Traditional fences made of materials such as mesh or picket fence 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 hedge! Today we offer to talk about how to choose shrubs for hedges! Titles, photos and videos are waiting for you below!
Benefits of Plant Fence
Hedgerow is the best solution for a garden plot. It not only protects against outsiders, 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 were planted, a hedge will have a lot of advantages:
- Aesthetics and attractiveness. A flowering hedge will add individuality and originality to the site, it will look much better than wooden or metal fences.
- Durability. Metal can rust, and wood can rot, while a hedge with proper care can delight the gardener for more than a dozen years!
- Protection of the site. Another advantage of a live fence is that it can protect not only from the prying eyes of neighbors, but also from wind and dust.
- Environmental friendliness and profitability. It is difficult to argue that the hedge of plants is one of the most economical - costs include only the cost of shrubs or trees.
Duration of hedge formation
A hedge of fast-growing shrubs can be created using one type of plant, or you can use different plantings. In the latter case, the care of the fence will be a little more complicated - it will be necessary to look after both the formed fence and only the planted shoots. Designers recommend choosing plants so that the fence is about the same density and height. For how long can a full-fledged living fence two meters high be formed? Experienced gardeners say this will take only two years. Another useful tip: try to pick up bushes for the hedge that will enclose your territory, but will not penetrate into the neighboring area.
Fast growing shrubs
Of course, the best option for creating a thick and high hedge is bushes that grow as quickly as possible. You can pick up not only decorative plants - fruiting ones look in green fences no less profitable. In addition, you get blanks for the winter. It is not bad to plant specimens with thorns on the outside - such a fence will protect from animals. So what shrubs make a hedge? We have prepared several options!
Thuja
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 undemanding to the ground.
If you want to create a green fence with a columnar and pyramidal shape, pay attention to such varieties as Brabant, Smaragd and Holmstrap. These hedge shrubs tolerate a good haircut, and their branching will create a very dense fence. By the way, arborvitae have a therapeutic effect - they, like other conifers, emit volatile, disinfecting the air and destroying 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 spring, shrubs can suffer from sunburn and withers.
Yew
Another conifer worthy of attention is yew. It is small in size. After pruning, this hedge shrub (pictured) is extremely quickly restored. Actually, gardeners love him for that. In addition, this plant is unpretentious, tolerates severe frosts, grows well in shady areas. By the way, direct sunlight causes burns.
It is worth saying that the only thing that yew is demanding is the soil. This plant is best suited for alkaline or slightly acidic soil. When planting a hedge, it is important to leave a distance of half a meter between the seedlings. The plant needs monthly watering, for each yew it will take 10 liters of water. The conifer also has drawbacks, for example, its soft crown cannot protect people or animals from entering the area.
Hawthorn
Among the most unpretentious shrubs for hedges - hawthorn. The minimum life span of this plant is 50 years. Gardeners explain such longevity by their absolute unpretentiousness to conditions: hawthorn tolerates drought and frost equally well. The advantages of hawthorn include its abundant fruiting. The berries are not only tasty, but also healthy, suitable for making compotes and preserves. However, you should not plant a bush in a shady place - it will simply lose its decorative effect.
To date, there are about 1200 species of this plant, but the most popular is the common smooth Hawthorn, whose branches have a reddish tint, the Hawthorn is soft, the spines of which are 9 cm long, the hawthorn is blood-red Siberian, characterized by an egg-shaped leaf shape. All of these species are great for creating a living fence. Caring for this shrub will not be difficult: once a month it should be watered, in the dry period it is worth double the number of irrigations. In spring, pruning of sick and old branches is required, and for the winter the plant should be covered with dry leaves.
Alpine currant
This shrub is suitable for hedges of unusual shape. Alpine currant flowers have a light greenish tint, and its red fruits look festive against a background of lush green foliage. The height of the bush does not exceed two meters. The plant does not tolerate heat and drought, but it is resistant to cold and wind. Gardeners note that currants respond well to fertilizer application and 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 to get rid of them is simple - you need to periodically spray the hedge shrub with fungicide and insecticide.
Dogwood
This plant was loved by landscape designers for its shade tolerance and unpretentiousness. It is excellent for creating an external hedge, and its fruits, having 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 fence to be quite dense and impermeable, experts recommend planting the plant in two rows in a checkerboard pattern.
The height of this fast-growing hedge shrub with proper care can be from two to five meters! 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 of leaving, it is worth noting that for the winter the shrub should be covered with foliage.
Kalinolistny vesicle
What hedge shrub gives the site a unique charm and grace? Of course, Kalinolistny cysticis! It looks extremely impressive - its crown is quite lush and thick, the leaves are large, corrugated. In addition, the vesicle is a tall shrub that can reach three meters. Most often, varieties such as Diabolo or Darts Gold are used to create a living fence. The first species is distinguished by luxurious dark purple leaves, the leaves of the second are lemon yellow.
The plant is excellent for urban hedges that are located along highways. The bubble is frost-resistant, does not need shelter for the winter. But in severe cold, the tips of the shoots of a shrub can freeze. It grows well in the shade, however, the color of the leaves loses its saturation, becomes pale.
Barberry
The name of the fast-growing hedge shrub has Arabian roots, it can be translated as “shell”. Ancient oriental physicians believed that the petals of barberry flowers in their form resemble it.
This prickly plant has a high resistance to drought, grows excellently on almost any soil. In addition, thorns help create an impenetrable fence. It is worth noting that the shrub does not tolerate stagnation of water on the site. Specialists in landscape design say that both tall and undersized varieties are suitable for a green fence. A surprising decorative effect is characteristic of barberry, a plant becomes especially attractive during periods of flowering and ripening of fruits. Berries, by the way, are suitable for harvesting!
About 20 types of barberry are found on the territory of our country, but the most common are the Amur and Ordinary, Ottawa and Barberry of Thunberg. These species can survive even the harsh Siberian winter. Slightly less often, in the composition of hedges, barberry Belovaty and Samshitolistny meet.
Turn
This fast-growing hedge shrub (pictured) grows to three meters in height. However, he does not need pruning, unpretentious and care. Crown of thorns, noted gardeners, it turns out dense and impassable. It is especially good in spring - during flowering, before the leaves appeared on the plant. Of particular note is the magical almond flavor.
The turn (another name for the hedge shrub sounds like “wild plum”) is hardy, tolerates drought. At the same time, it is extremely important that the area where the bush is planted is not marshy. Demanding this plant and the sun. The fruits of blackthorn are small and sour, they usually acquire sweetness after the first frost. You can make fragrant jam from them 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 the turn is preferable to plant in areas that are well lit, then for juniper shady places are also suitable. This evergreen shrub for hedges does not grow above 1.5 meters, plants should be planted in a checkerboard pattern, observing a distance between plants of 50-60 cm.The handsome evergreen is drought tolerant, 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 Kompressa, Franklin Constance are suitable. But sprawling plants are simply indispensable for creating low borders. The hedge formed from juniper in the early years requires virtually no intervention. Only a few years later, it is necessary to begin to cut off 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 impassable: the thing is in sharp thorns and close interweaving of vines. What is worth knowing about climbing roses? They do not tolerate stagnation of water, they should be separated from other flowers. Choosing a place for this ornamental shrub, you should stop at a well-lit area. Lack of sunlight can lead to elongation 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 there is a high risk of developing various diseases. The shrub feels equally well on loamy, clay and sandy soils.
Care includes pruning shoots (this should be done in the spring), removing weeds, fertilizing. It is important to regularly water roses and loosen the soil. For winter, the shoots of plants must be collected in a bunch, folded into an oval and bent to the ground. Roses should not be pressed, it is better to lay a spruce between the shoots. From above it is recommended to install a box of boards, which, in turn, must be covered with foil.
Rules for the care of hedges
In order for the green fence to please the eye, a number of rules must be observed. For example, regularly water the plants. This is especially important during hot periods. The hedge also needs to be fed, and nutrients should be added either before watering, or at the same time. Gardeners advise pruning plants in the spring before the vegetative period begins, otherwise there is a risk of turning the hedge into an impassable thicket!