A Benje hedge sensibly rounds off the natural garden design as a local ecosystem, full of life. Find out here how the special form of a hedge is structured as a living wall. Practical instructions explain how to skillfully create a deadwood hedge.
How do I create a Benje hedge in the garden?
To create a Benje hedge, drive stakes into the ground 2 meters apart; place a second row parallel to it at a distance of 1 to 1.50 meters. Fill the space with clippings, thicker branches at the bottom and thinner branches at the top, and plant them with native wild fruit trees if necessary.
What is a Benje hedge?
At the end of the 1980s, two enthusiastic landscape gardeners and nature lovers developed a concept for the sensible use of the leftovers after pruning. The result was an island of animal and plant life, born from an accumulation of green waste. The deadwood hedge was named after its inventors, the brothers Hermann and Heinrich Benjes. The following characteristics characterize a Benje hedge:
- Initially: loosely piled up heap or strips of thin clippings, such as branches and brushwood
- As a result: creation of habitat for birds, small mammals and reptiles
- Further course: Growth of diverse plants as a result of the wind approach of seeds
This pasture creates a living hedge as a mini ecosystem in your garden without any planting. This special form of hedge is not only easy to care for, but also offers fascinating insights into the growth and decay of our nature. As a beneficial side effect, you always know where to put the clippings.
Create a deadwood hedge correctly – you should pay attention to this
A Benje hedge can be created in no time. In order to give the natural wall a harmonious shape, you need several stable wooden posts that are sharpened at the bottom (€54.00 on Amazon). These supports act as a barrier to keep the piled clippings in place.
First drive a row of stakes into the ground two meters apart. Position the second row at the desired hedge width. Experience has shown that a distance of 1 to 1.50 meters is practical. Now fill the gap with clippings. Ideally, you should pile up thicker branches in the lower area so that small mammals feel at home here. In the upper area, stack thinner branches as a habitat and nesting place for birds.
Tip
Practice has shown that dominant plants such as nettles, goldenrod or birch settle in a Benje hedge and suppress desirable plants. It therefore makes sense to specifically plant a deadwood hedge with native, slow-growing wild fruit trees right from the start and to keep unwanted trees short.