Choosing the right trees and hedges for your garden is crucial when creating a beautiful and functional space. Surrey’s climate, soil and growing conditions all come into play to make sure your greenery thrives all year round. In this post we’ll go through the key things to consider when choosing the best trees and hedges for your Surrey garden and how these will benefit your outdoor space.
Beautiful Hedges for Your Surrey Garden
At Pacific Hedge, we specialize in creating and maintaining lush, healthy hedges for your Surrey garden. Whether you’re looking to enhance privacy, define boundaries, or add a touch of elegance to your outdoor space, our expert team offers tailored hedge planting, trimming, and pruning services. With our professional care, your hedges will thrive and provide long-lasting beauty, ensuring your garden remains vibrant year-round. Trust us to design and maintain the perfect hedges that suit your Surrey garden’s unique needs.
1. Surrey’s Climate and Soil
Before we get into the specifics of tree and hedge species, we need to understand Surrey’s climate and soil conditions as these will have a big impact on plant growth and longevity.
- Climate: Surrey is in a temperate maritime climate, mild winters and moderate rainfall all year round. Summers are warm but not hot, perfect for trees and hedges that like cool moist conditions.
- Soil: Surrey’s soil is a mix of sand and clay, with good drainage in some areas and heavier, more compacted soil in others. Get your soil tested for pH and composition to see which species will thrive in your garden.
2. What Do Trees and Hedges Do?
Different trees and hedges serve different purposes in your garden. Think about how you want your plants to function in your garden and that will narrow down your options.
- Privacy: If you want a natural privacy screen choose dense, fast growing evergreen hedges and trees. Popular choices in Surrey are Leyland Cypress, Thuja Green Giant and Yew trees.
- Shade: For shade choose larger deciduous trees like Red Maple, Japanese Maple or Oak. These trees provide shade in the summer but lose their leaves in the winter so sunlight can get through in the colder months.
- Windbreaks: If you live in an area that gets high winds consider planting a windbreak using dense trees like Spruce or Cedar. These trees act as a natural barrier to your property from strong winds and reduce erosion.
- Aesthetics: If aesthetics are your main concern ornamental trees and flowering hedges like Magnolia, Lilac or Hydrangea will add beauty and colour to your garden.
3. Evergreen or Deciduous
Choosing between evergreen and deciduous is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when designing your garden. Both types of plants have their advantages and suit different needs.
- Evergreen Trees and Hedges: These plants keep their leaves all year round, providing constant greenery and privacy. They’re perfect for hedges and borders, protection from wind and noise. Popular evergreens in Surrey are Emerald Cedar, Western Red Cedar and Boxwood hedges.
- Deciduous Trees and Hedges: These plants lose their leaves in the autumn but often have beautiful colours. Deciduous trees like Japanese Maple or Serviceberry can be a focal point in your garden, deciduous hedges like Privet can be shaped for aesthetics.
4. Growth Rate and Maintenance
The growth rate of your chosen trees and hedges will determine how quickly they establish and how much maintenance they need.
- Fast Growing: Fast growing trees and hedges like Leyland Cypress or Silver Birch are great for filling in gaps, creating a privacy screen or providing shade. But they will need regular pruning and shaping to prevent overgrowth.
- Slow Growing: If you want low maintenance options consider slow growing species like Boxwood or Holly. These plants grow at a slower pace so less pruning and a more tidy look.
5. Mature Size
You need to think about how big your chosen plants will get. Planting a tree or hedge that gets too big for your space can cause problems like root interference with foundations or overcrowding in your garden.
- Small Spaces: If you have a small garden look for compact trees and hedges like Dwarf Japanese Maple or Boxwood. These won’t outgrow their space and are perfect for small gardens or as accent plants.
- Larger Gardens: If you have more space to play with larger trees like Douglas Fir or Oak will create a grand, stately look. These trees will provide plenty of shade and be a focal point in your garden.
6. Seasonal Interest
Having trees and hedges that provide interest all year round means your garden will look good in every season. Some species offer stunning spring flowers, others have vibrant autumn colours or interesting winter textures.
- Spring Flowers: Trees like Magnolia or Cherry Blossom have beautiful spring flowers, a splash of colour in your landscape.
- Autumn Colour: Japanese Maples and Red Oaks have fiery autumn foliage, a beautiful transition as the seasons change.
- Winter Interest: Evergreens like Cedar and Holly keep their foliage in the colder months, structure and greenery when most deciduous trees have lost their leaves.
7. Native Species and Wildlife
Including native species in your landscape design has many environmental benefits. Native trees and hedges are adapted to Surrey’s climate, need less maintenance and water than non-native species. They also provide habitats and food sources for local wildlife, biodiversity.
- Native Species: Consider planting native trees like Western Red Cedar, Bigleaf Maple or Pacific Dogwood. These species will thrive in Surrey’s environment and attract birds, bees and other pollinators.
- Wildlife Hedges: Hedges like Hawthorn and Elderberry will provide nesting sites and food for birds, a wildlife friendly garden.
8. Sustainability and Watering
Surrey’s climate is mild but during dry months water conservation is key. Choosing drought resistant species will reduce your water usage and keep your garden healthy during low rainfall periods.
- Drought Resistant: Consider drought tolerant species like Ginkgo Biloba or Arbutus. These trees are hardy and need less water than other species, perfect for sustainable landscaping.
- Mulching: Mulch around the base of your trees and hedges to retain moisture and reduce watering frequency. Mulch also suppresses weeds and enriches the soil over time.
9. Talk to a Local Tree and Hedge Specialist
Choosing the right trees and hedges for your Surrey landscape can be a tricky process but you don’t have to do it alone. Talk to a local tree care professional like Pacific Hedge and we’ll give you valuable advice on the best species for your soil, climate and personal taste.
Our team can advise on tree and hedge installations, care and maintenance so your plants will grow strong and healthy. We also offer tree pruning, hedge trimming and garden maintenance to keep your garden looking its best all year round.
Conclusion
Choosing the right trees and hedges for your Surrey landscape is about beauty, functionality and sustainability. By thinking about climate, soil type and plant size you can have a garden that looks great and needs minimal maintenance.
Get in touch with us today for a free consultation and let’s get started!
