Rootball Hedging: 9 Beautiful Choices | Caragh Nurseries

Rootball hedging is a wonderful way to bring a little more privacy, shelter and greenery to your garden, and with the cooler months upon us, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about those garden boundaries.

Whether you’re hoping to soften a fence, create a lovely green backdrop or make your garden feel a little more private, there’s something very satisfying about planting a beautiful hedge.

Here at Caragh Nurseries, we’ve gathered nine of our lovely broadleaf hedging varieties, with everything from glossy deep greens to beautiful red new growth and even a little winter colour.

Why Choose Rootball Hedging?

One of the best things about rootball hedging is that you’re planting more established plants, giving your garden a head start.

Our rootballed hedging is grown in the fields here in Kildare and carefully lifted with a generous amount of soil around the roots, which is then wrapped to keep everything together.

Rootball season generally runs from late autumn through to March, while the plants are dormant or growing more slowly and the conditions are suitable for lifting.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to plant a new boundary and enjoy a more established look from the beginning.

Nine Lovely Rootball Hedging Varieties to Consider

1. Ilex crenata ‘Green Hedge’ – A Lovely Neat Evergreen

If you love the look of traditional box hedging, Ilex crenata is a wonderful alternative.

With its small, glossy green leaves and naturally dense growth, it’s perfect for creating a neat, elegant hedge that looks lovely throughout the year.

It’s especially suited to more formal gardens, pathways and boundaries where you’d like a beautifully clipped finish.

Available size: 120–140cm rootballed

2. Ilex ‘Blue Prince’ – Rich, Glossy Foliage

There’s something rather special about the deep blue-green foliage of Ilex ‘Blue Prince’.

This beautiful evergreen Holly has glossy, slightly spiky leaves and makes a lovely dense hedge, bringing year-round interest and a little extra security to your boundary.

It’s also a male Holly, so while it won’t produce berries itself, it can help pollinate nearby female Holly plants.

Available size: 80–100cm rootballed

3. Ligustrum ovalifolium – A Traditional Garden Favourite

Privet has long been a favourite for garden hedging, and it’s easy to see why.

It’s a hardy, adaptable plant with lovely green foliage that can be clipped into a beautifully neat hedge.

Privet is semi-evergreen, so it may lose some leaves during colder winters, but it’s a reliable choice for creating a lovely garden boundary.

Available size: 100–125cm rootballed

4. Photinia ‘Red Robin’ – A Splash of Colour

If you’d like a hedge that offers something a little more colourful, Photinia ‘Red Robin’ is always a lovely choice.

Its fresh new growth emerges in beautiful shades of red before gradually turning to glossy green, bringing colour and interest to the garden throughout the growing season.

It makes a wonderful evergreen boundary, particularly in a sunny, sheltered position where those lovely red tones can really shine.

Available sizes: 80–100cm and 125–150cm rootballed

5. Prunus laurocerasus ‘Bonaparte’ – A Laurel with a Little Colour

‘Bonaparte’ is a lovely choice if you like the idea of traditional Laurel hedging but fancy something a little different.

Its new growth emerges in beautiful warm orange-red tones, contrasting against the glossy dark green leaves.

With its naturally upright, dense habit, it makes a very attractive evergreen screen without feeling quite as broad as some other Laurel varieties.

Available size: 80–100cm rootballed

6. Prunus laurocerasus ‘Elly’ – Perfect for Narrower Spaces

If you’re looking for a lovely green boundary but don’t have a huge amount of room, ‘Elly’ is well worth considering.

This beautiful Laurel has a naturally upright, narrower growing habit, making it ideal for creating privacy without taking up quite as much garden space.

Its rich, glossy evergreen foliage provides a wonderful backdrop to borders and planting throughout the year.

Available sizes: 80–100cm and 125–150cm rootballed

7. Prunus laurocerasus ‘Novita’ – A Lovely Lush Green Boundary

For a classic, generous evergreen hedge, ‘Novita’ is a wonderful option.

With its large, glossy green leaves and vigorous growth, it’s ideal for creating a fuller boundary that offers plenty of privacy and shelter.

It’s a hardy, dependable Laurel that works beautifully in both traditional and more contemporary gardens.

Available size: 80–100cm rootballed

8. Portuguese Laurel – A Beautiful, Elegant Evergreen

Portuguese Laurel is one of those hedging plants that brings a lovely sense of elegance to a garden.

Its smaller, glossy dark green leaves sit on beautiful reddish stems, giving it a finer, more delicate appearance than traditional Cherry Laurel.

It clips beautifully into a neat hedge and works just as well in a country garden as it does in a more formal setting.

We have several rootballed sizes to choose from, depending on the height and impact you’re looking for.

Available sizes: 60–80cm, 80–100cm, 120–140cm and 150–175cm rootballed

9. Viburnum tinus – Evergreen with Lovely Winter Flowers

If you’d like your hedge to offer a little more than greenery, Viburnum tinus is a beautiful choice.

Its dark green evergreen leaves provide structure throughout the year, while clusters of pink buds open into delicate white flowers from winter into spring.

It’s especially lovely for softer garden boundaries and mixed hedging, bringing a little welcome colour when much of the garden is quiet.

Available size: 100–125cm rootballed

Choosing the Right Rootball Hedging for Your Garden

Every garden is different, and the best hedge for one space might not be quite right for another.

If you’re looking for something neat and formal, Ilex crenata or Portuguese Laurel could be a lovely choice. For a little more colour, Photinia ‘Red Robin’ and Prunus ‘Bonaparte’ are beautiful options, while ‘Novita’ and ‘Elly’ are wonderful for creating green boundaries with plenty of structure.

It’s always worth thinking about how much space you have, the height you’d like your hedge to reach and how much maintenance you’re happy to give it.

And if you’re not quite sure where to start, that’s what we’re here for.

Come and Explore Our Rootball Hedging

Rootball season is a lovely opportunity to get your garden boundaries planted and give your new hedge time to establish before the warmer months arrive.

Whether you’re planting a whole new boundary or simply filling in a few gaps, we’d love to help you find the right hedging for your garden.

Have a browse through our rootballed hedging collection, or come and see us here at the nursery in Caragh.