How Many Hedge Plants Per Metre?
For most bare root hedging, plant five plants per metre in a double staggered row. That gives a thick hedge that fills in from the base. Larger plants and most evergreens go in further apart, at two to four per metre. The table below shows the rate we recommend for each hedge we grow, and how many plants that means for 10 and 100 metres.
- Most bare root hedging: 5 plants per metre in a double staggered row.
- Countryside Stewardship BN11: at least 6 per metre.
- Larger plants and most evergreens: 2 to 4 per metre.
- Plants needed = hedge length in metres x plants per metre.
Plants per metre for each hedge
| Hedge | Plant size | Plants per metre | Plants for 10m | Plants for 100m |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BN11 mixed native farm hedging | Native mix | 6 (BN11 minimum) | 60 | 600 |
| Hawthorn | 40 to 120cm | 5 | 50 | 500 |
| Other single native species (blackthorn, field maple, hazel, dogwood and more) | Bare root transplants | 5 | 50 | 500 |
| Privet | 60 to 120cm | 5 | 50 | 500 |
| Green beech | 40 to 60cm | 5 | 50 | 500 |
| Green beech | 60 to 150cm | 4 | 40 | 400 |
| Green beech | 150 to 175cm | 3 | 30 | 300 |
| Hornbeam | 40 to 90cm | 5 | 50 | 500 |
| Hornbeam | 90 to 120cm | 4 | 40 | 400 |
| Hornbeam | 120 to 175cm | 3 | 30 | 300 |
| Holly | 40 to 90cm | 4 | 40 | 400 |
| Portuguese laurel | 60 to 90cm | 4 | 40 | 400 |
| Portuguese laurel | 100 to 175cm | 3 | 30 | 300 |
| Yew | 60 to 100cm | 3 | 30 | 300 |
| Yew | 150 to 175cm | 2 | 20 | 200 |
| Cherry laurel | 80 to 150cm | 2 (one every 50cm) | 20 | 200 |
| Cherry laurel | 150 to 200cm | 1 every 75cm | 14 | 134 |
Totals are rounded up to the next whole plant.
How to work out how many plants you need
- Measure the length of the hedge in metres.
- Multiply it by the plants per metre for your hedge and size in the table above.
- Round up to the next whole plant.
A 25 metre beech hedge using 60 to 90cm plants needs 25 x 4 = 100 plants.
Our BN11 mixed native hedging is priced per metre, so you simply order the length of hedge you need and we make up the mix.
Single row or double row?
A double staggered row gives a thicker, more stockproof hedge and is what we recommend for farm and field boundaries. Plant two rows about 40cm apart, with each plant in one row facing a gap in the other. At five plants per metre, each row has a plant roughly every 40cm.
A single row suits a garden hedge where space is tight. Use the same number of plants per metre, set in one line, and expect it to take a little longer to thicken at the base.
Why smaller plants go in closer together
Small bare root plants (40 to 60cm) are cheap, establish fastest and are planted densely so they knit together within a few seasons. Taller plants already have more branches, so fewer are needed for each metre. Most evergreens, such as laurel and yew, also spread wider than deciduous hedging, so they are spaced further apart.
Countryside Stewardship (BN11) planting rates
If you are planting under a Countryside Stewardship grant, BN11 sets its own rules: at least six plants per metre, in two staggered rows 40cm apart, using native species only, with no more than 70% of any one species. See GOV.UK’s BN11 guidance for the full rules.
Our BN11 mixed native farm hedging is put together for stewardship planting. For long runs of hedge, email sales@millfarmplants.co.uk with your lengths for a quotation, or call 01798 831008.
Order the length you need
Our BN11 mixed native hedging is priced per metre, so you simply order the length of hedge and we make up the mix at our West Sussex nursery.
Planting a farm or estate hedge? Email sales@millfarmplants.co.uk for a quotation on large orders, or call 01798 831008.
Shop BN11 native hedgingBrowse bare root hedgingHow to plant a bare root hedgeFrequently asked questions
How many hedge plants do I need for 100 metres?
At five plants per metre, you need 500 plants. Larger plants and evergreens need fewer: 200 to 400, depending on the species and size.
How far apart should hedge plants be?
For bare root hedging in a double row, about 40cm apart along each row, with the rows 40cm apart. Larger evergreens such as cherry laurel go in 50 to 75cm apart.
How many laurel plants per metre?
Two per metre for cherry laurel at 80 to 150cm, and one every 75cm for plants of 150cm and over. Portuguese laurel is planted at three to four per metre.
How many beech hedge plants per metre?
Five per metre for 40 to 60cm plants, four for 60 to 150cm and three for 150 to 175cm.
Do I need a double row?
Not always. A double staggered row is best for farm hedges and anywhere you need a thick or stockproof hedge. A single row is fine for most garden hedges.
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