Hornbeam Living Wall Hedge Panel, Pre-Grown Instant Screen, 1.55m x 1.2m

A living wall panel gives you an instant, mature hedge without waiting years for whips to grow. This pre-grown hornbeam screen (Carpinus betulus) arrives as a ready-formed panel 1.55m high and 1.2m wide, so a run of panels set side by side makes a finished green boundary on the day it goes in. Hornbeam is one of the most dependable hedging plants in the UK: it holds leaf cover all year, takes pruning well and needs little maintenance once established. Landscapers, garden designers, developers, facilities managers and homeowners use these panels to screen boundaries, soften walls, hide car parks and bin stores, and add a wildlife-friendly green edge to gardens and commercial sites.

Why it works

Instant height and width

Each panel is already 1.55m tall and 1.2m wide when it arrives. Instead of planting a row of small whips and waiting several seasons for them to knit together, you place the panels in a line and have a continuous screen straight away. That matters on new-build plots, show gardens and commercial handovers, where the boundary needs to look finished from day one.

Leaf cover all year

The supplier describes the hornbeam as giving year-round leaf cover. The leaves are dark green through summer and turn brown in winter, but the plant holds on to much of its dried foliage rather than dropping it all. That keeps the screen fuller through the colder months than many deciduous hedges, so privacy is not lost in winter.

Takes pruning well

Hornbeam tolerates pruning, which is why it is used so widely for formal hedges. A light trim keeps the panels to a crisp, straight line and encourages dense growth. The leaves have a double-sawn edge, giving the hedge a fine texture close up.

Low maintenance

Once established, the hedge needs little more than watering in dry spells and a trim once or twice a year. There is no paint, stain or panel replacement to budget for, as there would be with a timber fence.

Where it's used

• Garden boundaries and privacy screens
• Softening blank walls and fences
• Screening car parks, bin stores and service areas
• Security planting along boundaries
• Wildlife-friendly planting for birds and insects
• New-build developments, show homes and commercial landscaping

Specifications

Choosing the right option

This listing is a single panel size, 1.55m high by 1.2m wide. To work out how many you need, measure the length of the boundary in metres and divide by 1.2, then round up to the next whole panel. A 6m boundary, for example, takes five panels; a 10m run takes nine.

Consider the final height you want. The panels arrive at 1.55m, and hornbeam can be allowed to grow taller over time or kept trimmed to the delivered height. Allow for the panel's 35kg weight when planning access to the planting position, especially in back gardens with no side entrance.

Hornbeam suits most garden soils, including heavier clay, and grows in sun or partial shade. If your site is very wet or very exposed, take advice before ordering a long run.

Installation, use & care

Dig a trench along the boundary line, wide and deep enough to take the root base of each panel comfortably. Loosen the soil at the bottom and mix in some organic matter. Stand the panels in the trench side by side so the foliage meets, backfill and firm the soil around them, then water thoroughly. Keep the panels well watered through the first growing season, especially in dry weather. Trim lightly in late summer to keep a neat line, and mulch the base to hold moisture and suppress weeds.

FAQ

Will it lose its leaves in winter?

The leaves turn brown in winter, but the supplier describes the hedge as giving year-round leaf cover because hornbeam holds much of its dried foliage until new leaves push through in spring.

How many panels do I need?

Divide your boundary length in metres by 1.2 and round up. Each panel is 1.2m wide.

How heavy is each panel?

About 35kg, so plan for two people to move and position each one.

Can I keep it at a fixed height?

Yes. Hornbeam tolerates pruning, so you can trim it to hold the height and width you want.

Is it good for wildlife?

Yes. The supplier lists wildlife as one of its uses; dense hedges give birds and insects shelter.

Ordering & delivery

Each unit is one pre-grown panel, 1.55m x 1.2m, priced per panel. Order the number of panels needed for your boundary length. Delivery charges and lead times are shown at checkout.