Something we're doing differently now: we've stopped recommending beech hedging in most Surrey situations.
Beech has been a default choice for decades — beautiful copper leaves retained through winter, classic English look. But the RHS now explicitly states it's "not a wise choice in southern and eastern Britain" due to drought intolerance.
Surrey's summers are getting drier. The 2022 drought saw just 46% of average summer rainfall in the Thames region.
So what are we planting instead?
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus). Native. Handles both wet winters and dry summers. Keeps its copper-bronze leaves through winter — just like beech. On the RHS's recommended list for dual wet-dry tolerance.
It's not just hedging that's shifted. Some other changes:
— More Viburnum tinus, Choisya, and Osmanthus for evergreen structure — all dual-tolerant
— Geranium 'Rozanne' as a perennial workhorse where less resilient choices would struggle
— Stipa gigantea and Calamagrostis grasses for structural interest that handles Surrey's conditions
We've been designing gardens across Surrey for over 50 years. The conditions are changing. We'd rather adapt to what the evidence says works than keep repeating what's always been done.
📍 Surrey
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