Tree and Hedgerow Planting in Surrey
Transform Your Landscape
Professional Tree and Hedgerow Planting Services by Treemedic Ltd
Thinking about planting a new tree or putting in a hedgerow? Whether you want to add some privacy, replace something that’s been removed, create a wildlife habitat or just improve how your garden looks, Treemedic can help. We handle everything from species selection and ground preparation through to planting and aftercare advice. Based in Hersham, we cover Surrey and South West London including Esher, Cobham, Weybridge, Walton on Thames and surrounding areas.
Looking for expert removal or maintenance instead? Visit our Tree Removal Service or Stump Grinding Service pages.
Why Choose Tree and Hedgerow Planting?
Trees and hedgerows do a lot more than just look good. They provide shelter and food for wildlife, improve air quality, reduce noise, help with drainage and can significantly improve the look and value of a property. Getting the species and positioning right from the start makes a big difference to how well they establish and how much maintenance they need going forward.
Planting to BS 8545
Most tree planting fails within three years, and almost always for the same handful of reasons: wrong species for the site, planted too deep, poor root preparation, or nobody watered it through the first two summers.
We plant to BS 8545, the British Standard covering trees from nursery to independence in the landscape.
Root flare at finished ground level. Planting too deep is the single most common cause of failure, and it kills trees slowly, often years later, long after anyone connects the two.
Proper pit preparation. Decompacted and appropriately sized, not a hole just big enough to squeeze the rootball into.
Correct staking. Low and loose, so the stem can flex and build reaction wood. High tight staking produces a tree that can’t stand on its own when the stake comes off.
Realistic aftercare. We’ll tell you honestly what watering it needs, because that’s what determines whether it lives.
Tree Planting Services: Tailored to Your Landscape
When it comes to tree and hedge planting, Treemedic follows a meticulous approach to ensure every plant establishes successfully and thrives for years to come. Our process includes assessment, selection, professional planting, and long-term aftercare.
Site Assessment:
Every planting job starts with us looking at the site properly. Soil type, drainage, light levels and available space all affect which species will do well and which won't. Getting this right at the start saves a lot of problems further down the line.
Species Selection:
Choosing the right species for your site and goals is one of the most important parts of the job. We can advise on native and ornamental trees suited to Surrey's soil and climate, whether you are after shade, seasonal colour, wildlife value or privacy. We source from trusted UK nurseries to make sure you are getting good quality stock.
Planting Process:
Our arborists handle the full planting process, from correct spacing and depth to soil preparation and staking where needed. Everything is done properly to give each tree or hedge the best possible start.
Aftercare Advice:
Once planting is done we will give you clear advice on watering, mulching and any early pruning needed. The first couple of seasons are the most critical for establishment and we will make sure you know what to look out for.
Hedgerow Planting: Creating Natural Borders and Wildlife Habitats
Hedgerows are more than decorative features, they serve as living fences, privacy screens, and vital wildlife corridors. Treemedic’s hedgerow planting services are customised to balance functionality, biodiversity, and visual appeal.
Planning and Design:
Before we plant anything we will talk through what you are trying to achieve. Whether that is screening, defining a boundary, or creating a habitat for wildlife, we will plan the layout and species mix to suit the site and give you the result you are after.
Species Selection:
We plant a range of native hedging species including hawthorn, field maple, hazel and beech, all of which are well suited to Surrey conditions. Native species establish well, require less intervention and provide the best value for wildlife. We can also mix species to give year-round interest and seasonal variation.
Planting Techniques:
Correct spacing and planting depth make a real difference to how quickly a hedge establishes and how dense it grows. We plant with care and will always explain what we have done and why so you understand how to look after it going forward.
Maintenance Guidance:
We will give you a clear maintenance schedule covering formative pruning in year one and ongoing shaping as the hedge matures. If you would rather hand it back to us to maintain, we offer regular hedge cutting visits as part of our ongoing service.
Bare Root Planting Window:
Bare root hedging is planted November to March only. It is far cheaper than pot-grown, establishes better, and the window is genuinely fixed. Miss it and you are waiting a year or paying considerably more for container stock.
Spacing and Density:
Usually five or six plants per metre in a double staggered row. We also cut back after planting, which sounds counterintuitive but forces the low branching that makes a hedge dense rather than leggy.
Protection and Watering:
Rabbit and deer guards are essential across most of Surrey, not optional. The first two summers matter most, watering is the difference between a hedge and a row of dead sticks.
Need Screening Quickly?
A native hedge takes three to five years to screen properly. If you need privacy next year, semi-mature evergreen is the better answer and we will say so rather than sell you something that will not do what you want.
Replacement Planting and Planning Conditions
If your tree work was tied to a planning permission or a TPO consent, replacement planting is often a condition rather than a suggestion. Failing to comply can hold up sign-off or trigger enforcement action.
We handle planting that has to satisfy a condition:
- Planting to the specified species, size and location
- Correct nursery stock specification, girth, form and root type
- Photographic records
- Written completion reports for the council
We write these regularly for Elmbridge, Kingston and Richmond. If you’ve had a consent letter with a planting condition attached and aren’t sure what it’s asking for, send it over and we’ll tell you.
Why It's Worth Doing Right
A badly planted tree or hedge can fail to establish, grow in the wrong direction or need removing within a few years. Done well, trees and hedgerows planted today will still be improving your property in 20 or 30 years time. We take the time to get it right and our advice is always honest, if something is not going to work in your space, we will tell you.
For expert planting advice, visit the Royal Horticultural Society to watch their hedge-planting guides and explore best-practice resources.
Common Questions About Tree and Hedgerow Planting
Our clients often ask about the best planting times, species options, and maintenance. The answers below address the most frequent questions we receive.
When is the best time to plant trees and hedges?
Autumn through early spring, while trees are dormant and the ground is workable. Bare root stock has a fixed window of roughly November to March, outside that it isn’t available, and it’s considerably cheaper and establishes better than pot-grown. Container-grown plants can go in at most times of year provided they’re watered properly, but they cost more and need more aftercare.
Do you supply the trees and hedging plants?
Yes, Treemedic Ltd can source and supply quality trees and hedging species from trusted UK nurseries, ensuring the right size, species, and quality for your site and soil conditions.
Can you help design and space the planting?
Absolutely. We can advise on spacing, layout, and species choice based on your goals, whether you want privacy screening, wildlife hedging, or ornamental planting.
Do you offer aftercare or maintenance once planting is complete?
Yes, we can provide aftercare plans, including watering schedules, formative pruning, and hedge trimming to ensure strong establishment and long-term health.
Do you plant to a recognised standard?
Yes, BS 8545, the British Standard covering trees from the nursery through to establishment. In practice that means correct planting depth with the root flare at ground level, proper pit preparation, low and loose staking, and a realistic aftercare plan.
My planning permission says I have to plant replacement trees. Can you handle that?
Yes, including the species and stock specification, the planting itself, photographic records and a written completion report for the council. We do these regularly for Elmbridge, Kingston and Richmond.
How long before a new hedge gives me privacy?
Bare root native hedging takes three to five years to screen properly. Semi-mature evergreen gives you an instant screen but costs considerably more. We’ll price both if you want to compare.
Do you guarantee the trees will survive?
We plant to BS 8545 and give you a realistic aftercare plan, but establishment depends heavily on watering through the first two summers, which is usually down to you. We’ll be straight about what it needs rather than promising something outside our control.
Planting, in Short
- We plant to BS 8545, root flare at ground level, proper pit prep, low and loose staking
- We’ll tell you what will actually thrive on your soil rather than what looks good in a catalogue
- Bare root hedging November to March, considerably cheaper and it establishes better
- Replacement planting to satisfy a TPO or planning condition, including the completion report for the council
- Honest aftercare advice, because watering through the first two summers is what decides whether it lives
- Free, written quotes, the price we quote is the price you pay
Want to talk through a planting project?
Give us a call on 07522 167 197 or 020 3488 8694 for a free no-obligation quote.
We cover Hersham, Esher, Cobham, Weybridge, Walton on Thames, Thames Ditton, East Molesey and across Surrey and South West London.
