Tsuga heterophylla hedgerows in the demonstration garden

Studying at RBGE is a rewarding experience, especially when you’re given the opportunity to take on a project with a very real and lasting impact.

As part of the planned redevelopment of the demonstration garden around the site of the soon to be restored Cottage, two large Tsuga heterophylla hedges are to be removed and replaced with two rows of Scottish heritage apple cultivars. The two parallel hedges will be removed and replaced this autumn to prepare the area for the planting of the trees in late winter. The trees will be trained to supports as oblique cordons to demonstrate a traditional Horticultural technique which will produce a good yield of blossom and fruit. Once completed the area will support the educational facilities of the cottage, provide a resource for the teaching of pruning techniques and hopefully be a worthy display of apple cultivars for the visiting public.

As a group of four second year students enrolled on the Horticulture with Plantsmanship course, we have been assigned to manage and co-ordinate the project in conjunction with the RBGE team. The work is under way with the tops of the hedges having been removed over the Halloween weekend, but there is still plenty more to do!

We are all extremely excited to see the area transformed and we are working hard to ensure the project blossoms into a new and worthy addition to the gardens.

Hedge Be Gone!

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