In this week's edition of "doing it wrong", My wife and I have started what shall eventually be a hedge around the garden. From seed. because it was easier.
Fortunately, a garden does not typically require a barrier, so the fact that this will take a few years is not a show stopper.
Around the perimeter of tilled soil I planted about 70+ maple seedlings in 18 inch increments. If any don't make it through the year, I'll be able to find plenty of replacements. I also figure that after one year, they'll be tall enough to easily distinguish from the grass and whatnot. after two years, I should be able to start tying them together with grafting tape into an actual hedge. After five years, I'll actually be able to call it a hedge.
Another thing I acknowledge doing wrong is the lack of anti-weed netting. It's going to be a bit of a problem when the grass starts growing up and trying to infringe on the future hedge. I think that bit of laziness is going to cost me a couple of days this summer/fall and maybe next spring going about with a set of hand clippers trying to cut down the grass without damaging the young trees. After that though, they should be tall enough that I can safely spray the ground around them.
Yeah, the lack of anti-weed netting was a mistake on two fronts.
First, with the grass springing up, it was nigh impossible to tell where my little maple seedlings were.
Second, there was also the issue with a certain beloved wife getting a little carried away with the roto-tiller. 3/4 of the hedge line is no longer identifiable at all.
but, I put the anti-weed netting down around the front line. so I've at least got that to work with next year.
First, with the grass springing up, it was nigh impossible to tell where my little maple seedlings were.
Second, there was also the issue with a certain beloved wife getting a little carried away with the roto-tiller. 3/4 of the hedge line is no longer identifiable at all.
but, I put the anti-weed netting down around the front line. so I've at least got that to work with next year.