Traditional fences made of materials such as mesh or picket fence reliably protect the site not only from prying eyes, but also from uninvited guests. However, they rarely fit harmoniously into the landscape. What can be used as a fence? Of course, a living fence! Today we offer to talk about how to choose shrubs for hedges! Titles, photos and videos are waiting for you below!
Benefits of plant hedges
Hedge is the best solution for a garden plot. It not only protects from strangers, but also helps to divide the site into zones. For such a green fence, you can use a variety of garden material - climbing plants, trees and shrubs. No matter what plants have been planted, a hedge will have many benefits:
- Aesthetics and attractiveness. A flowering hedge will add individuality and originality to the site, lookit will be much better than wooden or metal fences.
- Durability. Metal can rust and wood can rot, while a hedge with proper care can please the gardener for decades!
- Protection of the site. Another advantage of a living fence is that it can protect not only from the prying eyes of neighbors, but also from wind and dust.
- Eco-friendly and economical. It's hard to argue that plant fencing is one of the most cost-effective - the cost only includes the cost of shrubs or trees.
Hedge formation timeline
A fast-growing shrub hedge can be created using one type of plant, or you can use different plantings. In the latter case, caring for the fence will become a little more complicated - it will be necessary to take care of both the formed fence and the just planted shoots. Designers recommend choosing plants so that the hedge is approximately the same density and height. How long does it take to form a full-fledged living fence two meters high? This, say experienced gardeners, will take only two years. Another useful tip: try to choose shrubs for your hedges that will enclose your area, but at the same time will not penetrate into the neighboring plot.
Fast growing shrubs
Of course, the best option for creating a dense and high hedge is bushes that grow as quickly as possible. You can pick up not only ornamental plants - fruit-bearing ones lookin green fences is no less profitable. In addition, you receive preparations for the winter. It is not bad to plant specimens with thorns on the outside - such a fence will protect against animals. So what shrubs to make a hedge? We have prepared several options!
Thuya
This plant is widely used in the middle zone of the Russian Federation. It tolerates shade well, it is distinguished from other shrubs by resistance to frost. In addition, thuja are undemanding to the ground.
If you want to create a green hedge of a columnar and pyramidal shape, look for varieties such as Brabant, Smaragd and Holmstrap. These shrubs for hedges tolerate shearing well, and their branching will allow you to create a very dense fence. By the way, thujas have a healing effect - they, like other conifers, emit phytoncides that disinfect the air and destroy microbes.
But do not forget about the features characteristic of the plant. Thuja needles in winter do not remain green, but acquire a brownish-brown hue. However, it does not crumble, and therefore remains opaque even in winter! In the spring, the bush can suffer from sunburn and withering.
Tees
Another conifer that deserves attention is yew. It is small in size. After pruning, this hedge shrub (pictured) recovers extremely quickly. Actually, for this, gardeners love him. In addition, the plant is unpretentious, tolerates severe frosts, grows well in shady areas. By the way, direct sunlight causesburns.
It's worth saying that the only thing yew is picky about is the soil. Alkaline or slightly acidic soil is best suited for this plant. When planting a hedge, it is important to leave a distance of half a meter between seedlings. The plant needs monthly watering, each yew will require 10 liters of water. The ephedra also has disadvantages, for example, its soft crown cannot protect people or animals from penetrating the site.
Hawthorn
Among the most unpretentious shrubs for hedges is hawthorn. The minimum life span of this plant is 50 years. Gardeners explain such longevity by absolute unpretentiousness to conditions: hawthorn tolerates drought and frost equally well. The advantages of hawthorn include its abundant fruiting. Berries are not only tasty, but also useful, suitable for making compotes and jams. However, you should not plant a shrub in a shady place - it will simply lose its decorative effect.
Today, there are about 1200 species of this plant, but the most popular are the common hawthorn smooth, whose branches have a reddish tint, the soft hawthorn, the length of the spikes of which is 9 cm, the blood-red Siberian hawthorn, which is distinguished by the ovoid shape of the leaves. All of these species are great for creating a living fence. Caring for this shrub is not difficult: it should be watered once a month, during the dry period it is worth increasing the number of waterings.twice. In the spring, pruning of diseased and old branches is required, and for the winter the plant should be covered with dry leaves.
Alpine currant
This shrub is suitable for unusually shaped hedges. Alpine currant flowers have a light greenish tint, and its red fruits look festive against the background of juicy green foliage. The height of the shrub does not exceed two meters. The plant does not tolerate heat and drought, but it is resistant to cold and winds. Gardeners note that currants respond well to fertilization, form dense foliage. This allows you to create a variety of curly compositions.
Almost all varieties are undemanding to the soil, they take root well in rocky areas. But for fruiting, the plant needs fertile and well-drained soils. Currants can be attacked by various pests, such as spider mites or aphids, but getting rid of them is simple - you need to periodically spray the hedge shrub with a fungicide and insecticide.
Kizil
This plant is loved by landscape designers for its shade tolerance and unpretentiousness. It is excellent for creating an outer hedge, and its fruits, which have an attractive appearance, are edible! By the way, dogwood berries are often used in folk medicine. Today there are about 80 varieties of plants! In order for the hedge to be thick and impenetrable enough, experts recommend planting the plant in two rows in a checkerboard pattern.
This fast growing hedge shrub can be two to five meters high with proper care! The plant blooms from March to April, usually this period lasts two weeks. Abundant fruiting of dogwood is possible if it grows on neutral soil, but other soil is suitable for the plant. Speaking about care, it is worth noting that for the winter the shrub should be covered with foliage.
Kalinoleaf vesicle
Which shrub for hedges will give the site a unique charm and grace? Of course, the viburnum vesicle! It looks extremely impressive - its crown is quite lush and dense, the leaves are large, corrugated. In addition, the vesicle is a tall shrub, can reach three meters. Most often, varieties such as Diabolo or Darts Gold are used to create a living fence. The first type is distinguished by leaves of a luxurious dark purple color, the leaves of the second are lemon yellow.
The plant is excellent for urban hedges, which are located along highways. The vesicle is frost-resistant, does not need shelter for the winter. But in extreme cold, the tips of the shoots of the bush can freeze slightly. It grows well in the shade, but the color of the leaves loses its saturation, becomes pale.
Barberry
The name of a fast growing hedge shrub has Arabic roots, it can be translated as "shell". Ancient oriental physicians believed that the petals of barberry flowersin their form they resemble exactly her.
This thorny plant is highly drought tolerant and grows well in almost any soil. In addition, the thorns help create an impenetrable fence. It is worth noting that the shrub does not tolerate stagnant water in the area. Landscape design experts say that both tall and short varieties are suitable for a green fence. The barberry is characterized by an amazing decorative effect, the plant becomes especially attractive during periods of flowering and fruit ripening. Berries, by the way, are suitable for harvesting!
On the territory of our country there are about 20 species of barberry, but the most widespread are the Amur and Ordinary, Ottawa and Thunberg barberries. These species are able to survive even the harsh Siberian winter. Barberry Whitish and Boxwood are found a little less often in hedges.
Turn
This fast growing hedge shrub (pictured) grows up to three meters tall. At the same time, he does not need pruning, unpretentious and care. The thorn hedge, gardeners note, turns out to be thick and impenetrable. It is especially good in the spring - during flowering, before the leaves appeared on the plant. Of particular note is the magical almond flavor.
Turn (another name for a hedge shrub sounds like "wild plum") is hardy, tolerates drought well. At the same time, it is extremely important that the area where the shrub is planted is not swamped. Demandingly this plant and to the sun. Fruitblackthorns are small and sour, they usually acquire sweetness after the first frost. From them you can make fragrant jam or use in baking. By the way, large-fruited varieties appear, the berries of which are suitable for the preparation of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, various desserts.
Juniper
If it is preferable to plant a turn in areas that are well lit, then shady places are also suitable for juniper. This evergreen shrub for hedges does not grow above 1.5 meters, specimens should be planted in a checkerboard pattern, keeping a distance of 50-60 cm between plants. The handsome evergreen is drought-resistant, but gardeners recommend watering it once a week.
By the way, you can grow a hedge only from cone-shaped varieties of juniper, for example, varieties such as Compressa, Franklin Constance are suitable. But sprawling plants are simply indispensable for creating low borders. The hedge formed from a juniper in the first years does not demand practically any intervention. Only after a few years you need to start cutting dried and diseased branches. It is worth noting that the upper part of this shrub has a very attractive shape, which means that the juniper hedge will always be spectacular and neat!
Climbing plants: climbing roses
In the photo - a bush for hedges, called climbing roses. This plant is incredibly attractive during the flowering period, and the hedge from it turns out to be completely impenetrable: it's all aboutsharp thorns and tight weave of the vine. What is worth knowing about climbing roses? They do not tolerate stagnant water, they should be separated from other flowers. When choosing a place for this ornamental shrub, you should stay in a well-lit area. Lack of sunlight can lead to stretching of shoots, slow growth and, of course, poor flowering. In addition, with a lack of sunlight, climbing roses slowly dry out after rain, which means that the risk of developing various diseases is high. The shrub feels equally good on loamy, clayey and sandy soils.
Care includes pruning shoots (this should be done in the spring), removing weeds, fertilizing. It is important to regularly water the roses and loosen the soil. For the winter, the shoots of the plant must be collected in a bundle, folded into an oval and bent to the ground. You should not press the roses; it is better to lay spruce branches between the shoots. From above, it is recommended to install a box of boards, which, in turn, must be covered with foil.
Hedge care rules
To make a green fence pleasing to the eye, a number of rules must be followed. For example, regularly water the plants. This is especially important during hot periods. The hedge also needs to be fed, nutrients should be applied either before watering, or at the same time. Gardeners advise pruning plants in the spring, before the growing season begins, otherwise there is a risk of turning the hedge into an impenetrable thicket!
