How to Plant Cedar Hedges
- 1). Dig a trench or individual holes for each shrub. A trench needs to be at least 16 inches wide and deep according to Plant World, and as long as needed to plant your hedges between 12 and 18 inches apart. A trench is best for bare-root shrubs. Individual holes dug about three times as wide and deep as the root ball is suitable for potted shrubs.
- 2). Add compost, manure or peat moss to the soil you removed from the holes or trench and hold the cedar hedge in place while backfilling the holes or trench with soil.
- 3). Firm the soil mix around the roots gently, but enough to secure the plants in place.
- 4). Soak the trench or holes well after planting and add a transplanting fertilizer of 5-15-5 nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus (NPK).
- 5). Water the hedges thoroughly once or twice a week, rather than lightly more often. A thorough watering helps the plant root securely in the soil.
- 6). Fertilize the plants at least three times during the growing season with an evergreen-specific fertilizer. A 30-10-10 NPK fertilizer will help the cedar hedges grow fast and lush through the summer.
- 7). Prune the hedges consistently as they grow to keep the growth consistent. More than 1/3 of the plant should not be trimmed in one season.
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