Digging a trench

[The Natural Philosopher]

+1.

Thats how I did it for all my hornbeam.

[Tim Lamb]

Don't, whatever else you do, plant Blackthorn. It springs up from the roots and tried to form a thicket.

[Robert]

Sure I have read that there is little height advantage after a couple of years in planting larger hedging plants rather than short bare rooted whips.

[Robin]

Spend weekend battling with neighbour's out-of-control black bamboo*; read how Andrew knocks off 2000 bare root stock at a rate of nearly 3 a minute (assuming a 12 hour day - with no breaks!); feel inadequate; make inroads into a robust Malbec; end up no less inadequate - just less feeling :)

*I reckon I won on points

[Tim Lamb]

I've just moved some to our new garden as a screen from the stables. Somewhere recently I read it is now considered a notifiable weed! The bit I moved was an outgrowth from the main plant. About 1m underneath shingle and black plastic mulch to the sapling and a second sharp spike penetrating the mulch 500mm further.

[tabbypurr]

Sure does taste good, as long as you use a recipe that works (can be hideous if you don't). But why plant it, there's no lack growing wild. And no-one else picks it. Silly them.

For anyone that hasn't had it, it's fairly like plum but aggressive. Plums can be much improved by adding a little blackthorn, as can apples. And when some youngster enquires, enthuse about it being free yum food & offer them one to taste lol, with camera ready. Utterly vile raw.

NT

[The Natural Philosopher]

It also is the No1 cause of punctures in tyres of garden kit It also gives you nasty warts if it isnt removed from the skin that last YEARS (15+)

I have so much here and i HATE it

[The Natural Philosopher]

The only stuff I've ever planted that did come big and took off was some

20ft tall Holm Oaks that cost a f****ng fortune that the ex wanted NOW. 6 years later they are bloody ginormous. They came with root balls about 6 ft diameter

So yes, instant trees are possible - if you dont mind spending a few hundred per tree.

All the bare root stuff I have planted has been in a slit

Ther usually isn't enough root to justify more.