not venture out into native soil.
Pat soil around roots until firm but not compacted
Water in thoroughly

Care and Maintenance

Use fencing to protect from deer, beavers, etc.
Line the planting hole with poultry netting before planting to protect from gophers, moles, and voles.
Paint tree trunks of fruit and nut species with white latex paint diluted 50% with water to protect from sun, cold, and borers

If hedgerow becomes too crowded, thin out selected trees to create spaces for others

Assessment/Review