Hedges are a natural alternative to protecting the garden and patio from prying eyes. These fit harmoniously into the overall picture in the garden area and also offer the animal world a suitable habitat. However, not every hedge is suitable for the respective soil and the corresponding space available. As a rule, the various hedge plants have their own special requirements in terms of site conditions and maintenance.
Table of Contents
selection
If the garden is used by families and your own pets romp around there, then the poisonous properties of the plants must be taken into account.
- Evergreen plants are ideal for the whole year
- Pay attention to the dense growth habit
- Fast-growing hedge plants mean more work
- Slowly growing species require less maintenance
- Rely on undemanding plants for problematic soils
To cut
In order to cultivate the selected plants in the shape of a hedge, they need a shaping pruning. This also supports the dense growth, without pruning many plants bald from the inside out. If the hedge is pruned in winter, it will grow even more luxuriantly in spring. It is essential to note that for animal welfare reasons, because of the breeding birds, no hedges may be trimmed between March 1st and September 30th.
- Cut at least 1-2 times a year
- Make rejuvenation pruning from October to the end of February
- Only cut back on frost-free days
- Cut before the first shoots shoot
- Use shaping stencils for clean edges and sculptures
- If the properties are toxic, special protection is required
- Immediately remove cut off parts of the plant
Liguster
The privet is a very decorative hedge plant that produces brilliant white flowers at the beginning of summer. Then blue-green berries follow in autumn and round off the overall impression. The plant is somewhat undemanding and grows relatively quickly, so that an opaque hedge can be expected quickly.
- Growth amounts to 40-50 cm annually
- Can grow up to 4 m in total
- Doesn’t make great demands on the floor
- Sunny to partially shaded site conditions are ideal
- Berries are poisonous, be careful with children and pets
- With frequent pruning, no berries are formed
Thuja
The thuja belongs to the conifer family and is colloquially called the tree of life. The wood forms soft needles that shine in different shades of green and smell spicy, the fruits are rather inconspicuous. As a hedge, the thuja grows particularly quickly and therefore provides a privacy screen for the garden that is created quickly.
- Growth approx. 30-50 cm annually
- Can grow up to 6 m tall, depending on the variety
- Grows narrow in height
- Prefers nutrient-rich soils, with sandy-loamy qualities
- A sunny to partially shaded location is ideal
- Wood, cones and twig tips are extremely poisonous
- If the pH value is too acidic, the needles turn brown
- Tends to develop fungal diseases with incorrect care and unsuitable location
- Vigorous pruning prevents fungal growth
- When cutting, think about protective measures to avoid poisoning
- Trim pages back every two years
Eibe
The yew tree belongs to the conifer family and, due to its decorative properties, is ideal as a plant for a garden hedge. The wood is relatively undemanding and easy to care for, but it grows better under certain site conditions. The needles are flexible and arranged in a spiral shape. However, the needles and the bright red pseudo-berries contain a very poisonous alkaloid, which hinders the function of the heart. Therefore, the yew tree is not suitable for a family garden, especially if children and pets play in it unsupervised.
- A partially shaded to shady location is ideal
- Sun is also well tolerated
- Grows about 20-40 cm per year, depending on the
- Resistant and frost-hardy hedge plant
- Prefers calcareous soil
- Very cut compatible and easy to shape
- Toxic, so be careful when touching and pruning
Boxwood
The boxwood is a very pruning plant that is well suited as a hedge for privacy and wind protection in the garden. This plant is ideal for creating a labyrinth or maze, as it grows very dense up to the center of the plant. For this reason, the box tree also cuts a fine figure in a country house or cottage garden. Due to the poisonous properties, suitable protective measures must always be taken when cutting. In order to achieve a tall and narrow growth habit, more plants should be planted per square meter. Otherwise the hedge will grow thicker and wider.
- Grows about 20-30 cm per year
- Can reach heights of growth of several meters
- Is dependent on good soil quality
- Prefers slightly basic pH in the soil
- A sunny to partially shaded location is ideal
- Also tolerates radial pruning well
- All parts of the plant are slightly poisonous
Firethorn
The firethorn grows extremely quickly, which is why this plant is particularly suitable as a hedge for locations where there is sufficient space. Over time, the firethorn forms a dense and impenetrable hedge that offers animals a welcome habitat and year-round source of food. The plant looks very special when it develops white flowers in May, followed by orange-red berries in autumn.
- Grows between 20-40 cm per year
- With good care, it can grow to heights of up to 6 m
- Prefers loose and not too wet soils
- A sunny to partially shaded location is ideal
- Thorny branches sting on contact
- Fruits have slightly poisonous properties
- Be careful when pruning
- Do not let children and pets play in the vicinity without supervision
False cypress
As a hedge, the false cypress grows into a good privacy screen for the garden in just a few years. The leaves change depending on the variety and are either green or blue-green in color. The relatively inconspicuous flowers don’t add much to the decoration. Although the plant prefers bright places, it can also tolerate partial shade for a short time during the day under the conditions of the location.
- Grows about 20-30 cm per year
- As a solitary plant, it reaches heights of growth of up to 20 m
- Prefers humus and slightly moist soils
- Permanent waterlogging is to be avoided
- Sunny and sheltered locations are ideal
- All parts of the plant are poisonous
- It is essential to take protective measures when pruning
Conclusion
Evergreen hedge plants that grow tall and narrow form an opaque and natural privacy screen for the house and the garden over the years. It is important to choose the right variety for the respective garden area. In addition, due to the fast-growing properties of many of the woody plants, a shaping pruning is necessary at least once a year.
