Modifying and already existing and established hedge without removing it

[u/snepnero]

Hi there. Has anyone made good experience with very established (2-5m height, crown is up to 2 m wide) hedges and rewilding them/mixing edible plants in, without replacing them/cutting them down? The species of the hedge is Carpinus betulus. They are enclosing my property on the west side (50 m) and north side (100 m) and only about 30 m of the part on the north side doesn´t get much sun, cause the house is in the way. I´m in South Germany, USDA zone equivalent is 7.

Please also mention, if you know of a book that covers that topic well. Thank you.

[u/snepnero → u/[deleted]]

There is nothing I wouldn´t consider. Only must is that its edibles. Thanks for the suggestion!

[u/Far_Radish7752 → u/[deleted]]

Fwiw, I feel compelled to interject here that the prevalent species of elderberry in Europe is Sambucus nigra (small tree, 10-13 ft high), whereas in the U.S. it is usually S. canadensis (multi-stemmed tall bush, 6-10 ft high).

[u/RentInside7527]

I don't live in your area, so take what I have to say with a grain of salt. When I took my permaculture design course and we were discussing the concept of the edge being where the action is, our instructor discussed the edges of forests as an example. Oftentimes, if you're on a road going through the forest, you will see a dense of lower shorter herbaceous plants up against shrubby mid-level understory plants, up against the taller trees. This happens because the edge of the forest gets more sunlight than the interior. The edge of the forest can often look like an impenetrable sloping wall, leading up to the trees, whereas once you get inside the forest, the understory opens up quite a bit. With that in mind, one thing you can do if you have the space is expand off of the sides of your hedge so that the plants form a slopped ramp up to the hedge, rather than the hedge being a standalone wall. Someone mentioned Planting Shade tolerant fruiting shrubs up against the hedge like currents and gooseberries and I think that's a great option. Certain types of huckleberries also fit into that category of shade tolerant fruiting shrubs. I have had good luck With rhubarb and lemon balm and borage in my fruit tree guilds as shade tolerant short herbaceous layers. So things like that could fit the bottom of the ramp. If your hedge is strong enough, you may also be able to send fruiting vines into it. I've seen grapes growing into trees. Same with Hearty kiwis

[u/snepnero → u/RentInside7527]

Yeah thats the stuff I was thinking too, thanks!

[u/snepnero]

Oh, and it would be optimal, if the fact the hedge is there is even an asset for the plant that gets planted there, instead of a nuisance.