Regional hedge for the Grand Est and Burgundy region in a 5m (16ft) kit

The Regional Hedge for the Grand East and Burgundy has been designed for gardeners who want to create a worry-free hedge that showcases native species perfectly adapted to the harshness of these regions. In this beautiful French region governed by a clearly continental climate, summers are hot, even scorching, and winters are very cold and snowy. The soils are frequently limestone, sometimes marly, not always easy to work with and enhance. The selection we offer you brings together 5 small trees or large bushes that perfectly withstand these difficult conditions. In addition to these qualities, they have the undeniable charm of their autumn colors, their often fragrant flowering, and their berries sought after by birds that will brighten the shortest and saddest days of the year. This kit allows you to create a hedge of about 5 metres (16 feet) long.

It consists of: 

- 1 Acer campestre - Field Maple: a small tree with a rounded and dense habit, slow-growing, which reaches up to 8 metres (26 feet) in height and 4 metres (13 feet) in width, deciduous in winter, appreciated above all for its beautiful autumn colors in shades of yellow-copper. The very discreet flowering takes place in spring, at the same time as the leaves appear. The small flowers are greenish and give way to winged fruits often reddish, called samaras. Very common in our French forests, this maple is really easy to grow in any soil, and it tolerates pruning very well, which allows it to be kept in moderate dimensions.

- 1 Amelanchier laevis Ballerina: a tall deciduous shrub with a regular and spreading habit, slow-growing, which reaches about 5 metres (16 feet) in height and 3 metres (10 feet) in width. Both undemanding and ornamental, it is interesting for the beauty of its young shoots tinged with bronze, its generous spring flowering with large pure white star-shaped flowers, its edible and tasty fruits the size of a blueberry, and its flamboyant autumn colors in a palette of red, orange, and purple. 

- 1 Crataegus monogyna - Common Hawthorn. A large, thorny and deciduous shrub that can reach 7 metres (23 feet) in height and 8 metres (26 feet) in width if not pruned. Its white and highly fragrant flowers, grouped in flat heads, bloom in May, much to the delight of pollinating insects. They give way to red fruits called haws, which will be consumed by birds throughout autumn. The hawthorn adapts everywhere.

- 1 Viburnum lantana - Wayfaring Tree, Mancienne. A deciduous shrub species with a bushy habit, reaching 4 to 5 metres (13 to 16 feet) in height and 2 to 3 metres (7 to 10 feet) in width. Its abundant flowering, which takes place from April to June, takes the form of clusters of cream-white flowers pleasantly scented with orange blossom. Its small, round, black fruits persist on the branches for much of the winter, delighting birds. 

- 1 Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn. A symbol of vigor and robustness, this large bushy and thorny deciduous shrub is a familiar sight in our landscapes, animating them with a beautiful white spring flowering. It is also known for its black and edible fruits, sloes. This light-loving species is a robust pioneer plant, very hardy, fairly fast-growing, but also slightly suckering. If left unpruned, the blackthorn will reach approximately 3.50 metres (11 feet) in all directions.

These small trees create a charming countryside atmosphere in the company of other native species such as medlar, European spindle, privet, and hornbeam. They can be planted on the property boundary, creating a pleasant transition with the countryside. To enhance the base of your hedge, for example, plant some spring bulbs.  

Plant these shrubs in full sun or partial shade, in ordinary but well-prepared soil, mixing them and spacing them 1 metre (3 feet) apart. It is best to avoid pruning this natural hedge, to avoid compromising flowering and fruiting. If you need to intervene, avoid doing so during the nesting season. Proceed on a case-by-case basis, shortening the branches of shrubs that become too large.