Planting borders, hedges and trees

Soil type, how acid or alkaline it is, how much sun each bed gets and how exposed the garden is to wind decide what will thrive. A landscaper should look at these before suggesting plants, and a simple soil test is cheap. Coastal gardens, frost pockets at the bottom of slopes and dry beds under walls each need a different palette.

Mature size is the other question. Shrubs and trees are sold small, and the label is easy to ignore. Ask how big each plant will be when mature and whether it will need regular cutting to stay in its space. A well-planned border needs less work than one crammed full for an instant effect.

Plants come in different forms. Container-grown plants can be planted most of the year if they are watered. Bare-root hedging, roses and young trees are lifted from the field while dormant, roughly late autumn to early spring, and are much cheaper; they must be planted quickly. Larger trees and specimen hedging are often supplied root-balled, with the soil held in hessian or mesh.

Bigger plants give an immediate result but cost more, need more watering and can take longer to establish. For a long hedge, bare-root whips planted in winter often overtake larger plants within a few years. The quote should state the size of each plant, for example pot size or height, so you can compare like with like.

• a planting plan or list with botanical names, sizes and quantities
• container, bare-root or root-balled supply
• soil preparation, compost or improver, and mulch
• stakes, ties and guards for trees and hedging
• watering in and a written aftercare plan
• what happens if plants fail in the first season

Trees on shrinkable clay soils take up water, and a large, thirsty tree too close to a house can contribute to movement in the foundations. Ask about the mature height of any tree and plant it at a distance that reflects the soil and the species. Keep trees away from drains too; roots find their way into cracked pipes.

Hedges along a boundary grow into your neighbour's side as well as yours. Under the law in England and Wales, a neighbour can complain to the council about a hedge of two or more mostly evergreen or semi-evergreen trees or shrubs that grows over two metres tall and affects their enjoyment of their home. Leylandii and similar conifers grow very fast, so choose boundary hedging you are willing to keep trimmed.

Some plants are illegal to plant in the wild or cause to grow in the wild, and moving soil or cuttings that contain them can count. Japanese knotweed is the best-known. You do not have to remove knotweed from your own land unless it is causing a nuisance, but you must stop it spreading beyond your property, and soil containing it can be controlled waste. If knotweed is found in a planting area, the work should stop and a specialist should be brought in.

Buy plants from reputable nurseries and garden centres, and ask the landscaper where their stock comes from. Imported plants can bring pests and diseases with them, and the rules on plant health change from time to time.

Most new plants that die in the first year die from lack of water. Trees and hedging planted in autumn and winter need watering in dry spells the following spring and summer, and containerised plants set out in summer need watering regularly. Mulch helps keep moisture in and weeds down.

Many landscapers replace plants that fail in the first season if the agreed watering was done. Get the terms in writing: who decides why a plant died, and whether the replacement includes planting. If you want the landscaper to handle aftercare, ask for a price for regular visits.

Clearing old shrubs and hedges before replanting should take nesting birds into account. It is an offence to damage or destroy an active wild bird nest, so major hedge removal is best done outside the main nesting season. A landscaper should check before cutting in spring and summer.

Describe the beds, hedges or trees you want planted and the conditions in your garden. We verify your phone and email and offer the request to landscapers nearby, without your name. One company buys it and is the only one to receive it; we email you its name, address and phone number first. It is free for you, and we cannot guarantee a quote. Offrano checks that the buyer is a registered business, not its plant knowledge, so ask what it would plant and why.