Articles on Hedges | Topics: hedges, hedge, bushes, bush
by Ildiko Underwood
A hedge used as a fence can add to the pleasant appearance of your landscaping. You can use hedges to define property lines and add create beauty to your landscaping project. Define walkways through your garden or gazebo. Combining different species of bushes with a variety of blooms and greenery to the outside of your home will allow you not only privacy but also cut down on traffic and other noises that you experience daily. Hedges are also a great way to hide unsightly areas around your property.
Hedges come in different sizes. You may choose to have a slightly lower hedge lining a walkway. Taller bushes are great for added privacy. If you live in an area that receives an abundance of snow, you want to avoid pruning the top of your hedges flat. Although this is attractive, heavy snowfall can damage the bushes. Instead, trim the hedge in a rounded fashion or consider purchasing hedges that grow in a natural rounded shape that require little to no pruning.
Placing your hedges in a straight line is important. Begin by digging a trench along the path you are creating. Place string along the trench identifying the straight side and plant your hedges approximately 18 inches apart (this will allow the hedges room to mature). Make sure that you prepared the soil before planting. Then place the hedges in the straight side of the trench being careful that you have set them a proper distance from each other to ensure proper growth.
What type of hedges you choose depends largely on your climate, personal style, and the look you want to achieve with your landscaping. There are hedges that require little to no pruning. There are also hedges that require frequent pruning. Your choice will depend largely on the look you are trying to achieve, the climate you live in, and of course, the effort you want to put forth in maintaining there shape. Therefore, when you are looking for hedges consider their height at maturity and what you will need. Will they retain their shape naturally or will you be required to prune diligently to achieve your desired results.
If you choose blooming hedges, there will not be much pruning involved as they can grow in their natural shape and only require pruning once per year. When purchasing hedges for screening near the house (or year round) you want to avoid purchasing deciduous hedges that will only provide adequate screening during their growing season. You can utilize deciduous hedges during the winter season if you prune them severely. When their greenery falls off, they will form a dense tangle of twigs, which works well when the snow begins to fall. If you prefer evergreens, you will find that they are effective hedges year-round and they do not lose their beauty during the winter. You can choose between broad or narrow-leaved hedges. You may want to combine them to create a variety lining your walkway.
| Bit of History |
Heaven sometimes hedges a rare character about with ungainliness and odium, as the burr that protects the fruit.
| —Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) |
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The advantage of using hedge plants to define property lines is that they grow to become a mass of foliage that interlocks. Therefore, you do not have to purchase the largest hedges. You can begin with small hedges let them grow to maturity and prune as you desire (remember to check what their height will be at maturity so that you buy the right size for your project). When purchasing your hedges look carefully at their root system. The larger the root systems are - the better.
It is important to remember to buy your hedges according to the size you need for your landscaping projects. If you want immediate privacy with your landscaping you may prefer to buy hedges that have reached their maturity height. To attain the desired result of creating a property line or privacy fence space your hedges approximately 18 inches apart. Remember not to plant them directly next to the house. They need ventilation so be sure to plant them up to eight feet from the house. If you are planting hedges that have not reached their mature height this may look too far away. When the hedges have matured, you will be glad that you planted them a few feet away from your home.
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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "Don't Fence Me in – A Guide to Bushes and Hedges" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by FlowersPlantsGardening.com. |
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