Hedges are an attractive way to define the boundaries of your yard and garden. Unlike privacy fences, hedges can be used to create an almost impenetrable barrier around small or narrow lots. They also provide shelter from the sun and wind, add year round interest to the garden, and let you retain a sense of openness with your neighbors.
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The Right Hedge For Your Garden
Do you consider yourself formal or informal? Ideally, a newly planted hedge will blend in with your existing landscape. This means that the size, shape, and behavior of a hedge must be considered before purchase or planting. Hedges can be used to define a border, create a barrier, or give your garden a sense of privacy, but regardless of their purpose, they should be dense and compact, so plants with medium to fine leaves make the best hedges.
Deciduous vs. Evergreen
Deciduous hedges will give you privacy in the summer, but leave you exposed when they loose their leaves in the fall. If pruned severely over a period of time, some varieties will form dense tangles for increased winter privacy. Evergreen shrubs will retain their leaves and a privacy screen year round, but their foliage may not add as much color and interest as seasons change. Many gardeners remedy this by covering their hedges will colorful climbing plants like morning glory or clematis.
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Here are just a few of the most popular hedges and their characteristics.
Yew (evergreen): Considered the ultimate in formal hedging, it is elegant, but also slow-growing and somewhat expensive.
Leyland Cypress (evergreen): Fast growing, inexpensive and quickly makes a dense hedge when pruned properly. Needs more trimming to keep growth under control.
Lawson Cypress, Arborvitae, or Holly (evergreens): Slower growing, but all make attractive hedges when kept trimmed. Bird watchers will appreciate the birds that holly attracts.
Barberry (deciduous): Good informal ornamental hedges because of their colorful flowers and berries.
Forsythia or Flowering Quince (deciduous): Both provide plenty of colorful interest during the growing season, but lose their leaves in the fall. They are good choices for areas not requiring a year round barrier.
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Beech (deciduous): Comes in purple or green-leaved forms. Leaves turn tan/brown in the fall and remain on the hedge during the winter.
Boxwood (evergreen): Low growing, but dense. Good for low formal hedges and very adaptable.
Privet (deciduous, semi-evergreen & evergreen): Probably the most commonly grown shrubs, privets are known for their rapid growth and dense foliage.
Planting Your Hedges
Hedges are usually planted in trenches rather than holes. Other than that, the planting procedure is similar to that of ornamental trees and shrubs. (Plants should be set in the ground at their original soil levels.) Small plants intended for formal hedges should be spaced 6-8 inches apart and larger plants 18-30 inches apart. Plants used for informal or untrimmed hedges can be spaced slightly farther apart. Tall hedges that require little or no trimming, like conifers planted for tall screens, should be planted about 6 ft. apart. Staggering the plants along two rows (space the rows 2 ft. apart) will create a thicker hedge.
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Training and Trimming
Don't plant hedges if you're looking for a low maintenance landscape. Hedges need trimming, even informal hedges, so adding them to your landscape is making a commitment. The time of year to trim them depends on the type of species you're growing and the degree to which you want them to maintain a desired shape. Formal hedges generally need trimming more frequently than informal hedges (usually twice per season), but the rate at which growth occurs also depends on your growing zone.
The Formative Years:
Training by trimming during the first few years is important if you want your hedge to look good over time. Hand shears will work well for most hedge trimming jobs, but a power hedge trimmer will cover large areas more efficiently providing the plant doesn't have too large of leaves. Whichever tool you decide to use, maintain a straight line by keeping the blades parallel to the hedge while trimming.
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When first forming the shape, don't try to eyeball it. Use stakes and a heavy cord or rope as a guide. Slope the sides inward so that the hedge is wider at the base and narrower at the top. This will prevent the top from shading the lower branches and ensure all parts of the plant receive enough light. In colder climates, a pointed (informal) or narrow flat top (formal) will help prevent snow accumulation and possible breakage.
Don't let your hedges grow too tall before cutting, or your hedge will not end up well branched to the ground. Once your hedges become established, cut them back almost to the old wood each time.
haysie Silver Answer Medal for All Time! 424 Answers
April 25, 20180 found this helpful
I would get a "Leyland Cypress" (an evergreen) , it is fast growing, inexpensive, and quickly makes a dense hedge. It will need trimming quite often to keep growth under control.
cybergrannie Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
April 25, 20180 found this helpful
Just so everyone knows: Leylandii (Green) - Other Common Names: Leyland Cypress, Leylandi, Conifer Hedging
There are several different kinds of Leylandii.
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Leylandii is the fastest growing but I believe there is a lot to consider when choosing a plant for a hedge.
1). Will it grow well in your area? Lowest Temperature? Leylandii can get up to 100 feet tall and is considered a "nuisance" plant in some areas. It can also grow pretty wide if not trimmed regularly. How far away from the boundary/property line will I need to plant it to keep it from growing into my neighbor's yard? So - how much of my yard will the hedge consume?
2). Will this hedge be self-sustaining or will I need to do a lot of "up-keep"? How often does it need trimming, watering, fertilizing?
3). How many plants will I need and how much will each plant cost?
4). What type of sun/shade do I have? Which plants grow best in full sun? Partial sun? Shade?
I recently planted a hedge and it took quite a bit of research before I purchased my first plant.
here is a link that has several plants listed with a lot of information so maybe when you have time you might want to check it out.
I am looking for some ideas for "privacy plants" or "privacy shrubs" that would do well in a heavily shaded area. I just need to add some privacy along part of our yard. I am looking for something that retains some leaves during the winter; that would be perfect! I live in New England (Massachusetts).
Marty Dick Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 169 Posts
July 24, 20100 found this helpful
I used to live in Tn and we had privet hedge. It was a good distance from the house so the pollen didn't bother us. Some people trim them flat across the top and that takes the blooms away. I always let mine grow. In the fall it will have little seeds which look like tiny bunches of grapes. Cardinals love these. When it snowed I had these gorgeous red birds out there feasting on my privet "grapes". They look so pretty against the snow and green bushes. The flowers do have a very dusty pollen which might bother some people.
Hedges are an attractive way to define the boundaries of your yard and garden. Unlike privacy fences, hedges can be used to create an almost impenetrable barrier around small or narrow lots. They also provide shelter from the sun and wind, add year round interest to the garden, and let you retain a sense of openness with your neighbors.
