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7 Fast-Growing Hedges & Shrubs for Privacy

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Fast-growing hedges are always in high demand! The main uses are:

Regardless of the reason for wanting a rapidly-growing tall hedge or privacy screen, we have excellent options for any space. These varieties will grow more than 1 foot per year (some can grow up to 4 feet per year in ideal conditions). They are all well-suited to hedging, so they can also be pruned to remain tight and kept at any desired height. Some are fast growing evergreen trees for privacy, some are deciduous. These plants are fastest growing shrubs in Florida and other states. We’ve included detailed information on each with the best ways to use and maintain them.

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7 Varieties of Fast Growing Hedges

ENCOURAGING FAST GROWTH

It is important to note that, although these varieties do grow fast when compared with some other types, a big factor in the growth rate is the environment. Fast growing privacy hedge and shrubs that are stressed from lack of water, extreme temperatures, or the wrong exposure (i.e. too much sun or too much shade), will grow much slower than the typical growth rates.

If getting a tall hedge fast is important to you, you will need to make sure to do the following 5 things:

1. Choose the right hedge for the right space.

If you don’t plant your hedge in the right site, fast growing shrubs will never thrive. Full sun plants need to be planted in full sun. Plants that are borderline hardiness will be damaged each winter by frost. Water-loving varieties can’t be planted in deserts. Do your research before planting, choose a plant that suits your site, and you will be just fine. Keep in mind that a plant that tolerates both shade and sun will generally grow faster in more sun.

2. Plant your hedge at the right time.

Planting an Amur Maple hedge in the middle of July in full sun with limited supplemental water is going to set the plants back significantly. The ideal time to plant is fall, after the hedges are dormant. You can also safely plant fast growing evergreen trees for privacy through the winter in areas where the ground does not freeze hard, and spring is also a good time. Doing this for fast growing shrubs saves your work and worry and saves the plants a lot of stress.

3. Water for the first 1-2 years

Once your hedge has been in the ground for several years and has had a chance to send roots deep into the soil, it will need very little supplemental water, if any. However, it is important to provide ample water during the first 1-2 growing seasons after planting. The best way to do this is to lay a drip line along the length of your fast growing shrubs and run for an hour at a time every few days to water deeply.

4. Fertilize

Fast growing shrubs are very low-maintenance, but if you want optimum growth, applying a high-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer will help. It is best to apply in the spring right before growth begins.

5. Prune at the right times

Spring is generally the best time to prune, as this stimulates new growth and ensures that no tender new shoots will be frozen if they emerge too close to winter. Yearly pruning, although it seems counterintuitive for a fast-growing hedge, really helps create a nice, dense hedge. You’ll be glad you did it!

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FLAME AMUR MAPLE

Acer Ginnala ‘Flame’

Flame Amur Maple is our favorite deciduous fast-growing hedge. It has outstanding fall color in fiery reds, oranges, and yellows. It is very cold-hardy (down to -40ºF!) and can be grown in most parts of the US.

It can easily be grown as a hedge thanks to its multi-stemmed natural habit and can be maintained by pruning once per year. It thrives in full sun to part shade, and it is quite drought-tolerant once established.

Flame Amur Maple makes one of the best fast growing shrubs screens that provide shade in the summer and still allows light through in the winter.

ENGLISH LAUREL (CHERRY LAUREL)

Prunus Laurocerasus

English laurel (or Cherry Laurel) can make an enormous fast-growing hedge. Under the right conditions, it can grow up to 3 feet per year! It does very well in heat. It has glossy evergreen foliage and makes a very attractive large hedge with regular pruning 1-2 times per year. English laurel grows in full sun to partial shade. It tolerates a wide variety of soil types and is very drought-tolerant once established. It is smog and salt tolerant, and deer will not touch it. English laurel makes a tough-as-nails, versatile, and seriously fast-growing hedge. The perfect fast growing shrubs for large spaces where privacy is needed. The hedge is considered as one of the best fast growing evergreen trees for privacy in the USA.

SCHIP LAUREL

Prunus Laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’

Schip laurels (or Skip laurels) are a very popular shrub to use for an evergreen fast-growing hedge. They can easily make a tall and narrow hedge with pruning once per year and occasional shaping. They are fast growing evergreen trees for zone 5. It has the advantage over most other fast-growing hedge types of tolerating full sun to full shade. Schip laurels fast growing shrubs also grow well in a wide variety of soil types, is drought-tolerant once established, and is not bothered by smog or salt. It does well in heat and is cold hardy to zone 6 or even warmer parts of zone 5. Schip laurel makes a durable fast-growing hedge that is ideal for privacy and for hiding fences.

PORTUGUESE LAUREL

Prunus Lusitanica

Portuguese laurel is a stunning fast-growing evergreen hedge that works well for warm, coastal regions. It grows quickly but is easy to maintain due to its mostly spreading habit. With pruning once per year, it quickly makes a very dense hedge. Portuguese laurel thrives in warm climates and does well in drought, smog, and salt. It grows in a wide range of soils, including poor soils. It is deer-resistant. It can take full sun and partial shade. Though a little slower-growing than the English laurel or Schip laurel, Portuguese laurel makes an excellent fast-growing hedge with less maintenance required. Its thickness makes it one of the best hedges for privacy, wind-block, and noise-block. It is also perfect for hiding fences.

AMERICAN ARBORVITAE

Thuja Occidentalis

American Arborvitae is a popular plant for evergreen fast-growing hedges. It is extremely cold-hardy so it is especially useful in the Northern US. They are fast growing shrubs but easy to maintain as a clipped hedge with one pruning per year. It is low-maintenance and fairly drought-tolerant once established. It does well in urban environments. Unfortunately, deer can be a problem. American Arborvitae make a wonderful, low-maintenance, evergreen, fast-growing hedge. It works especially well as a privacy hedge.

GREEN GIANT ARBORVITAE

Thuja X ‘Green Giant’

Green Giant Arborvitae is the big exception to the rule that Arborvitae grow slowly. This hybrid Thuja typically grows 3 feet per year, with some reports circulating of it growing 5 feet in one year! If you need a fast-growing, large, evergreen Arborvitae hedge, Green Giant is a perfect choice. It will take some work to maintain if you want to keep it as a medium-sized hedge, but one pruning per year will suffice for a large hedge. Green Giant grows in full sun to partial shade and is resistant to many diseases and pests, including deer. It tolerates many soils, but consistently damp and poor-draining sites should be avoided. It grows well in the humidity of the Southeastern US. Green Giant Arborvitae is a classic fast-growing hedge. It is a popular choice for privacy and wind-breaks, and will remain healthy in many areas where other Arborvitae would struggle.

VIRESCENS WESTERN RED CEDAR

Thuja Plicata ‘Virescens’

Virescens Western Red Cedar is a wonderful fast-growing hedge for warmer regions where other Arborvitae might not thrive. It has a unique upright-branching habit and responds well to hedging. Virescens naturally grow tall and narrow, so it lends itself well to a tall privacy hedge. One pruning per year is sufficient to maintain a nice hedge. Native to the Pacific Northwest, Virescens does well everywhere that isn’t too hot or too cold. It tolerates partial shade as well as full sun, and it holds its green color all year. Deer leave it alone. Virescens Western Red Cedar is so well-suited to forming a fast-growing hedge that it requires very little maintenance. Virescens’ fast growing shrubs make a very handsome privacy hedge and hide fences well. So if you are looking for a non-toxic privacy hedge to hide ugly fence of neighbors or your breakfast area that looks ugliest like never before then this is one of the best fast growing privacy hedges to consider.

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English Laurel (Prunus Laurocerasus) - InstantHedge

Check AvailabilityWith rich evergreen foliage throughout the year and dense branches, English laurel or Prunus Laurocerasus is a popular hedge for those wanting a lush evergreen privacy screen. As it is a fast-growing shrub, English Laurel hedge makes an excellent choice for a taller privacy hedge or border.

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There are a number of immediate benefits to choosing the English laurel for your next hedge:

PRUNUS LAUROCERASUS DETAILS

The English laurel is well-suited to sunnier climates and is more drought-resistant than other shrub varieties, which makes it a popular hedging plant choice throughout the U. S.

An unpruned English laurel can reach up to 40 feet in height, but keeping it around 10 to 12 feet tall makes it a perfect backyard privacy screen.

The tiny clusters of cream-colored flowers that arrive in the spring are pleasantly fragrant and the namesake cherry-like fruit is devoured by birds in late summer.

The English laurel thrives with more direct sun in cooler climates, while it prefers some shade in more extreme heat zones.

The shrub’s large, glossy evergreen leaves are beautiful and recover easily from shearing, which makes the plant great for regular pruning.

Prunus laurocerasus is native to parts of Europe and Asia Minor, and the shrub has been a popular cultivated plant since at least 1576 and has been used in the United States since the colonial era.

As it is more salt-resistant than many other hedges, Prunus laurocerasus is popular in warmer coastal regions.

The naturally oval-shaped habit can be pruned into unique shapes, should that be desired. Other similar laurel hedge types are Schip laurel and Portuguese laurel. Also, check out more hedge types with both deciduous and evergreen options.

USDA Hardiness Zones:6 - 9
Your Hardiness Zone:

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And your zone is: Detecting...

Sun/Shade:Partial to Full Sun
Deer Resistance:Yes
Watering Requirements:Weekly, or possibly more often in extreme heat
Growth Rate:Fast
Mature Size:12’ height and 8’ width for average landscape use
Drought Tolerance:High
West Coast - Sunset Heat Zones:4 - 9 and 14 - 24
Pest/Disease Issues:
Long-term health generally unaffected by pests. Mites, borers and caterpillars are attracted to the laurel. Moderately susceptible to shot-hole, powdery mildew and root rot.

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Hedges: 18 best plants. Planting, maintenance, repair

A hedge — perhaps every owner of suburban real estate dreams of it, whether it is a summer house, a house in the village or a luxurious family estate.

In our minds, a hedge is associated with coziness, well-being, well-being and comfort. It reminds of the old estates of aristocrats or even the palaces of the nobility. Indeed, more than one generation of noblemen preferred green plantings along the perimeter of the property to high deaf fences. But why? What is so special about a hedge?

Why a hedge is needed

The architect Vitruvius, who lived and worked in Ancient Rome, owns the following phrase: "Architecture is strength, utility and beauty." A hedge is a symbiosis of landscape art with architecture, so Vitruvius' postulate applies to this structure as well.

The benefits of green fencing are obvious. It reliably hides the site from prying eyes, gives privacy, which is so necessary for a person in our time. In addition, the hedge provides good protection. Of course, it cannot be compared with a high brick or iron fence, but a rare thief will be able to get through the dense thorny thickets. And if you try (plant plants of different heights in several rows and add details made of stone or metal), the hedge will become a very reliable bastion around the family estate.


In addition, sometimes a green fence is formed from fruit-bearing trees and shrubs, which means that it can serve two purposes at once - and protect the site from uninvited guests, and give an excellent harvest.

The beauty of the hedge is also beyond doubt. This is not a blank brick wall or, even worse, a fence made of ugly sheet material. This is a real landscape composition, organically inscribed in the site, which is a real pleasure to admire. And if you consider that a hedge may well be blooming, its beauty increases several times.

And finally, strength. It is difficult to argue with the statement that nature always takes its toll. Plants, like all living things, cling to life. They grow and develop in the most seemingly difficult conditions. But the creations of man from time to time, as a rule, are destroyed. This means that a hedge can last you much longer than a fence made of artificial materials, and can please even your grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

What are hedges

Well, let's move on to practice. Before planting a hedge, you need to find out what they are.


All plant fences are divided into several types: by height, by composition and arrangement, by planting technique.

Hedges can be divided into three types according to their height:

In terms of composition, hedges differ in:

According to the device, live fences are:

Depending on the type of care, the hedges are divided into:

Perennials (trees and shrubs) for hedges

What plants are best for hedges? Perhaps, each owner of a suburban area will easily answer this question - perennial and unpretentious. Planting a hedge every year is pointless, so you need to use species that live more than two years.


Unpretentiousness (undemanding of the plant to the soil, watering, fertilizing and other care) is an equally important factor. Usually hedges occupy a vast area and are composed of tens or even hundreds of plants. It is difficult to care for everyone, therefore, to create a green fence, you need to select the least capricious representatives of the kingdom of Flora.

Frost resistance is an important factor. The hedge should winter well without requiring shelter, and in the spring it should be reborn to life again without additional help.

Other hedge qualities are optional. Each owner of a suburban area selects them for himself. Whether he wants the plants to be flowering or evergreen, to grow quickly or to bear fruit, bringing additional benefits, there is a suitable species for every situation.

Fruity

We all love two things in one. The same applies to plants. Agree, a rich harvest on a hedge is a very pleasant bonus for a gardener. In addition, this way you can save the landing area, which is always lacking.


Here are a few plants that will not only serve as a hedge, but will also please you with a good harvest:

Ezhemalina (boysenberry) is a hybrid of raspberries, blackberries and Logan berries. This plant is unpretentious, winter-hardy and high-yielding (from one bush you can get up to 7 kilograms of berries). Blackberry berries have a pleasant sweet and sour taste and contain a large amount of vitamins.

Excellent hybrid for hedges. The shrub, whose height reaches 1. 5-2 meters, is densely pubescent with bright green foliage. It does not spread, bears fruit until the very frost, and the prickly branches of the blackberry are an excellent natural obstacle for uninvited guests.

[!] Advice from experienced gardeners. Additionally, strengthen the thickets of raspberry with a chain-link mesh. Growing through the cells of the grid, the hedge of the cranberry will become a truly impregnable barrier.

Irga , a relative of wild rose and apple, is undeservedly deprived of the attention of gardeners, but in vain. This shrub, firstly, is beautiful: a dense crown, dark green oval leaves, exquisite white or cream flowers. And secondly, it's useful. Irga has incredibly durable wood, but most importantly, it gives tasty and healthy fruits. They look like miniature gray apples, ripen in the middle of summer and contain a large amount of substances useful to humans.

This shrub is excellent for fruit-bearing hedges. He is unpretentious and winter-hardy. The plant is not demanding on the soil (it does not like only swampy soils), it is not afraid of pests and diseases, it develops rapidly, easily tolerates the formation of a crown. Irgi roots are able to grow several meters deep into the ground, which means that the shrub is stable and durable.

Edible honeysuckle — shrub a little more capricious than shadberry. It does not tolerate heat well and grows mainly in the Far East and Eastern Siberia. However, this plant has many advantages - it bears fruit the very next year after planting, as a rule, gives a good harvest, and its dark blue oblong fruits, sweet and sour in taste, are a real storehouse of vitamins and elements.


Fruits of edible honeysuckle are used to make compotes and preserves, they are frozen and dried, juice is squeezed out.

[!] Advice from experienced gardeners. Do not confuse edible honeysuckle with real honeysuckle (wolfberry). Although the wolfberry is very decorative, its fruits are poisonous and not suitable for harvesting.

Edible honeysuckle is perfect for low hedges. The shrub reaches a meter in height. It is branched, densely pubescent with leaves, lends itself well to pruning to the desired shape. To make the hedge taller, honeysuckle can be planted in a pair with other, larger species, such as willow.

Barberry is another representative of the kingdom of Flora, which is perfect for creating a fruit hedge: low, medium or high (depending on the variety and species, the height of the barberry varies from 50 centimeters to 2 meters).


Sour-tasting barberry berries, however, are widely used in cooking - as a seasoning or raw material for all kinds of jams, jams or compotes. In addition, barberry is incredibly rich in vitamins and is even considered a medicinal plant.

Barberry is perfect for hedges. Its thorny branches reliably protect the site from the penetration of strangers, dense foliage remains incredibly beautiful almost all year round (rich green in spring and summer, purple-purple in autumn), flowers in racemes, similar to small bells, are very fragrant. Now many varieties of barberry with variegated (variegated) leaf color have been bred, so any gardener can create an interesting landscape composition from barberry. Barberry is not picky about soil, lighting and top dressing, it grows well, it is frost-resistant - in a word, it is an ideal candidate for the title of the best plant for hedges.

Currant is not yet very popular as a hedge plant. Perhaps this is due to her short stature or the tendency to expose the lower parts of the branches, which does not look too elegant. However, by choosing the right variety, you can create a good green fence from this fruit shrub.

Firstly, currants for hedges should be sufficiently tall, bushy and compact (not prone to decay), and secondly - unpretentious and frost-resistant. One of the most popular types of currants that can form a green barrier is golden currant. It can reach two meters in height, drought-resistant, frost-resistant enough. Another undoubted advantage of the golden currant is the beautiful dense foliage, bright green in summer and red-carmine in autumn.

Dwarf apple trees with a spreading crown are hard to find. Such varieties are quite rare on the market. In addition, they need careful care - from spring top dressing and pruning to winter insulation of trunks. However, in skillful hands, dwarf apple trees turn into a charming and, most importantly, fruit-bearing hedge.

Of course, these are not all fruit trees and shrubs that are suitable for use as hedges. In addition to those described above, gardeners often plant sea buckthorn, blackthorn, chokeberry, cherry plum, bird cherry along the perimeter of the plot. And lemongrass and actinidia, berry vines with woody stems are placed on wooden or metal supports.

Decorative and blooming

Flowering hedge - what could be more beautiful?

Not to look at a blank fence, but to enjoy the beauty of nature is the dream of any gardener. And this dream is quite real, you just need to choose the right plants.

Lilac . Who among us does not know and does not love this magnificent flowering shrub? Lilac is a symbol of spring, May, a messenger of renewal and hope.


As a hedge, lilac is used quite often, because in spring, during flowering, it looks unusually impressive, and in summer and autumn, dense greenery reliably hides the area from prying eyes. The only drawback of adult plants is the tendency to expose the lower part of the trunk. In this case, in order to remove the gaps, companion perennials, such as hydrangea, can be planted in the lower tier.

Mock orange is a shrub with beautiful white flowers that bloom in early June, very undemanding. It is not picky about soil, watering and top dressing, it is able to withstand fairly severe frosts.

To date, a considerable number of mock orange varieties have been bred, which differ in flower size and leaf color. Among them there are variegated (variegated), which, of course, is an additional argument to choose a mock orange for a hedge.

Forsythia is not yet so common in our gardens, but in vain. This shrub begins to bloom first, almost immediately after the snow melts in the spring. Spectacular yellow inflorescences attract attention and greatly decorate the area that is bare after winter.

Forsythia is one of the most popular perennial hedges. The plant is not demanding to care and lends itself perfectly to formative pruning.

[!] Advice from experienced gardeners. For cultivation in the middle lane, choose frost-resistant types of forsythia - hanging, intermediate and oval.

Kampsis , a creeping plant with stems that become woody over time, is probably familiar to all residents of southern cities. Its large, bright orange or yellow flowers, similar to small suns, are unusually decorative. In the south, campsis is quite suitable for the role of a hedge. The only requirement is to put a few supports along which the vine could curl. In more northern latitudes, kampsis usually does not bloom and requires shelter for the winter.

spray or climbing roses are a real luxury in any garden, and rose hedges are the pinnacle of gardening. It is not so easy to grow them (like any beauty, a rose is unusually capricious), but if it really worked out, the envy and admiration of the neighbors are guaranteed.

Evergreen and deciduous

What kind of plants for green fencing is preferable - deciduous, exposing the site in winter, or evergreen, those that retain a dense crown at any time of the year? There is no definite answer to this question. The only criterion that, perhaps, makes sense is the length of stay in a country house.

If you stay in the country for the winter, it is better to choose evergreen conifers, although you will not see beautiful flowering, and, moreover, edible fruits. In the case when the summer season begins in spring and ends in autumn, preference should be given to deciduous, but incredibly beautiful shrubs and trees.


There is a third option - to pick up evergreen non-coniferous species, which are not so few.

Cotoneaster , a deciduous or evergreen shrub, similar to quince, although actually a close relative of rose and dog rose. It blooms beautifully, some species have edible fruits, but this is not the main value of cotoneaster.

Thanks to its branching, dense foliage and developed root system, the shrub is especially good for hedges. It is easy to cut and looks very neat on the site.

[!] Advice from experienced gardeners. Cotoneaster develops rather slowly. Keep in mind, a hedge from young seedlings of this plant will not reach the desired height and density soon.

Privet are evergreen and deciduous shrubs that are the most popular hedge material in Europe.

This plant is not demanding on watering, shade-tolerant. Privet is very easy to form (even a novice gardener can handle it). The only caveat is the frost resistance of the genus. Privet is a southern plant, so in the middle lane you can grow almost the only species - common privet.

Euonymus is not yet very popular with our gardeners, and in vain. This deciduous or evergreen shrub is perfect for creating a hedge. It is unpretentious, grows quickly, lends itself well to shearing, is densely covered with shoots and green foliage, therefore it has a very decorative appearance.

Two types of euonymus, warty and European, are hardy. They easily withstand temperate winters. The only thing to remember when planting the euonymus is its poisonous properties. Berries should never be eaten, and pruning and transplanting are best done with tight gloves.

Laurel Cherry is an evergreen shrub with round fruits resembling cherries and oblong deep green leaves resembling laurels.


In the south, cherry laurel is one of the most popular hedge plants. It is not exacting to watering, is steady, easily breeds. The dense greenery of the shrub reliably hides the site from prying eyes. In addition, cherry laurel has medicinal properties, and the fruits of some species are edible. True, do not forget that the bones of the bush are poisonous. In the middle lane and in the north, cherry laurel freezes out, so it is not suitable for hedges.

Willow , or rather some of its shrub-like species (purple, goat, whole-leaved, creeping, spear-shaped), is the best suited for hedges in areas of northern and temperate latitudes. Willow is unpretentious and does not require complex care. It grows quickly and looks very impressive in any landscape composition.

Fir , as a rule, a tree reaching a considerable size (up to 80 meters in height), however, some dwarf forms may well be used as the basis for a hedge (Korean fir "Compacta", "Inga", one-color "Compacta ”, subalpine “Compacta”, etc.). The main value of fir for decorative landscaping is its evergreen attire and durability (some species live up to 200 years). True, fir grows slowly, and some species are not resistant to frost.

Thuya is a genus to which many species of evergreen conifers belong. Recently, some of them have become almost the most popular material for creating hedges in our country.


Thuja really has many advantages. It is moisture-loving, but tolerates dryness, prefers light, but is shade-tolerant, undemanding to the soil and, as a rule, resistant to frost. This plant is decorative all year round, and its dense greenery is a reliable obstacle to uninvited guests. The only nuance when using thuja as a hedge is the correct choice of species and variety. Tall varieties with a bare lower part of the trunk are not suitable, but undersized varieties with a spherical crown will fit into the landscape as well as possible.

[!] Advice from experienced gardeners. If there is money, it is better to buy and plant already adult thujas. Young plants develop for a very long time.

Plants not suitable for hedges

What should be the first plants for hedges? Perennial, medium high (from 50 centimeters to 2-3 meters), quite unpretentious. There are many of them, but not all of them are suitable for green fencing. Some species require too complex care, which, of course, is quite feasible, but it will take a lot of time and effort from the owner of the site.

Subject to diseases and pests. Some ornamental species that would seem to be excellent perimeter protection are favorite food for a wide variety of insects and pathogens. For example, viburnum. This beautiful shrub suffers from a number of pests (viburnum leaf beetle, viburnum leafworm, aphids and gall midges), so growing it is an extremely troublesome task.

Freezing. In order to avoid unpleasant surprises in the form of frozen bald spots in the green hedge in spring, you should pay attention to the frost resistance of plants. For each climatic zone, there are species that have long been tested by gardeners, which should be planted around the perimeter of the site.

Growing uncontrollably. Some perennials (field ash, certain types of shadberry, wild rose) have an unpleasant property - they give a lot of root shoots, which quickly occupy the entire free area. Such plants must be carefully monitored - several times a year to carry out sanitary pruning.

Slow growing. Another opposite is plants that live long but grow very slowly (many types of conifers). They can take years to mature. The way out is not to use such species as a hedge or to buy adult specimens.

How to plant and care for a hedge

To make a beautiful, healthy and long-lasting hedge, it must not only be planted correctly, but also carefully looked after. Let's look at the main points that you should pay attention to.

Planting

Once the plants required for the hedge have been purchased and delivered to the site, planting begins. Planting depth depends on the root ball (should be specified depending on the species), watering and fertilizer are standard (before planting, the bottom of the pit should be spilled with water, some compost should be covered, then another watering after the plants are planted).

[!] Advice from experienced gardeners. Dig not individual planting holes, but a trench. Thus, the planting depth will be the same for all plants, and the work will take less time and effort.

Another important nuance is the distance between individual plants. For each type there are recommended norms, which, if we are talking about hedges, it is advisable to reduce by 20%. This will result in a denser green fence.

Pruning

To keep the hedge looking nice and tidy, it needs to be trimmed several times a year:

[!] Advice from experienced gardeners. Some types of conifers do not tolerate radical pruning. They need to be cut very carefully - no more than a third of the length of the branch in small sections in several approaches on a dry sunny day.

Repair of a hedge

A hedge can lose its decorative effect for several reasons:

Such a fence, of course, will not only cease to please the eye, but will also not fulfill its main function - protecting the site from uninvited guests. However, there is a way out - repair.

Plant a row of low-growing perennials in front of the hedge to cover the bare trunks of tall trees or shrubs. They will hide the gaps. In addition, the lower gaps can be masked with decorative tubs (and every year beautifully flowering annuals are planted in them) or low lattice structures, along which vines can be planted.


If damage to the plant results in a gap that covers the entire length of the hedge, proceed a little differently. The easiest way is to replace the dead specimen with a new one, preferably of the same type, age and height. In the case when such an option is not possible, the hole can be closed with a new plant, for example, flowering or coniferous in a series of decorative foliage, thus creating an interesting landscape composition.

Another option is to build a decorative column in place of the missing plant, along which to put a vine, a lantern, a sculpture or a bench. That is, to dilute the green hedge with a man-made element, which, moreover, can perform a very practical function.

In general, there is nothing to worry about damaging part of the hedge. This problem is easily solved by quite affordable means.
***
Growing a green hedge and caring for it is not at all difficult, but how many wonderful emotions this island of wildlife can give. So maybe it's time to abandon boring monotonous fences and replace them with real beauty? Well, the choice is yours.



Top 15 best hedge plants

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4 years ago

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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:

  • Endurance. Not demanding on lighting, frost and heat resistant, feels good in urban environments.
  • Tolerates shearing well. Thuja is distinguished by strong branching, forms a dense fence, takes any shape.
  • Possesses volatile properties.

Drawbacks:

disadvantages of arborvitae include its burnout in the bright sun, while the needles lose their decorative effect and become brown.

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:

  • Creates a fairly tight enclosure.
  • Drought resistant.
  • Not picky about the soil.
  • The needles do not crumble.

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:

  • Excellent shear tolerance.
  • Forms shoots even on old wood.
  • Long-lived and slow growing.
  • Hardy.
  • Drought resistant.
  • Forms bright red decorative fruits.

The yew has one drawback - all its parts are poisonous.

4. Lawson Cypress is one of the most beautiful coniferous plants.

Benefits:

  • Forms a dense dense conical crown.
  • Very decorative bluish-green needles.
  • Undemanding to soil fertility.
  • Quite resistant to diseases and pests.

Disadvantages: prefers well-lit areas (goes bald in the shade), requires regular watering and spraying.

5. Derain white. A 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:

  • Decorative throughout the year.
  • Foliage turns a variety of hues in autumn.
  • It lends itself well to shearing, able to take various forms.
  • Not picky about conditions.
  • Heat and winter hardy.
  • Adapted to urban conditions.
  • Fast growing.
  • Does not need additional feeding.

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.

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:

  • Variety of colors available to create interesting combinations.
  • Undemanding to the soil.
  • Drought resistant.
  • Very unpretentious in care.
  • Even a novice gardener can handle pruning.
  • Grows fast to form a solid wall.
  • Heat and frost resistant.
  • Not affected by diseases and pests.

has no defects.

7. Crown 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:

  • Bright green foliage.
  • Relatively small shrub width.
  • The ability to quickly recover even after heavy pruning.

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.

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:

To maintain a neat appearance of the shrub, it is recommended to trim the faded inflorescences.

9. Thunberg barberry. Great for hedges because it:

  • Unpretentious and adapts easily to various conditions.
  • Very decorative, changes its appearance throughout the season: bright green bushes in summer turn into a noble red color in autumn, the bush is covered with small red berries.
  • Able to create a dense enclosure.
  • Good for cutting.

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:

  • Grows well, creating an impenetrable wall.
  • Perfectly gives in to a hairstyle, taking any form.
  • Undemanding to growing conditions.
  • Winter hardy.
  • Does not require watering.
  • Not damaged by diseases and pests.

The only drawback of privet is poisonous fruit. Do not choose this plant if you have children.

11. Cotoneaster brilliant. Densely leafy deciduous shrub up to 0.5 to 1.5 meters high. Undoubted Benefits of Cotoneaster:

  • Decorative throughout the season.
  • Resistance to adverse conditions (drought, frost, waterlogging).
  • Not picky about soil.
  • Feels good in urban environments.
  • Possesses volatile properties.
  • It lends itself well to a haircut, taking any shape.
  • The fruits are not poisonous.

Cotoneaster branches are fairly fast growing so regular pruning is essential to keep the shrub shaped and attractive.

12. Blood red hawthorn. Unpretentious deciduous shrub, characterized by high longevity. The undoubted advantages of the plant are:

  • Resistance to adverse conditions (drought, frost, shading).
  • Undemanding to soils.
  • High shoot forming ability.
  • Handles shearing and shaping well.
  • Creates a dense, impenetrable fence over time.
  • Easily propagated by cuttings.

Irregular shearing of hawthorn can expose the underside of the bush.

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:

  • Feels good in urban environments.
  • Drought tolerant.
  • Not damaged by diseases and pests.
  • Good for cutting.
  • Winter-hardy, but can freeze slightly in severe winters.

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.

14. Shrub cinquefoil. A very decorative compact shrub that blooms from early summer to autumn. The main advantages of the plant:

  • Unpretentiousness.
  • Winter hardiness.
  • Ability to grow in urban environments.
  • Good for cutting.
  • Long flowering.
  • Variety of varieties with different colors.

Once every 4-5 years the plant needs rejuvenating pruning. Requires watering during dry periods.

15. Hydrangea. Incredibly beautiful shrub with large leaves and very lush flowering. Paniculata and tree varieties are great for creating hedges. Hydrangea Benefits:

  • Long flowering period.
  • Variety of colors.
  • Large leaves and lush inflorescences.
  • Suitable for slightly shaded areas.
  • Grows well in acidic soils.

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.

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