The Friday 5, Hedgerow Habitat
We may not be able to plant a forest on our property but I’m sure we all have the space for a bit of a hedgerow.
At its most basic a hedgerow is: a row of shrubs or trees enclosing or separating fields. Does this sound like a hedge to you?
Probably, similar idea but different way of implementing it. A hedge is usually a monoculture - a row of cedars. A hedgerow is a polyculture - a wide variety of trees, shrubs, bushes, grasses, wildflowers, and diverse animal life.
Most people connect them to England where they may have seen hedgerows while traveling. They were a vital tool for marking boundaries, and even keeping livestock in, for centuries. After World War 2 many were left derelict and the skilled craftsmen who understood how they were built were swept into the cities to find enough work to feed their families. Industrial agriculture also wanted every last inch of ground without any irritating obstacles. Have you seen To The Manor Born? Remember when Richard wanted to cut down all the hedgerows?
There are still some skilled hedgelayers. There is even a National Hedgelaying Society.
The loss of them ended up showing just how valuable the hedgerows had been, even if people hadn’t really understood why.
Hedgerows:
Had slowed soil erosion by improving soil stability, as well as drinking up water during times of flooding (this ends up being a water filtration system which actually removes pollution from creeks and the water table),
Reduced pests by providing habitat for predators,
Provided wind breaks which helped keep the dust down
And created excellent biodiversity as an essential wildlife corridor between fields and woods.
England, of course, will have different species than us but the numbers are still telling.
Hedges may support up to 80 percent of our woodland birds, 50 percent of our mammals and 30 percent of our butterflies. The ditches and banks associated with hedgerows provide habitat for frogs, toads, newts and reptiles.
says The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
These are definitely something a good steward of the land wants to incorporate into their property plan.
Does size matter?
The same article from the RSPB shares some valuable tips.
Some finches and doves prefer hedges 4m and taller with lots of trees.
Other finches, buntings and warblers prefer shorter hedges at 2-3m tall with fewer trees.
Some birds prefer to nest low down in the bushes and other nest at a greater height, still others will nest in the grasses along the verge.
This helps us to see that a good thick hedge, with a wide base and a grassy verge is ideal habitat for so many birds, bats, bugs and other wildlife. Not only does it provide nesting sites but also materials and the food necessary to sustain their young. Different heights and varieties of woody plants will provide the largest possible diversity for you to enjoy.
And the other nice thing - they’re cheaper and more long-lasting than a fence. Any other benefits?
Water retention - as discussed above, they are an excellent spot for rainwater to be collected and stored, especially when they are planted on contour. This enables you to enjoy the birds and bees … and butterflies more, while watering less.
When established (think a couple years at least) they provide organic privacy instead of the harsh lines of a fence.
They stabilize the soil, can block prevailing winds and can provide some noise reduction when fully grown.
My most favourite, other than the wildlife enjoyment, is that depending on what you plant, they can produce a lot of delicious food.
If you ever looked into permaculture at all, a food forest, fedge or fruit tree guild, is a much bigger and more varied example of a hedgerow, especially suited to food produce. But that is for another time.
Let’s make some hypothetical hedgerows.
No matter which hedgerow you choose, prepare your space by sheet mulching the entire area. This means gathering cardboard and laying it overtop of the grass, or whatever is there, and then add leaves, compost and/or topsoil to a depth of 4 inches or so.
Wait for 2 weeks.
I plan on doing this to the area where I’m planning my Tallgrass Prairie restoration as soon as the snow is off the ground. I won’t be able to plant anything immediately but I’ll be preparing the soil. And check your area for Spring leaves being cleaned up if you don’t have enough. The bags are an easy substitute if you don’t have enough cardboard and the leaves may be host to all sorts of beneficial insects (and dog poop, watch out for that one).
Let’s look at sizes
The 5x20 Foot Hedgerow
This subdivision lot has to fill several requirements. You need space for the dog, and the firepit, and the bbq, but you’re also interested in all of the benefits that a hedgerow provides.
So there has to be huge benefit to the homeowner to designate this space to a hedgerow. Let’s make that benefit lots and lots of food.
Three American Plums anchor this design. They can be pruned to six feet tall for ease of harvesting and so as not to shade the backyard, or they can be allowed to grow to full height, approximately 20 feet, if you would like some afternoon shade. Then raspberry bushes are allowed to make a jungle in the back corner. Blueberry or currant bushes are planted between the plums. Strawberries in rows provide more fruit but there is still lots of room to move around to pick your harvest. Mulch the entire area for weed free walking around. Another nice addition would be spring bulbs like daffodils, crocus and tulips to provide a pop of color and flowers and an early attractor for pollinators. Blueberries and American Plums provide gorgeous red fall color.
The 10x30 Foot Hedgerow
With this lot we’re prepared to share more of our space with the birds, bees and butterflies. We’re also interested in more shade in our backyard because we don’t want to bake in the midday sun.
Three American Plums again anchor this design because of their incredible wildlife value. They will be allowed to grow to their full height of approximately 15 feet to provide afternoon shade. Two Hazel bushes have been planted between them. These can be allowed to grow to approximately 15 feet too, or they can be coppiced allowing for a splendid habitat for birds. Serviceberry of your choice flank this row along the fenceline. A pathway has been provided through your hedgerow (not typical, I know, but maybe you want to wander through). This can be mulch or you can lay down some sort of stone. Blueberries and native rose bushes are planted in front of both serviceberry bushes. In the central area two dwarf apples are planted with a ninebark bush in the center. Then there are two New Jersey Tea bushes, one at either end. Plant some bulbs throughout for early pollinator appeal and interest and enjoy the show put on by the changing color of the leaves in autumn.
The 15x40 Foot Hedgerow
Out in the country we have more room on this property to really start to stretch our hedgerow legs. We’re looking to maximize diversity of food sources, and genera, as well as provide habitat for the birds and larvae from different lepidoptera.
With this design we have three of the top five genera for Lepidoptera species. Centered are three American Plum trees. We also have Dwarf Birch and Pussy Willows. There are Hazel shrubs providing excellent nesting habitat for birds and nuts for wildlife. Then Northern Dewberry, Black Raspberry, Nannyberry and Smooth Wild Rose all provide berries and hips for the birds and the flowers attract numerous pollinators. Plus they’re just plain beautiful to look at and delicious, if the birds will share.
The 20x50 Foot Hedgerow
So much room to play here, let’s run wild with this hedgerow. I might steal it for my side yard.
Possibility for my Northern sideyard
