The main sign of modern holiday villages is tall metal fences made of corrugated board. Every self-respecting country holiday lover will certainly have a question: how to isolate oneself from neighbors in the country? The desire to hide from prying eyes is quite natural. However, is it worth it to install a blank fence for this, so that the eye constantly rests on this monumental structure, instead of admiring the beauty of the surrounding nature?
Disadvantages of a metal fence
Installing a blind fence in a small area immediately disrupts the natural ventilation and heat exchange system. In summer it gets a few degrees hotter, and in winter it gets a few degrees colder. It will be almost impossible to hide this unaesthetic design by planting plants next to it. It is difficult to find a culture that can withstand the proximity of metal heated in the sun in the summer. And the solid shadow from this "furnace" does not contribute to the cultivation of green spaces. On a small plot, where every square meter of area is worth its weight in gold, a "right of way" is formed next to such a fence, which some people usefor arranging a compost heap or storing all sorts of rubbish, “so that the place does not disappear”, which does not improve the appearance of the summer cottage at all. In addition, in some country associations, the height of the fence is regulated by the charter, so it is simply forbidden to use corrugated board as a fence. In this case, how to isolate oneself from neighbors in the country according to the law?
An alternative to a metal fence
In order not to suffer from the shortcomings of a solid metal fence, you need to make it in the form of a picket fence or from a chain-link mesh. Through them, the sun shines through, and the breeze blows. But they are not a hindrance to prying eyes. What to do? How to isolate oneself from neighbors in the country house beautifully and profitably? For these purposes, there is a hedge. It can serve at the same time to delimit the site into zones, to protect it and for aesthetic pleasure. A hedge can be created from trees, shrubs, as well as grasses and vines, which complement and decorate more durable fence options. They will help you understand how to isolate yourself from your neighbors in the country with a hedge, the photos used in this article.
Types of hedges
There are hedges in height:
- Low, or borders, up to one meter high.
- Medium, up to three meters high. Shrubs and low trees are used to create them.
- Living wall. It is a hedge over three meters high, made up of trees that can easily be sheared.
By width or row, all hedges are divided into
- Single row. In them, plants are planted in one row at the same distance from each other.
- Double row. The plants are planted in two rows, usually in tiers.
- Multi-row. Plants are planted in several rows, usually in a checkerboard pattern, taking into account the distance from the trunks and crowns in the future. Often cascading.
Hedges can be either free-growing or cut (formed). This must be taken into account when deciding how to fence off neighbors in the country with plants. If you decide to choose the second option, the plants for such a hedge should be chosen from those that tolerate shearing well and have a dense, dense crown. Depending on what cultures the hedge is made up of, it can be curly, flowering, evergreen or deciduous. In addition, hedges are divided into:
- Single-breed - consisting of plants of the same species.
- Combined - formed from different types of plants.
- Tapestry - plants are intertwined in them.
Pros and cons of hedges
When planning how to fence off neighbors in the country, you need to take into account all the advantages and disadvantages of each type of fence. The undoubted advantages of hedges include:
- nice appearance;
- protection of the summer cottage from soil erosion and from the effects of strong winds;
- moisture retention in the soil;
- protection from the heat in the summer.
Disadvantages of hedges include:
- the need to care for plants, their components (watering, fertilizing, cutting, disease and pest control);
- they take up quite a lot of space, taking away the precious usable area of the suburban area;
- it takes time for the plants that make up them to grow to the right size, and the fence takes on the intended form.
However, the last drawback is easily overcome by using fast-growing stands for the fence. How to isolate oneself from neighbors in the country quickly? An excellent option is thorny bushes that create an insurmountable barrier for uninvited guests and animals. And if these shrubs are also fruit-bearing, you get a double benefit - not only protection, but also a harvest of tasty, he althy berries.
Kizil
How to isolate oneself from neighbors in the country? The photo below shows examples of shrub hedges.
The best option for outdoor fencing is dogwood. This unpretentious shrub with a height of two to five meters is not afraid of shade. It has beautiful flowers, leaves and fruits, so this hedge is pleasing to the eye throughout the summer season. In addition, dogwood fruits are edible and have medicinal properties. Dogwood blossoms for two weeks in March-April, then leaves appear. Differs in plentiful fruiting. Prefers neutral soil, but feels good enough under any conditions. Shrubs under the age of two years are chosen for the barrier device. They are planted in spring or early summer. Can be planted in autumn, but no later than three weeks before the onsetfrosts, it is necessary to remove the leaves. To protect against frost, autumn seedlings are covered with dry leaves.
Barberry
This thorny bush creates an insurmountable barrier to unwanted visitors. It is able to grow on any soil, is not afraid of drought, but does not tolerate stagnant water in the soil. Serves as a decoration of the site, especially during periods of flowering and fruit ripening. The fruits are used for homemade preparations. The height of the barberry hedge can be adjusted by planting low-growing or tall varieties.
Kalinoleaf vesicle
How to isolate oneself from neighbors in the country? In the photo below - viburnum vesicle.
Pay attention to this unpretentious shrub with a lush rounded crown. It can grow both in the sun and in the shade (in this case, the leaves lose their rich color). Well suited for hedges growing along roads. For planting, container seedlings are taken, which can be planted throughout the warm period of the year. For a year, the vesicle grows up to three meters in height. The shrub is frost-resistant and does not require shelter for the winter, drought-resistant, tolerates a haircut well and does not get sick.
Turn
Are you planning to isolate yourself from your neighbors at the dacha with a hedge? Pay attention to the turn. This thorny shrub is unpretentious, caring for it does not take much time. It grows to a height of up to three meters, while it does not need careful pruning. The hedge of thorns is absolutely impenetrable, and in the spring, during the flowering period, it pleases the eyebeautiful appearance and pleasant almond aroma. In the autumn, fruits suitable for food ripen on the bushes, and they are also used as a medicine. To make the shrub grow faster, when laying the hedge, it is cut to 15 cm. And to make the hedge thicker, the pruning can be repeated next year, and in the future just maintain the required height.
Plants on supports
How to isolate oneself from neighbors in the country with a picket fence or a chain-link fence? To do this, you can use climbing plants with good decorative properties. They will not protect the site from the penetration of unwanted guests, but they will hide it from prying eyes. Climbing plants are annual and perennial. They are densely sown next to the support. Annuals are updated annually. Most often, kobe, ornamental beans, morning glory (twisted panych), sweet peas, nasturtium and other plants are used to create such a hedge. Intertwined with each other, they form a continuous flowering panel, the height of which depends on the species composition of the selected plants. How to isolate oneself from neighbors in the country with the help of climbing perennials? Consider the most popular options.
Climbing roses
Such a hedge is very beautiful during the flowering period, which lasts from June until the onset of frost. Thanks to the thorns and the interlacing of the branches, it is an insurmountable barrier. Roses do not like stagnant moisture, so it is not recommended to plant them where groundwater lies close to the surface. They lay a fence of roses in the fall, and make out the appearance for the second yearafter landing. Do this by tying plants. Horizontal garter causes branches to grow in height, vertical garter causes the formation of many shoots.
Clematis
Very beautiful throughout the warm season. To form a hedge, choose bushes no older than two years of age, which are planted in the fall. Clematis grow best in open areas. The plant is rather capricious, it does not tolerate:
- high acidity soils;
- overabundance of moisture;
- peat and manure as fertilizer.
In the heat, clematis must be protected from overheating by mulching the soil with humus. For abundant flowering plants need pruning. And for the winter, bushes should be covered, since their root neck often freezes out. Although more difficult to care for, clematis are very popular due to their excellent decorative qualities.
Honeysuckle
Very beautiful shrub up to six meters high. Different varieties of honeysuckle differ in colors of a wide variety of shades - yellow, orange, pink and red. The combination of these colors makes a honeysuckle hedge just gorgeous. Honeysuckle looks great in combination with climbing roses. Caring for such a fence is quite simple. In the first five to seven years, she will only need sanitary pruning, later she will need to form a hedge crown. Honeysuckle fruits can be eaten.
Ivy and grapes
These plants look beautiful on a support thanks to their foliage, which grows densely, protecting the site from dust and prying eyes. Such hedges can be formed from different varieties of plants. Ivy does not have special requirements for soil and pruning. It should be remembered that it tolerates shade quite easily, but with very strong shading it loses foliage. Ivy does not like scorching sunlight and drying out of the soil.
The leaves of girlish grapes turn into various shades of crimson in autumn, creating an unforgettable picture of beauty, contrasting brightly with the yellow-green tones of the surrounding foliage. It should be noted that the support for it must be very strong and stable.
Fast growing trees
How to isolate oneself from neighbors in a country house without a fence? The best way to do this is to plant trees around the perimeter, the fastest growing of which is eucalyptus. To create a hedge, the varieties Gunni, Lemon and Small-flowered are recommended. They do not impose special requirements on the soil, are quite drought-resistant and tolerate pruning well. It is better to cover them for the winter.
Willow is a very beautiful tree that grows fast. It is undemanding to the composition of the soil, but loves moisture very much. For fencing, you can use undersized and dwarf species - goat willow, purple willow, which are the most suitable for this.
Aspen is a picky tree that will grow on any soil. To create a hedge, shoots no older than a year are used. Their branches are intertwined with each other, creating an impenetrable barrier. The desired height is achieved by trimming, as a resultwhich appears a lot of overgrowth, which increases the density of the hedge.
