Articles on Hedges | Topics: hedges, hedge, bushes, bush
by Isaiah Tate
If you are looking for a less formal hedge, you should look at plants that are free flowing. They are different from the formal boxwood shrubs; free-flowing plants are not as shapeable.
Some beautiful plants can be clipped into hedges and screens. Flowering or foliage color, which fits best into your landscape plans for your lawn? You can choose hedge plants that will range from two to three feet tall, all the way up to 20 feet. You will want to choose plants that will give you the desired effect or appearance, fit in the space available and adapts to sun or shade. Several types of shrubs can be mixed to form a hedge with various flowering plants. We're going to look at the five best plants for free-flowing hedges. Following are some recommendations for beautiful hedges made of hedge plants. Forsythia, Lilac, Spirea, Barberry, and Azaleas are among the top five.
Forsythia bushes are one of the first signs of spring. They are a deciduous shrub and blossom in the early spring. They are fast growing shrubs that have an upright and arching form. They have beautiful, vibrant yellow flowers and herald the coming of spring. Forsythia plants grow best in full sun and a well-drained soil. They are beautifully decorative and are often used as a living wall for summer and fall. Forsythia bushes are also used for erosion control on slopes. Walking in my neighborhood I see the beautiful yellow flowers and know that spring is here. Pruning is not compulsory and the plant can go several years without pruning. The best time to prune is just after their flowering in the spring. Prune ¼ to 1/3 of the oldest branches right down to the ground. This encourages new growth in your plant. Annual pruning is not mandatory but if you choose to prune, after flowering is the best time as it is easier to tell which the newest branches are. Only the older branches will have had blooms.
Lilac Bushes are my favorite flowering bushes to see in the spring. I love the soft scent it puts out and have one growing right beside my deck and the swing I like to set in. These are also deciduous shrubs and heights vary, but the most common reaches a height of about six feet. Wedgwood blue and soft purple are the primary colors in rich thick clusters. They bloom in late spring and are said to have the most unforgettable aroma in the world. The leaves are dark green, but lilacs are planted for their flowers and aroma and not their foliage. Lilac bushes prefer full sun and a rich well-drained soil. The soil should also have a neutral pH. Pruning should be done after blooming for good air circulation and cut dead flowers off when they are done blooming. This will promote even more flowering the following year. I think nothing beats the sweet smell of lilacs in the spring.
| Bit of History |
Faster than fairies, faster than witches,
Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches;
And charging along like troops in a battle,
All through the meadows the horses and cattle;
| —Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) |
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Spirea is another choice for free-flowing shrubs. It can range in size from two foot to six foot; one of the most popular is the Japanese Spirea. Leaf colors range from chartreuse, blue-green, bronze, red, orange and burgundy. It produces clusters of pink flowers that are at the tips of wiry branches. The Japanese Spirea leaves will turn either a beautiful red or rusty gold in the fall. This kind of Spirea will grow in almost any soil including soil that is more alkaline. Spirea will grow in partial shade but full sun will promote better flowering and better leaf color. It does best in climates that have distinct winters, which makes it a good choice for the Midwest.
Barberry shrub variations are many. Japanese barberry is a hardy shrub with thorns and beautiful yellow flowers. It can grow to about nine feet in height and spread up to eight feet. Flowering begins in mid April and continues to flower through the winter. Barberries will grow both in full sun or partial shade and in most any soil type. Pruning is needed to keep it in good shape and should be done immediately after it flowers or in later winter. Both male and female plants should be kept together to produce ornamental berries.
Azalea is another popular flowering shrub. They're over 800 species with over 10,000 named varieties. They have brilliant colors such as white, pink, opal, red, watermelon pink, snow-white, orchid, and lavender. Azaleas need to be fed regularly for maximum growth. Immediately after blooming, again June 1, again in August and the middle of September is the best time to fertilize.
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