Recommendation points
A hedge made of living plants is a decoration of every home and garden. However, in order to look aesthetically pleasing and attractive, it requires constant care..
In addition to the decorative function, the hedge also has practical value. It visually defines the boundaries of the site, isolates it from a noisy and dusty road, unwanted views of neighbors, protects from the wind, and creates a favorable microclimate in the garden.
It takes time to create such a hedge. It will take several years until tall, dense trees and shrubs grow from small seedlings. But the time and labor costs are worth it, a properly formed hedge will not leave anyone indifferent and will delight everyone with its appearance all year round.
It is important to determine in advance what height the fence should be and how much time will be devoted to it, as well as to choose the desired plant species – evergreen or deciduous. When choosing plants, you must take into account the size of the site. If the site is narrow, the hedge should be formed, trimmed, and if it is wide, then you can let it grow freely.
In order for the fence to fulfill its purpose, its height must be about 1.5 meters. A fence that is too high can shade the garden a lot. To divide the site into zones, small groups of shrubs up to 1m high are enough. Low, up to 0.5m bushes can be used to frame flower beds.
Types of hedge plants
Thuja Smaragd
One of the favorite plant species is thuja Smaragd, which does not grow too quickly and, accordingly, does not require frequent cutting. For a year it grows by 10-20cm, reaching a height of 4-6m. It is a cone-shaped evergreen with a large number of vertical lateral branches..
Thuja tolerates strong wind and frost well. It is planted with a frequency of two bushes per 1m of soil.
Cypress
It grows faster than thuja, adds up to 1m per year. But, if it is not shortened, holes are formed in the hedge through which the site is visible. This is an evergreen tree with horizontal branches covered with lettuce-colored needles. Reaches a height of 3-5m, is easy to form, does not tolerate a lack of moisture and a bright scorching sun.
Cypress has a pleasant smell of needles, which has an antimicrobial effect.
Boxwood
You can also decorate the garden with boxwood bushes, which look very elegant. Boxwood tolerates pruning well, it can be given any shape that will last for a long time, thanks to its slow growth. In nature, boxwood reaches 10m in height, straight shoots are densely covered with dark green leaves.
The plant is poisonous. The best place for planting is partial shade with a lot of moisture. Direct and strong rays of sunlight brighten the leaves, which can turn brown. In May-June, boxwood requires chemical treatment from pests that cause leaf curling..
Pyracantha
Perennial evergreen shrub, reaching 2m in height. Its branches are covered with long sharp thorns, creating an excellent barrier for intruders or animals on the site. In the spring it blooms with beautiful white flowers with a fragrant scent, and in the fall the bushes cover clusters of red or orange berries.
The plant is planted in partial shade, in the bright sun the leaves turn yellow. The seedlings are placed at a distance of 50 cm from each other. Pyracantha grows quickly and needs frequent pruning. The hedge turns out to be thick and dense.
Common privet
Large evergreen shrub up to 4m in height. It grows relatively slowly, has a wide spreading crown. The leaves are dense, fall off with the onset of frost. They are found in three shades – gold, green, variegated. The combination of different shades looks beautiful. White small fragrant flowers are collected in panicles, black shiny fruits appear in autumn.
The plant is undemanding, resistant to frost and drought. They are planted with a density of 3-4 pieces per 1m. Privet is cut twice a year – in March and August.
Planting
The best place for a hedge is an area located in partial shade and with sufficient moisture. Then the plants will develop well, they will be thick and healthy..
Before planting, you need to process the selected area, remove all vegetation. Then dig a trench about 20cm deep and 40cm wide. Water the trench abundantly with water and add soil fertilizing to the bottom. Using a rope and tape measure, determine the exact planting sites of seedlings.
Dig the prepared plants not too deeply, but not too shallowly, so that the roots are covered. If the roots were wrapped when buying, do not unfold them, over time the material will decompose itself.
Water the planted plants thoroughly.
Cutting trees
Without clipping, the plant can grow, but it will not thicken. Flowering trees and shrubs are usually sheared after flowering, deciduous species during the dormant period – from November to March, and evergreen species – from September to the first frost.
The ideal shape of the fence is wide at the bottom and gradually tapering towards the top. It allows water to drain quickly from the top of the hedge while still getting enough light on the lower branches..
To ensure a neat, even haircut, pull the rope along the border of the height and width of the fence. Branches protruding beyond the border are cut, in their place, several new shoots are formed over time.
Freely growing hedges do not require such maintenance, they grow quickly, but they also quickly lose their beauty.
Young seedlings should not be planted very close to each other, this way you cannot achieve a beautiful dense hedge.
Only two to three years after planting can the excess branches needing be identified. And start forming plants in order to achieve the desired result.
What are the best types of hedges to plant in a garden that provide both privacy and aesthetic appeal?