Hedging guide · Prices checked 18 October 2026
Bare root hedging is the cheapest way to plant a hedge, and it is only available while the plants are dormant. At our nursery a metre of bare root hedge costs roughly £5.70 to £13.00 in plants, depending on species and size. This guide covers the price per plant, the price per metre, how many plants to buy, when to plant and how to store them.
Written by Gwynne Bodsworth, grower at our 14-acre family-run nursery in Dedham, Essex.
Price per plant Price per metre Plants per metre When to plant
Guide contents
How much does bare root hedging cost per plant?
Our bare root hedging starts at £0.95 a plant for blackthorn and rises to £2.60 for cherry laurel at its smallest size. Prices rise with plant height. Most of our customers buy 60–90cm or 90–120cm plants, which give a good balance of price and starting height.
| Species (bare root) | 40–60cm | 60–90cm |
|---|---|---|
| Blackthorn | £0.95 | £1.25 |
| Hawthorn | £1.15 | £1.45 |
| Hornbeam | £1.15 | £2.10 |
| Green beech | £1.60 | £2.30 |
| Common privet | £1.60 | £2.20 |
| Cherry laurel | £2.60 (20–30cm) | £4.00 (40–60cm) |
Single-plant prices, checked 18 October 2026. Buying in packs lowers the price: for example, hawthorn and hornbeam at 40–60cm fall from £1.15 to £0.98 a plant in a pack of 1,000. See the full range on our bare root hedging page.
How much does a bare root hedge cost per metre?
Price per metre is the price per plant multiplied by the number of plants per metre. These figures are for plants only, before delivery, compost or mulch.
| Species and size | Per plant | Plants per metre | Per metre | 10m hedge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackthorn, 40–60cm | £0.95 | 6 | £5.70 | £57 |
| Hawthorn, 40–60cm | £1.15 | 6 | £6.90 | £69 |
| Hornbeam, 40–60cm | £1.15 | 6 | £6.90 | £69 |
| Green beech, 40–60cm | £1.60 | 6 | £9.60 | £96 |
| Common privet, 40–60cm | £1.60 | 6 | £9.60 | £96 |
| Hornbeam, 60–90cm | £2.10 | 5 | £10.50 | £105 |
| Green beech, 60–90cm | £2.30 | 5 | £11.50 | £115 |
| Cherry laurel, 20–30cm | £2.60 | 5 | £13.00 | £130 |
A mixed native hedge is priced per metre. Our Garden Wildlife Mix at 40–60cm is £7.60 a metre, falling to £6.46 a metre in a 200 metre pack.
Worked example: a 40 metre hornbeam hedge
40 metres × 5 plants per metre = 200 plants. At 60–90cm (£2.10 each) that is £420 in plants. At 40–60cm, planted at 6 per metre, it is 240 plants at £1.15, or £276.
Delivery depends on how your order is packed and on our free-delivery thresholds, which you can check on our delivery information page.
How many bare root plants do you need per metre?
We recommend 5 to 6 plants per metre in a single row. That is closer than the 30–60cm spacing the RHS suggests, and it is deliberate.
Plant fewer and the hedge simply takes a lot longer to knit together. As we always tell customers: you are buying time when you put more plants in per metre. Smaller plants go in at 6 per metre, larger plants at 5. Each product page shows the recommended number for every size.
When is the best time to plant bare root hedging?
Bare root hedging is lifted and planted while the plants are dormant. Mother nature sets the dates, but this is our usual season:
| Root type | Season normally starts | Season normally ends |
|---|---|---|
| Bare root | First week of November | March to April |
| Root ball | October | Slightly later than bare root, as the soil holds more moisture |
The exact start and finish depend on temperature and weather each year. Plant whenever the ground is workable: not frozen and not waterlogged. If you want to plant outside the dormant season, choose pot grown hedging instead.
How long can bare root plants be stored before planting?
Longer than most people think, as long as you look after the roots. Kept in a cold, damp shed or outbuilding, with the roots kept damp but never left standing in water, bare root plants will keep for around two to three months. Once the weather warms up, that time is cut short, so plant sooner in a mild spell.
If you can’t keep them cool and damp, heel them in: dig a shallow trench, lay the bundles at an angle, cover the roots with soil and firm it down. Our how to plant a hedge guide covers planting step by step.
Is bare root hedging cheaper than pot grown?
Yes, by a wide margin. Green beech at 40–60cm costs £1.60 bare root against £6.95 pot grown, about 77% less per plant. Per metre, at our recommended densities, that is £9.60 bare root against £27.80 pot grown.
The trade-off is the season: bare root is only available while plants are dormant, while pot grown can be planted across much more of the year. Root ball hedging gives more height at planting, and instant hedging gives the most immediate cover at the highest price. Our hedging root types explained page compares all four.
How quickly will a bare root hedge fill out?
Planted at 5 to 6 per metre, most 60–90cm or 90–120cm hedges will make a good hedge in about three growing seasons. You can speed that up with good preparation.
- Prepare the ground properly. Dig over a wide strip and remove weeds and grass.
- Add plenty of compost. Good soil gets roots moving faster.
- Plant at the right density. 5 to 6 per metre, in a single row.
- Water through the first summer. Dry roots are the main reason new hedges stall.
It’s not what you plant, it’s how you plant it.
Trade and larger orders
Need a price for a bigger job?
We supply gardeners, landscapers, contractors and commercial projects across England, Scotland and Wales. Send us your list and we’ll come back with a quote within 24 hours, for any quantity. Need 12 plants? We’ll quote for 12. There are no pack limits.
Bare root hedging FAQs
Are bare root plants alive when they arrive without leaves?
Yes. Many bare root hedge plants are deciduous and are lifted while dormant, so they arrive without leaves. New growth appears in spring once the plants establish.
How quickly should I plant bare root hedging?
As soon as you reasonably can, but there is no need to panic. Kept in a cold, damp shed with the roots damp but not standing in water, they will keep for around two to three months. In mild weather, plant or heel them in sooner.
Can bare root hedging be planted all year?
No. Bare root plants are lifted and supplied while dormant, normally from the first week of November to March or April, depending on the weather. For planting outside that window, choose pot grown hedging.
How long does a bare root hedge take to fill out?
Planted at 5 to 6 per metre, most 60–90cm or 90–120cm bare root hedges make a good hedge in about three growing seasons. Thorough ground preparation and plenty of compost will speed that up.
What are the disadvantages of bare root hedging?
The season is limited to the dormant months, the roots need protecting until they are planted, and the plants start smaller than pot grown, root ball or instant hedging, so cover builds more slowly.
Do you supply bare root hedging for trade and larger projects?
Yes. We quote for any quantity, usually within 24 hours, with no pack limits. Landscapers, contractors and commercial customers can request a quote through our trade page.
Not sure which species or how many plants you need? Speak to our nursery team.