Hedging in Ireland: How to Choose, Space and Plant a Hedge (2026)
To choose a hedge, decide its job first: a low edge, a mid-height divider or a tall privacy screen. Then match the plant, the spacing and the planting time. For a low clipped hedge, plant about 5–7 plants per metre; for taller screens, plant roughly 1–3 per metre depending on the plant. For Euonymus 'Green Spire', closer spacing closes the hedge sooner; see the full spacing table by hedge height. Plant in autumn or early spring, water well for the first two summers, and trim outside the 1 March to 31 August restriction on cutting hedges. This guide covers hedging plants that PlantGift supplies in pots, in packs from 6 to 72 plants, delivered free across Ireland and 24 more EU countries.
- Low clipped hedge from 10–25cm plants: roughly 5–8 plants per metre, in a single row.
- Best planting windows in Ireland: October–November and February–March.
- Cutting hedges is restricted in Ireland between 1 March and 31 August (Wildlife Act, limited exceptions).
- PlantGift hedging comes in pots, in packs of 6 to 72 plants, with free tracked delivery to Ireland and 24 more EU countries.
- Information last reviewed: October 2026.
Choose the hedge by its job
| What you need | Plants to consider | Roughly how many per metre |
|---|---|---|
| A low, clipped formal edge (under about 60cm) | Euonymus japonicus 'Green Spire', Ilex crenata 'Jenny', Lonicera nitida 'Maigrün' | 5–8 (Euonymus 5–7, Ilex 7–8, Lonicera 3–5) |
| A sunny, informal, scented edge | Lavender 'Hidcote' and 'Munstead' | 3–4 |
| A mid-height evergreen hedge with colour | Photinia fraseri 'Carré Rouge' and 'Red Robin' (red new growth), Euonymus japonicus 'White Spire' | 3–5 (Photinia 2–3) |
| A classic clipped hedge, about 1–2m | Cherry laurel 'Rotundifolia' (also 'Novita' and 'Caucasica'), Yew (Taxus baccata), Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) and golden privet, Ilex crenata 'Convexa' | 2–4 (laurel 2–3, yew 3, privet 3–4, Ilex 5–7) |
| A tall evergreen screen or windbreak | Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd', Leyland cypress, Photinia 'Red Robin', Elaeagnus 'Compacta' for windy and coastal sites | 1–3 (Thuja 2–3, Leyland 1–2, Photinia and Elaeagnus 2–3) |
| A tall, fast-growing screen | Fargesia rufa clumping bamboo | 1–2 |
| Box-style structure | Buxus sempervirens and NewGen Freedom, or a box-free alternative from the first row | 5–7 |
Spacings are rough guides for young plants in 7–9cm pots (10–45cm tall depending on the species). Closer spacing gives faster cover. Follow the planting guidance on each product page where it is given.
How many hedge plants do you need?
Measure the length of the hedge in metres and multiply by the number of plants per metre. A 10-metre low hedge at 6 plants per metre needs about 60 plants, which is one 60-pack. For several species, buy by pack size and top up. Browse all hedge plants, or see bulk hedging packs of box-free alternatives.
When to plant a hedge in Ireland
The two best windows are autumn (October to November) and late winter to early spring (February to March), when the soil is workable and not too dry. Plants in pots can go in at other times, as long as the ground is not frozen or waterlogged, but they will need regular watering in dry spells. Autumn planting gives roots time to settle before the following summer. See the autumn planting guide.
How to plant a hedge
- Mark the line with a string, and dig a trench about twice as wide as the pots.
- Loosen the bottom of the trench, especially on heavy clay, so water can drain.
- Water the plants in their pots, then set each one at the same depth it grew at in the pot, at the spacing you chose.
- Backfill, firm gently with your foot and water thoroughly.
- Mulch around the plants to hold moisture and suppress weeds.
Aftercare and trimming
Water regularly through the first two summers, especially in dry spells, then feed lightly in spring. Trim lightly once or twice a year to build a dense shape, trimming a little more once the hedge reaches the height you want. In Ireland the Wildlife Act restricts cutting hedges between 1 March and 31 August, with limited exceptions, to protect nesting birds. Check the current rules before you trim.
Box (Buxus) is vulnerable to box blight, a fungal disease, and to the box tree moth, which have damaged many box hedges across Europe. Some Buxus selections are bred for improved blight resistance, but no box is immune to the moth. If you would rather avoid the risk, read the comparison of box alternatives, or see our Euonymus spacing guide and hedging and borders guide.
Screening and privacy
Taller evergreens and clumping bamboo give privacy faster than slow, clipped hedges. For a conifer boundary choose Thuja 'Smaragd' (neat, slower) or Leyland cypress (fastest, needs trimming twice a year); for a glossy broadleaf screen, cherry laurel or Photinia 'Red Robin'; on windy or coastal sites, Elaeagnus 'Compacta'. Browse the screening plants collection. For a wider look at screens, including grasses and climbers, see the garden screening guide.
Bulk packs, trade and delivery
PlantGift sells hedging in packs from 6 to 72 plants, with trade pricing on request for landscapers and businesses. Email info@plantgift.ie with your plant list, or see how bulk orders work and our bulk landscaping guide. Delivery is free across Ireland and 24 more EU countries, usually within 5–8 working days of dispatch, by tracked courier. Every order is covered by a healthy-arrival guarantee: email within 48 hours of delivery with photos if a plant arrives damaged. PlantGift does not deliver to the UK, including Northern Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
Related collections: Coastal Garden Plants, Plants for Exposed and Windy Sites, Plants for Clay Soil, Plants for Chalky and Alkaline Soil.
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