Permaculture Hedge Mix A deluxe hedge with edible fruits for preserves, wines or just enjoying. This informal mixed hedge is productive and will also greatly encourage wildlife into your garden. This hedge can be trimmed to keep it in check but for best flowers and fruit it should be given some room to grow a bit wild. This hedge mix is made up with our selection of 5 of the following varieties: Aronia melanocarpa - Black ChokeberryCornus mas - Cornelian CherryMalus sylvestris - Crab AppleElaeagnus angustifolia - Russian OliveCorylus avelanna - HazelAmelanchier lamarkii - Snowy Mespilus Site Will take some inland exposure and will grow in any reasonable soil Spacing We recommend planting this hedge at 2 plants per meter but you can space them further apart if preferred. Planting For best results, we recommend planting the varieties in groups that repeat themselves down along the hedge, with the exception of Crabapple which is best dotted individually. Pruning When first planted, a good prune will encourage good bushy growth, how hard you cut the plants depends on how low down you want them to bush from. Ongoing this hedge can either be trimmed regularly or left to grow, early spring or late Autumn after fruiting is the best time to prune. Care Keeping any young hedge weed and grass free is vital to the overall vigour and health of the hedge. Using weed membrane keeps back weeds and insulates the roots and will greatly increase growth rates, as well as cutting down on your weeding work. Mulching is another great option for insulating the roots and holding back weeds, bark mulch is the most commonly used medium. Important Suitable varieties in this hedge can change depending on availability. If you would like a specific species removed from the hedge mix, please let us know in the comments section at checkout. These hedges are hand picked and take time to gather, if coming to the nursery, all mixed hedges must be preordered at least two days in advance.