10 Things You Might Not Know About Garden Hedges
Why you should have them, how to choose the right species and tips for keeping your hedges in tip-top condition
There’s something really special about a beautifully maintained hedge, but there’s a lot more to these living walls than many people realise. They can reinforce the architecture of your house, disguise ugly walls, add a touch of romance, attract birds to your garden, and that’s just for starters. In fact, a hedge is probably the most versatile garden feature you can have. Want to find out what multi-talented hedges can do for your garden? Here are some ideas.
2. They can frame views and define paths
Clipped hedges are one of the best devices to direct the eye through the garden to a particular view or vista. They can be used to frame a view as well. In this formal Melbourne garden, they not only create a vista, they also define the paths and beds, adding a sense of unity to the garden.
Clipped hedges are one of the best devices to direct the eye through the garden to a particular view or vista. They can be used to frame a view as well. In this formal Melbourne garden, they not only create a vista, they also define the paths and beds, adding a sense of unity to the garden.
3. The can disguise untidy areas
We all know hedges are ideal for screening neighbours and hiding unsightly views such as ugly fences or sheds. But consider also using them as a low edge to disguise bedraggled or weedy garden beds and stop birds from digging up your soil. They’re also an effective noise barrier for traffic, trains and neighbours – the denser the hedge, the better it will reduce noise. Evergreen species are best for year round noise control.
We all know hedges are ideal for screening neighbours and hiding unsightly views such as ugly fences or sheds. But consider also using them as a low edge to disguise bedraggled or weedy garden beds and stop birds from digging up your soil. They’re also an effective noise barrier for traffic, trains and neighbours – the denser the hedge, the better it will reduce noise. Evergreen species are best for year round noise control.
4. They can provide colour and interest
If you choose the right species, you can use hedges to add extra interest to the garden. For a romantic, soft look, use flowering hedge cultivars of lavender (pictured), Camellia, Michelia, Hebe and rosemary. Hedges with coloured foliage such as Photinia, Teucrium and barberry (Berberis) are often used to make a bold statement in contemporary gardens. For winter interest, consider hedge species that produce berries such as cultivars of Viburnum, Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis umbellata) and Eugenia.
If you choose the right species, you can use hedges to add extra interest to the garden. For a romantic, soft look, use flowering hedge cultivars of lavender (pictured), Camellia, Michelia, Hebe and rosemary. Hedges with coloured foliage such as Photinia, Teucrium and barberry (Berberis) are often used to make a bold statement in contemporary gardens. For winter interest, consider hedge species that produce berries such as cultivars of Viburnum, Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis umbellata) and Eugenia.
5. They can extend your plant palette
Rather than commonly used box hedges, why not vary your plant selections and go for more contemporary hedging plants such as fig (Ficus) species, hebes, dwarf bottlebrush (Callistemon ‘Little John’), Chilean guava (Myrtus ugni), dwarf camellias or Japanese holly (Ilex crenata)?
Rather than commonly used box hedges, why not vary your plant selections and go for more contemporary hedging plants such as fig (Ficus) species, hebes, dwarf bottlebrush (Callistemon ‘Little John’), Chilean guava (Myrtus ugni), dwarf camellias or Japanese holly (Ilex crenata)?
6. They can be cheap to grow
You need a lot of plants for a hedge and that can be expensive. Buying small plants will save you money and they will adapt better to the conditions in your garden than larger specimens that have been grown in the optimum conditions of a nursery. Often they will reach the same height as larger and more expensive plants quite quickly anyway. Some nurseries will discount if you buy in bulk. Another cost saving method of growing a hedge is to take cuttings. Try Buxus and Teucrium as these grow easily from cuttings.
You need a lot of plants for a hedge and that can be expensive. Buying small plants will save you money and they will adapt better to the conditions in your garden than larger specimens that have been grown in the optimum conditions of a nursery. Often they will reach the same height as larger and more expensive plants quite quickly anyway. Some nurseries will discount if you buy in bulk. Another cost saving method of growing a hedge is to take cuttings. Try Buxus and Teucrium as these grow easily from cuttings.
7. They are easy to plant
Wait until late autumn or winter when the ground is moist before planting new hedges. This allows their root systems to become well established before the soil starts to dry out. Water new plants every day for at least a month if the weather stays dry. Make sure you don’t plant trees close to drainage or sewerage pipes as their roots can cause major damage. Add lots of compost, organic matter and slow release fertiliser to the soil before planting, particularly if it is heavy clay (or consider raised beds if drainage is really bad). Be generous when digging planting holes. These must be the same depth as the root ball of the tree or shrub and at least twice as wide.
Use a string line and pegs to mark planting positions.
Wait until late autumn or winter when the ground is moist before planting new hedges. This allows their root systems to become well established before the soil starts to dry out. Water new plants every day for at least a month if the weather stays dry. Make sure you don’t plant trees close to drainage or sewerage pipes as their roots can cause major damage. Add lots of compost, organic matter and slow release fertiliser to the soil before planting, particularly if it is heavy clay (or consider raised beds if drainage is really bad). Be generous when digging planting holes. These must be the same depth as the root ball of the tree or shrub and at least twice as wide.
Use a string line and pegs to mark planting positions.
8. The are better trimmed early
Start shaping your hedge when plants are very young to keep growth dense and even. It should be wider at the bottom with slightly sloping sides to allow light onto the lower leaves.
New hedges planted last winter or autumn can be cut back hard late spring or early summer, then trimmed lightly again in late summer.
Start shaping your hedge when plants are very young to keep growth dense and even. It should be wider at the bottom with slightly sloping sides to allow light onto the lower leaves.
New hedges planted last winter or autumn can be cut back hard late spring or early summer, then trimmed lightly again in late summer.
9. They can create screening where you need it
One of the most common mistakes people make in gardens is to plant trees for screening then leave them untrimmed. As the trees grow taller, most of their foliage will grow on the top branches where the light is, while the lower branches remain bare. This of course means lots of gaps right where you don’t want them. By trimming the top and sides of tall screen trees to around a metre above fence height (also known as pleaching or hedges on stilts), you’ll get screening where you need it, without blocking light from coming into your garden. It also creates a neater, more architectural look.
One of the most common mistakes people make in gardens is to plant trees for screening then leave them untrimmed. As the trees grow taller, most of their foliage will grow on the top branches where the light is, while the lower branches remain bare. This of course means lots of gaps right where you don’t want them. By trimming the top and sides of tall screen trees to around a metre above fence height (also known as pleaching or hedges on stilts), you’ll get screening where you need it, without blocking light from coming into your garden. It also creates a neater, more architectural look.
10. They perform best when looked after properly
Keeping an eye on the basics will make a big difference to the look of your hedge. With regular feeding and watering, you will get more lush growth and healthier plants that can fight off pests and diseases. There’s nothing worse than spending several years nurturing a lovely hedge, then losing one or two plants – sadly, a common problem with hedges.
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Keeping an eye on the basics will make a big difference to the look of your hedge. With regular feeding and watering, you will get more lush growth and healthier plants that can fight off pests and diseases. There’s nothing worse than spending several years nurturing a lovely hedge, then losing one or two plants – sadly, a common problem with hedges.
MORE
Hedging Your Bets: Make Your Hedges Work For You
So Your Garden Style Is: Formal
Leafy Greens: 10 Ways to Beautify Your Garden With Foliage
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They may take a lot more time and maintenance than built fences and walls, but hedges create a soft, tranquil atmosphere that only living, green walls can provide. In winter, when gardens tend to look bare, an evergreen hedge creates a year round structured look. In contemporary gardens they can be used to reinforce the architectural lines of the house, to give a crisp defined look as shown in this stunner by well-known designer Peter Fudge.