Good bushes for hedges
15 Best Evergreen and Flowering Shrubs for Hedges
Create Privacy With Natural Borders in Your Outdoor Space
By
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu
David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. He was in the nursery business for over a decade, working with a large variety of plants. David has been interviewed by numerous newspapers and national U.S. magazines, such as Woman's World and American Way.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 09/30/22
Reviewed by
Kathleen Miller
Reviewed by Kathleen Miller
Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and Horticulturist who shares her knowledge of sustainable living, organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens, a working sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
Fact checked by
Jessica Wrubel
Fact checked by Jessica Wrubel
Jessica Wrubel has an accomplished background as a writer and copy editor, working for various publications, newspapers and in public libraries assisting with reference, research and special projects. In addition to her journalism experience, she has been educating on health and wellness topics for over 15 years in and outside of the classroom.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
A hedge is a living wall composed of plants. Hedges can be purely decorative, primarily practical, or a combination of both. Hedge plants are either evergreen or deciduous shrubs, and they're often trimmed to precise sizes and shapes. Decorative hedges sometimes use flowering hedge plants for added visual interest. On the flip side, practical hedges that are intended for privacy screens, windbreaks, and security are often composed of densely growing and tall shrubs. They might have thorns (such as hawthorns) or prickly leaves (such as English holly).
Here are 15 plants that make a nice hedge, including flowering hedge plants and evergreen shrubs.
The Spruce
Warning
Yew, holly, and several other shrubs are toxic, so be careful when growing them if children or pets are present.
-
01 of 15
The Spruce / David Beaulieu
Japanese holly looks more like a boxwood shrub than a holly shrub, bearing small, oval leaves. Many cultivars of this broadleaf evergreen are available. For hedge plants, most people select those that reach 3 to 4 feet in height with a similar spread. While this is a hedge with white flowers, it's usually not grown for its small blooms. Instead, it is the decorative fruits that make a showy statement in the garden.
This is one of the easiest hedges to maintain, requiring a moderate amount of water though it can tolerate drought. It also can tolerate severe pruning, pollution, and poor soil.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
- Color Varieties: White flowers
- Sun Exposure: Full to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Acidic soil that drains well
-
02 of 15
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
English holly, with its prickly leaves, makes a better hedge plant than Japanese holly if you wish to combine security with aesthetic considerations. This is one type of holly that grows big enough to serve as a privacy screen (the 'Ferox Argentea' cultivar is 15 feet tall by 8 to 10 feet wide). However, note that holly berries are toxic and should be kept away from children and pets.
Like Japanese holly, this is an easy hedge to maintain. English holly has a fairly slow growth rate, so you won't have to do extensive pruning.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
- Color Varieties: Greenish-white flowers and red berries
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Well-drained, slightly acidic, fertile soil
-
03 of 15
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Sharp thorns line the barberry's branches, making it a traditional choice for security hedges. Its bright red berries persist through the cold-weather months to provide visual interest in winter. The thorns are present year-round.
Until recently, barberry had fallen out of favor in North America due to its invasive nature. But the development of new, noninvasive cultivars gives gardeners the opportunity to grow this plant without having to worry about its spread. This shrub can tolerate many growing conditions and requires little maintenance and pruning.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
- Color Varieties: Red berries; some varieties have purple foliage and yellow-orange flowers
- Sun Exposure: Full to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Well-drained soil
-
04 of 15
The Spruce / Cara Cormack
Boxwoods make a very nice hedge plant. These broadleaf evergreens were adored by aristocratic Europeans for centuries as defining elements in formal garden design. North Americans living in deer country have found a new reason to love boxwood hedges: They are deer-resistant shrubs.
Boxwoods also are straightforward to care for, especially once they're established. They require a moderate amount of water and annual fertilization. And they tend to grow in a pleasant shape without much pruning.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
- Color Varieties: Yellow-green
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Well-drained soil
-
05 of 15
The Spruce / K. Dave
The mountain laurel is another broadleaf evergreen that makes one of the best flowering hedges. It blooms in late spring to early summer with showy, colorful flowers. The pink-flowering types are the most popular.
Do not try to trim laurels as you would boxwoods. Laurels look best when they are allowed to grow into their natural mature shape.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 9
- Color Varieties: Rose, pink, white; may have purple markings
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade to full sun
- Soil Needs: Cool, rich, moist, well-drained acidic soil
-
06 of 15
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Among needle-bearing evergreens, yew bushes are perhaps the most classic hedge plants. They are popular partly because they tolerate shade. While some yews grow tall enough to serve as privacy screens, yews are slow growers. So don't expect privacy for many years.
Yew can tolerate some drought but prefers a moderate amount of soil moisture. It also should be fertilized annually. Annual pruning isn't essential due to the slow growth rate, but it can help to promote fuller, more lush growth.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8, depending on the variety
- Color Varieties: Non-flowering; dark green needles and red berries
- Sun Exposure: Sun, partial shade, or full shade depending on variety
- Soil Needs: Well-draining soil with a neutral pH
-
07 of 15
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Deciduous hedge shrubs look great while in bloom but are just so-so during the winter. Also, because they drop their leaves and stand naked for part of the year, deciduous shrubs make for less-than-ideal privacy screens. Still, lilacs can make for some of the best flowering hedge plants thanks to their pretty flowers and delicious scent.
To form a hedge with lilacs, simply plant several of them in a line, and do not fuss with making them conform to precise dimensions. They have a moderate growth rate and will fill out soon enough. If you're looking for small flowering hedge plants, there are dwarf lilac varieties available that might suit your needs.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
- Color Varieties: Lavender-blue, white, burgundy, deep purple, lilac
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Loamy soil with neutral pH
-
08 of 15
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Another deciduous shrub commonly found in hedges is the rose of Sharon. It is a valuable plant for gardeners wishing to maintain a continuous sequence of bloom because it is one of the late summer-flowering shrubs that display color during a part of the season when many other plants have already finished blooming for the year.
Rose of Sharon can be a fast-growing flowering hedge plant in conditions it likes. And if you allow it to self-seed, it can easily form a lush living wall. Pruning isn't a major task, but you can clean up its shape and remove unwanted seedlings.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
- Color Varieties: White, red, lavender, or light blue
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Rich and moist
-
09 of 15
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Forsythia bushes are among the first plants to bloom in spring. You probably will not want to prune them as meticulously as you would, say, boxwood. Most people agree that these early spring-flowering shrubs look best when they're allowed to "have a bad hair day"—i.e., grow in a fairly natural form.
If you're looking for some of the fastest growing flowering hedges, forsythia might be the choice for you. The larger varieties can gain a couple of feet per year. But there are small varieties too that might suit your needs if you're looking for shorter flowering hedge plants.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 8
- Color Varieties: Yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Well-drained
-
10 of 15
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Like mountain laurels, privets are broadleaf shrubs that put out flowers, though their white flowers are not much of a selling point. Not all varieties of privets are evergreen, and those that are don't grow in all hardiness zones. So check with your local county extension to see whether you can grow evergreen privets in your area if you're looking for an evergreen hedge. Also, ask whether they are invasive in your region.
In the right conditions, privets are fairly easy to grow. They should be watered regularly when they're starting out, but then they can tolerate some drought. They also take well to heavy pruning, so you can shape them to suit your needs.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7
- Color Varieties: White flowers
- Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun
- Soil Needs: Tolerant of a variety of soil types
-
11 of 15
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
As with privets, azaleas can be either evergreen or deciduous, but their flowers are far superior to those on privets. So if you're looking for an evergreen hedge with flowers, see which azalea varieties can grow in your area. Stewartstonian azalea has it all: Its dense branching structure makes it a good hedge plant (in contrast to the Exbury-type azalea, which has a looser branching structure). And it is a shrub that blooms in early spring and offers good fall color.
Make sure to check your individual variety's growing needs. And provide your azalea with well-draining soil, or it might suffer.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 9
- Color Varieties: Red, orange, pink, white, yellow, purple
- Sun Exposure: Partial shade
- Soil Needs: Fertile, well-drained, acidic, and kept evenly moist
-
12 of 15
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Arborvitae shrubs are a popular evergreen hedge plant. They have a dense growth habit that makes them good privacy screens or windbreaks. There are many types of arborvitae that come in various sizes, shapes, and colors. 'North Pole' and 'Emerald Green' are just about the right size for most landscapes. But 'Green Giant,' which can become 60 feet tall, is likely too big for small properties.
Pruning needs are minimal, as they grow in a nice natural shape. But you can prune annually to clean up growth and remove any broken or dead portions.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 7
- Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun
- Soil Needs: Tolerates a range of soils but prefers moist well-drained loams
-
13 of 15
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Although Canadian hemlocks grow as trees in the wild, they are often sold in shrub form for use in hedges. They are evergreen, so your hedge can provide privacy year-round.
Canadian hemlocks do well with yearly pruning. But they don't tolerate wind, drought, or high heat very well. Keep the soil moist, but ensure that it has good drainage.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
- Color Varieties: Small, yellow to light green
- Sun Exposure: Partial sun to partial shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, moist, acidic
-
14 of 15
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
The Acoma crape myrtle is a hybrid that grows smaller than the main crape myrtle species plant at around 2 to 15 feet high with a slightly smaller spread. Thus, it can make for an excellent flowering hedge with white flowers to add visual interest.
Only minimal pruning is necessary just to clean up the lower branches. You can also pinch the tips of young plants as they grow to encourage a bushier form. In addition, it's ideal to deadhead (remove the spent flowers) to encourage further blooming.
- USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9
- Color Varieties: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Well-draining
-
15 of 15
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Ninebark is a fast-growing flowering hedge plant that comes in several size varieties. You can form a small flowering hedge, or get one of the larger varieties that top out at around 10 feet high.
Ninebark can tolerate many different growing conditions, including clay and rocky soil along with drought. It’s best to prune out around a third of the older or damaged growth after the shrub flowers to improve air circulation and keep it vigorous.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 8
- Color Varieties: Pink, white
- Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun
- Soil Needs: Loamy, clay, acidic, well-drained
19 Classy Living Privacy Fences (Plus Plant Examples)
Watch Now: Tips for Selecting the Right Shrubs
Article Sources
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ilex aquifolium. NC State Extension.
Yew. Yale University.
Holly Berries. National Capital Poison Control Center.
The Invasive Japanese Barberry. Penn State Extension.
Deer. Missouri Botanical Garden.
Privet. PennState Extension.
Pruning Evergreens in the Landscape. University of Vermont Extension.
Canadian Hemlock. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.
17 Fast-Growing Shrubs for Privacy Hedges
01 of 17
Mark Turner / Getty Images
Its leaves are gone. Its berries have disappeared. Its flowers are absent. It is winter, and yet red twig dogwood still stands out. Despite having lost so many features, red twig dogwood may be at its best when nothing blocks the view of its finest feature: its signature fire-red bark color (the same applies to yellow twig dogwood, but in a different color). Looking at such a plant can lift your spirits on the gloomiest of winter days.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 7
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, fertile, moist soil
02 of 17
aga7ta / Getty ImagesThe wonderfully fragrant shrub, mock orange is rather unfortunately named for what it is not, rather than for what it is. As the "mock" in its name suggests, mock orange is not a true orange. But the citrusy smell of its white blossoms is enough to invite comparison. Another white-flowered option is doublefile viburnum.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Well-drained, loamy soil
03 of 17
vav63 / Getty ImagesLike mock orange, the traditional lilac is an olfactory treasure with fragrant flowers that you probably remember from your grandparents' yard. There are plenty of new cultivars available.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Loamy soil
04 of 17
Olga Strogonova / EyeEm / Getty ImagesThere should be a special place in your heart for forsythia bushes. When their flower buds start yellowing up, forsythia flowers herald nothing less than spring, itself. Among the bushes, they are some of the earliest spring flowers.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained soil
05 of 17
IB_photo / Getty ImagesThe branching of rock cotoneaster is stiff and dense, giving the plant a rather bristly look. Stems shoot off the branches in what is often referred to as a "herringbone pattern," a term also used in hardscaping. The bristly look is significantly softened once the red berries appear, as your attention will be drawn to their fleshy orbs. But for a privacy hedge, go with one of the taller types of cotoneaster, such as C. lucidus.
- USDA Growing Zones: 5 to 7
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained, evenly moist soil
06 of 17
nitimongkolchai / Getty ImagesBeautyberry is such a fast-growing bush that many recommend pruning it down to within a foot or so of the ground in early spring. The resulting new growth, laden with berries by autumn, is sufficiently large to make for a compelling display.
- USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 10
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
07 of 17
skymoon13 / Getty ImagesEven though ninebark was named for its bark, it is not in quite the same class as red twig dogwood. The Diablo cultivar offers something beyond an interesting bark: Dark foliage that makes it one of the so-called "black" plants.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 8
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Clay or loamy soil
08 of 17
Sviatlana Lazarenka / Getty ImagesForsythia may be one of the earliest heralds of spring, but it's not as early as pussy willow, which displays its characteristic fuzzy white catkins even before the arrival of forsythia's yellow blooms. You can also try another willow shrub that grows quickly, Flamingo Japanese willow.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 7
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
09 of 17
Supersmario / Getty ImagesLoropetalum's use is not restricted to the American Southeast, but that region may well be considered its "capital" in the New World, where it is an evergreen shrub and an immensely popular plant.
- USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 9
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained, loamy, acidic soil
10 of 17
MariuszBlach / Getty ImagesThere are many kinds of evergreen arborvitae that are used in hedges (including the relatively small 'North Pole'), and they do not all exhibit the same rate of growth. Therefore, not all arborvitaes are equally suited for use in privacy hedges. A good choice for large privacy hedges is the fast grower 'Green Giant', which can reach 50 to 60 feet tall (with a spread of 12 to 20 feet). If you want a bush that is more compact and do not mind waiting a bit longer, 'Emerald Green' arborvitae is a better option. The latter usually reaches just 12 to 14 feet tall, with a spread of 3 to 4 feet. Its foliage comes in flat sprays and, if you look closely, the needles appear covered in scales.
- USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 7
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained, loamy soil
11 of 17
Iva Vagnerova / Getty ImagesOne advantage that yews have over many similar evergreens is that these shade-tolerant plants will thrive in north-facing foundation plantings, no matter how sunlight-deprived. Yet they can be grown in full sun, too.
Warning
If you have small children, make sure they do not eat the berries: Their toxic seeds classify yew as poisonous plants.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to shade, depending on type
- Soil Needs: Well-drained soil
12 of 17
pcturner71 / Getty ImagesThis is not the poisonous plant that famously killed the Greek philosopher Socrates. No part of this tree is poisonous. Moreover, whether you think of hemlock as a tree or shrub may well depend on where you live. If you dwell in a rural area of North America, you probably know hemlock as a towering tree. But some of the finest privacy hedges in suburbia are composed of scaled-down Canadian, or Eastern, hemlocks.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 7
- Sun Exposure: Part sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, moist soil
13 of 17
Barry Winiker / Stockbyte / Getty Images
Burning bush may be the poster child for invasive shrubs in North America. It is a fast grower with a terrific fall color that ranges from red to pinkish-red. Burning bush also produces reddish-orange berries in fall. Just be aware that this is an invasive shrub and should be planted with care.
- USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Sandy, loamy soil
14 of 17
Garden fence with leylandii (Cupressocyparis leylandii) hedge. Stephen Shepherd/Getty ImagesAlso known as leyland cypress, leylandii is a hybrid of Alaskan cedar and Monterey cypress. It is an aggressive grower, capable of growing up to 3 feet per year, and it gets a bad rap for being difficult to handle. However, if you keep up with annual or semi-annual pruning, leylandii makes an excellent privacy hedge or windbreak.
- USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 10
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Needs: Clay, loamy, sandy soil
15 of 17
Elena Odareeva / Getty ImagesLike most maples, the amur maple is prized for its brilliant fall color, but it's also a fast-growing shrub that makes a great privacy hedge as well as a winter windbreak. The most popular cultivar for hedges is 'Flame', which grows in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 8. It can grow up to 2 feet per year and needs only annual pruning to keep its shape.
- USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Clay or loamy to sandy, well-drained soil
16 of 17
Martin Siepmann/Getty ImagesCherry laurel, also commonly called English laurel, is a good option for those in relatively warm climates, as it's hardy only to zones 6 to 8. In ideal conditions, it can grow up to 3 feet per year. Its glossy green leaves are evergreen and do not change color in fall. Creamy white flowering clusters bloom in spring.
- USDA Growing Zones: 6 to 8
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil
17 of 17
Nenov / Getty ImagesThe privet is the quintessential (or at least the most familiar) privacy hedge plant. It grows quickly, prunes nicely, and has flowers that lead to fruit clusters that last through the winter. While Ligustrum vulgare was once the most common type of privet planted, it has lost popularity to some of the more ornamental varieties, such as Japanese privet (L. japonicum).
- USDA Growing Zones: 7 to 10
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part sun
- Soil Needs: Well-drained, rich soil
Top 15 best hedge plants
💣💣💣 BLACK FRIDAY IN GARSHINKA !
Published:
4 years ago
386 781
1 comment
We present to your attention a selection of the best plants in our opinion for creating a living fence on your site.
1. Thuja. Evergreen tree or shrub. In the conditions of the middle lane, it can reach a height of 3 m. It is widely used to create hedges. The optimal planting distance is 80-100 cm. It can be planted in two rows in a checkerboard pattern. In a temperate climate, among the various forms of thuja, the thuja western “Smaragd” and “Emerald” feel best. Among other plants used to create hedges, thuja has its advantages and disadvantages | |
Advantages:
Drawbacks: disadvantages of arborvitae include its burnout in the bright sun, while the needles lose their decorative effect and become brown. nine0007 |
2. Juniper. Common, Cossack, virgin, scaly, and Chinese junipers are used to create hedges. All of them have their own characteristics, but their main advantages are the same: | |
Of the shortcomings of juniper, one can single out its need for good lighting. Otherwise, the bushes become loose and lose their decorative effect. Like all conifers, juniper has a rather slow growth, although this is a minus or plus for a hedge - a moot point. |
|
3. Berry yew. Evergreen coniferous plant. Great for creating a living fence and for good reason: | |
The yew has one drawback - all its parts are poisonous. |
|
4. Lawson Cypress is one of the most beautiful coniferous plants. | |
Benefits:
Disadvantages: prefers well-lit areas (goes bald in the shade), requires regular watering and spraying. nine0007 |
|
5. Derain white. Fast-growing deciduous shrub up to 3 m high. Very beautiful, retains its decorative effect even in winter, thanks to bright red shoots. Blossoms twice a season, in the fall, along with young flowers, rounded white berries appear. The shrub has many virtues , among which: | |
Perhaps the only feature of turf that can be called its disadvantage is the need for regular cutting. If this condition is not observed, the bush is exposed in the lower part, it looks sloppy. nine0007 |
|
6. Califolia vesicle. Spectacular shrub with spreading drooping branches and large ornamental leaves. It reaches a height of 3 m. With proper care, a vesicle hedge will become a real highlight of your garden. | |
Benefits:
has no defects. |
|
7. Coronal mock orange A beautifully flowering fragrant shrub up to 3 m high. It is frost-resistant and unpretentious, excellent for the conditions of the middle zone. In addition to the already listed advantages of mock orange, the following should be noted: | |
The plant has no significant shortcomings, it should only be noted that well-lit places should be chosen for planting mock orange, and the soil should not be compacted and waterlogged. nine0007 |
|
8. Spirea. A very ornamental shrub with beautiful abundant flowers. A spirea hedge can reach a height of 1.5 m. The plant has many advantages, including: |
- Lush, elegant blooms.
- Handles shearing well.
- Able to take various forms.
- By combining varieties with different flowering times, you can create a continuously flowering hedge. nine0040
- A wide range of varieties with different colors of inflorescences.
- Undemanding to soils
To maintain a neat appearance of the shrub, it is recommended to trim the faded inflorescences.
9. Thunberg barberry. Great for hedges because it: | |
The plant has its own disadvantages . For example, the presence of long sharp spines complicates the care of the shrub. With a lack of sunlight, the decorative effect of the leaves is lost. The plant propagates easily and appears where its growth is undesirable. |
|
10. Privet. Fast-growing shade-tolerant shrub up to 2-2.5 m high. The plant deserves special attention for the following reasons: | |
The only drawback of privet is poisonous fruits. Do not choose this plant if you have children. | nine0002 |
11. Cotoneaster brilliant. Densely leafy deciduous shrub up to 0.5 to 1.5 meters high. Undoubted Benefits of Cotoneaster: | |
Cotoneaster branches are fairly fast growing so regular pruning is essential to maintain the shape and attractiveness of the shrub. |
|
12. Blood red hawthorn. Unpretentious deciduous shrub, characterized by high longevity. The undoubted advantages of the plant are: | |
Irregular shearing of hawthorn can expose the underside of the bush. | nine0002 |
13. Lilac. Very ornamental flowering shrub. To create a hedge, the use of undemanding, frost-resistant, drought-resistant varieties, such as Meyer's, Amur and Hungarian lilacs, is recommended. The advantage of lilac over other shrubs is as follows: | |
disadvantages of lilac include the need for annual cutting of root shoots; a short flowering period, after which the decorativeness of the plant is significantly reduced. |
|
nine0002 14. Shrub cinquefoil. A very decorative compact shrub that blooms from early summer to autumn. The main advantages of the plant: | |
Every 4-5 years the plant needs a rejuvenating pruning. Requires watering during dry periods. nine0007 |
|
15. Hydrangea. Incredibly beautiful shrub with large leaves and very lush flowering. Paniculata and tree varieties are great for creating hedges. Hydrangea Benefits: | |
At the same time, hydrangea is rather capricious, requires frequent watering, needs shelter for the winter, and is demanding on the composition of the soil. The plant needs pruning, since flowering occurs only on the shoots of the current year. |
|
Was this article helpful to you? Share it with your friends and get bonuses for activity
nine0 shared
138 shared
Similar articles
Heal everyone, heal: remedies for the health of garden plants
For full-fledged care of the garden, it may be necessary to use only mineral and organic fertilizers. Keeping plants healthy requires many important preparations, some of which are specifically designed to control pests and diseases, and some are the usual components of a home first aid kit. nine0007
1 year ago
1 comment
Faster, brighter, earlier: the top ten primroses for the garden
There is a considerable number of primroses that can completely transform the awakening spring garden. Different cultures require different efforts from the gardener to care for them: some primroses need annual digging and transplanting, others can fully develop without transplanting for several years. Each gardener chooses primroses for his garden according to his own taste or fashion trends. nine0007
1 year ago
2 comments
Beauty Has a Name: David Austin's English Roses
Modern grades of the best English roses are created in the nursery of David Austin who managed to create such roses which combine a noble form of ancient flowers and a possibility of a repeated flowering. In addition, David Austin roses are distinguished by well-formed immunity, various bush habits and leaf color, and a rich palette of aromas. nine0007
1 year ago
0 comments
The Magnificent Ten: The Tools You Need for Gardening
There is no single strict list of tools needed for gardening: each gardener has his own individual preferences, dictating the purchase of the right garden equipment. However, each personal list of tools has its own basis, without which the formation of a garden and competent care for it is unthinkable. nine0007
1 year ago
0 comments
The retinue plays queens: the best options for companions for roses
No matter how beautiful and luxurious roses are, their unique beauty can be fully revealed not only in the case of creating monoplants, but also when other garden plants are planted next to them. Mixed compositions can reveal the attractiveness of the queens of the garden in a new way, help maintain the health of plants in the rose garden, and place unexpected accents throughout the garden space. nine0007
1 year ago
3 comments
Fast growing hedge shrubs: hardy varieties
Plants on the site can serve not only as a decorative component, but also are able to perform certain functions. Cover unsightly outbuildings, strengthen the soil or divide the territory, for example. Today we will talk about deciduous shrubs that are suitable for forming hedges. A country house hedge is a densely planted chain of plants for decoration and division of space into certain zones, to replace the traditional fence, and protect the territory from prying eyes or even protect the garden from wild animals. nine0007
Regardless of the purpose of the hedge, it is a very beautiful ornament that can transform any landscape.
Hedge Benefits:
-
As we said above, a hedge is able to divide the site into certain zones. So, for example, with its help, you can separate the central areas from the adjacent area. Or a vegetable garden area from an orchard. nine0007
-
A living wall can easily replace the fence we are used to. If you decide to delimit the territory with a non-traditional stationary fence, densely planted crops will hide your garden from prying eyes with ease.
-
If your site is already fenced, but the fence is unattractive, or maybe just old, then hedges will also come to the rescue, which will create a picturesque background. nine0007
-
The same rule applies inside the garden. By planting a dense hedge along the buildings, you can hide unattractive walls and give the overall landscape neatness.
-
By choosing deciduous crops with thorns (for example, from hawthorn) for the construction of a living wall, you can not only decorate the garden, but also protect it from uninvited guests - wild animals.
- nine0002 Dense growth of deciduous shrubs planted in a row will perfectly protect the site from the scorching sun, strong drafts
-
If recreation areas are distributed on your site, a hedge can make these corners not only cozy, but also add coolness and shade on especially hot days. A great place to hide from the hustle and bustle while reading your favorite book!
-
Of course, planted plants make the garden more presentable, add colors to it and make the air much cleaner. nine0007
-
If you choose lush flowering plants for hedges, they will become excellent honey plants and will attract beneficial insects to your garden.
-
Strengthening the soil. So that water erosion does not harm the soil cover, it is necessary to think about strengthening it. A sod slope is one of the mandatory elements in the case of a predominance of a non-uniform relief. Dense plantings of shrubs will come to the rescue in such a situation. nine0007
Having analyzed the main functions of a hedge, let's proceed to the selection of plants. Since our goal is a thick, as if revived wall, performing the tasks of zoning, protecting and hiding the garden from prying eyes, the plants must be selected at a certain height: from one and a half meters. The second criterion for choosing seedlings is that they should be fast-growing shrubs for hedges, so that in a couple of years they will create a dense, lush barrier. nine0007
Conditionally hedges are usually divided into 2 types: homogeneous and mixed. The former are created from one type of plant (a bright and dense living wall of barberry, for example), and in mixed ones several species alternate (for example, thuja, hydrangea, thuja, hydrangea, and so on).
Popular deciduous shrubs for uniform hedges:
Vesicle
A very interesting shrub that looks impressive in ordinary plantings. It is valued for its decorative leaves with carved edges, juicy color, unpretentious care and good ability to tolerate haircuts. Depending on the variety, can be created as a single color hedge, for example using a variety with red foliage "Diabolo" (Diablo), and diversify the wall with a golden representative - the bubble "Dart`s Gold" (Darts Gold). A juicy, bright hedge year after year will enchant with its decorative effect with minimal labor to care for it. nine0007
Deren
Bright, attractive and shade-tolerant woody shrub - soren. All kinds of leaf colors will allow you to easily find a variety that is attractive to you: green with a white border, dark red, golden and others. Deren perfectly tolerates any vagaries of nature, grows quickly and has a dense, dense crown. Depending on the tasks, you can create a hedge in a free-growing form, or give the turf any shape - it safely tolerates shaping haircuts. nine0717
Cotoneaster
Asking the question: “What to make a hedge from?”, Turn your attention to the cotoneaster. Spectacular representative of deciduous shrubs, changing its foliage during the season. In summer it is juicy green, and by autumn it acquires crimson hues. By the end of summer, colorful black fruits will decorate the hedge. The cotoneaster is distinguished by its unpretentiousness to growing conditions, tolerates pruning perfectly, pleases for many years with its neat, dense crown. Great option for a living wall! nine0717
Grefsheim gray spirea
Charming flowering spirea that will not leave anyone indifferent. Thin sprawling shoots, rounded openwork crown, incredibly abundant flowering, juicy green foliage. By planting a spirea in a hedge, you will effortlessly create a dense, very beautiful wall, which every year will delight, covered with snow-white flowers and exuding a magnificent aroma. Spirea is not only very beautiful, but does not require additional attention at all: it is frost-resistant, puts up with light shading, does not require frequent watering and is good for haircuts. nine0007
Hawthorn
As we said above, hawthorn is very often used specifically to protect the site from unwanted wild animals. Its spines and crown create a dense veil from strangers. And due to the average density, the hawthorn lets in enough air so that the area is sufficiently ventilated. Depending on the species and variety, hawthorn can grow up to 6 meters in height, but some representatives do not grow more than 3. Since the hawthorn has a beautiful rounded crown, it will decorate your garden even without additional haircuts. nine0007
Hydrangea
When choosing which shrub to make a hedge, take into account the magnificent hydrangea. She is able to become not only a first-class tapeworm in your garden, but also in a hedge will enchant everyone around. Dense foliage carved along the edge, neat beautiful crown and, of course, large conspicuous inflorescences densely covering each seedling. A living wall of hydrangea throughout the season will delight you with its decorative effect: in spring and autumn with juicy greenery, and in summer with incomparable flowering and aroma. nine0007
Snowberry
Another great option for creating dense, interesting hedges is the snowberry, familiar from childhood. A dense deciduous shrub with unusual bluish-green foliage and unique fruits - white or pink balls densely covering each shoot, which children so love to "slap" their feet. It is characterized by high frost resistance, unpretentiousness to the composition of the soil, watering and does not require much care.
Barberry
A favorite and often used by landscape designers to create hedges is the barberry. Its juicy neat leaves (depending on the variety and season, almost all the colors of the rainbow) form an openwork dense crown and bring color even to the most monotonous landscape. Excellent frost resistance and tolerability of haircuts make it possible to grow it in any garden. Thanks to the variety of species and varieties, every gardener will be able to choose any type of hedge: noble red, bright green, multi-colored with a frame, even and neat from shrubs with upright branches or lush thanks to spreading shoots. A variety of flowering, no less attractive fruits and foliage with a changeable color contribute to the fact that the barberry changes its appearance during the season without losing its decorative effect. nine0007
Mock orange
The mock orange looks picturesque in a hedge (many used to call it jasmine). Juicy green leaves, sprawling attractive shape, thin graceful shoots, simple or double snow-white inflorescences and, of course, an incomparable aroma. A hedge in a dacha made of mock orange is not only a unique decoration, but also a planting that is completely unpretentious in care, capable of delighting you and your neighbors for many years. nine0007
Irga
If you want to plant in your garden not only an attractive, but also useful plant in its own way, then you should stop your attention on the irga. Thanks to unusual leaves that are able to change the color of foliage from month to month (from silver-green to various crimson hues), a hedge of shadberry will be attractive at any time, adding variety to the landscape. It is beautiful in an ordinary planting and, in addition, every year pleases its owners with delicious fruits. And in the spring, the irga is covered with snow-white inflorescences, shading the juicy foliage. Suitable for planting in partial shade. nine0007
When choosing plants for a hedge, pay attention to the size of the crown of shrubs in adulthood: many of the above plants, depending on the type and variety, can create both medium (from 1.5 meters) and high walls (4-5 meters). The main thing is to choose what your garden needs and will meet the tasks.
Mixed hedges on site
Recently, mixed hedges, formed from various hardwood or coniferous species, have gained immense popularity. Such heterogeneous walls look quite impressive and, at least, unusual: they allow you to experiment with shape, color and texture, bringing zest to the landscape. nine0007
Creating a mixed hedge is not difficult: you simply plant different types of plants in a certain order. So, for example, a living wall made of arborvitae, alternating in equal intervals with colorful turf, looks spectacular. Or in an equal step blooming hydrangea with dark barberry.
Or by choosing shrubs with interesting foliage: alternate a plain dark barberry with a bright bordered turf. One of the main rules when creating mixed hedges is not to overdo it with color. Be sure to choose both monophonic species and varieties of plants, as well as bright ones, interesting for their flowering, foliage color or shrub shape. So, for example, standard forms look very interesting framed by the classical crown of neighboring plants. nine0717
The choice of plants in mixed hedges should be based on your preferences. From the above plants, you can easily build unique living walls. You can also see the types and design options for hedges in our article. "Undemanding Hedge Plants".
No matter what kind of hedge becomes the decoration of your garden, it will easily ennoble its appearance by adding elements of logic and completeness. You can buy shrubs for hedges right now on our website or come to the garden center and personally choose the types and varieties of plants from our variety on the marketplace.