Ten Best Plants For Hedging
When is the best time to plant a hedge? As long as you are planting container grown plants, the simple answer is whenever you have the time to do it.
Plant in autumn and the ground is warm and moist; your new hedging plants have all winter to get established. Plant in early spring and your new hedge is on the brink of the growing season.
The chances are the garden will be higher on your agenda in spring, so you are more likely to think about doing it. Plant in summer and you will probably have to water daily, so plant early or late in the year if you can.
Evergreen hedging subjects are mostly sold and planted as pot grown plants. Whether you plant large or small just remember the plants will grow: you don’t need to plant more just because you are planting small.
Some online hedging retailers can be a little misleading when it comes to this information. If you think about it, the closer together the plants are the more they compete. Shrubs in competition tend to be drawn up, rather than branching out and developing a bushy habit. This can mean a hedge that is bare at the base.
Deciduous hedging plants are often sold bare root, in other words lifted from the field in a dormant state. They can only be transplanted from late autumn through to early spring. This often gives better results than planting containerised or container grown stock of these subjects. There is a great variety of hedging plants to choose from. So a hedge should never be considered as a boring, utility aspect of the garden.
To help you choose I thought I would pick ten of the best hedging plants, tell you why I’ve chosen them, and then tell you how far apart to plant them.
Carpinus betulus
Hornbeam is very similar to fa*gus sylvatica, beech in appearance. The bright green leaves turn brown and mostly remains on the twigs in winter.
Bushy and well branched, it likes heavy soil and tolerates damp conditions, whereas beech likes it dry and alkaline.
Plant bare root in winter in a double row. Plants 60cm (2ft) apart, in rows 45cm (18”) apart. This means that the individual plants in the staggered rows are really around 45cm (18”) apart.
Griselinia littoralis
Is a bright evergreen with rounded, leathery leaves on yellow-green ascending stems. It grows quickly and makes a dense hedge.
Griselinia does not like severe cold or alkaline soil but it is excellent for coastal gardens and is wind tolerant. Plant 60-90cm apart (2-3ft)
Thuja plicata
Western Red Cedar is an aromatic conifer with sprays of emerald green, shining foliage. It is a far better choice than x Cupressocyparis leylandii and makes an altogether more handsome hedge. It is ideal as a tall screening hedge. Plant 90cm (3ft) apart.
Olearia x haastii
One of the hardiest of these evergreen daisy bushes this is really underused as a hedging plant.
Small, leathery olive-green leaves on greyish twigs and masses of white daisy flowers in summer it makes an excellent low hedge. Ideal for coastal gardens and windy, exposed sites. Plant 60cm (2ft) apart.
Crataegus monogyna
Hawthorn is one of the toughest hedging plants and suits rural situations. If clipped from an early age it makes a dense, thorny, impenetrable barrier. Dark green leaves, white flowers in spring dark red fruits in autumn. Very wildlife friendly. Plant as bare-root transplants in late autumn to early spring. 60 cm (2ft) apart in a double row (as hornbeam)
Taxus baccata
English Yew is a lot faster growing than many imagine, and as a hedging plant it takes some beating.
Very dark green foliage that makes a dense, dramatic hedge and wonderful backdrop for planting. It can be used to create large screens, or trimmed to keep it low and formal.
Yew grows well on most well-drained soils and loves alkaline conditions. Plant 90cm (3ft) apart
Acer campestre
Field Maple naturally grows to form a spreading tree,however it makes a lovely hedge with lobed leaves that turn rich, butter-yellow in fall.
It is ideal in rural situations and if pruned from an early age it makes a dense, bushy barrier. Plant as for hornbeam.
Euonymus japonicus ‘Green Spire’
Is an upright evergreen with shining, emerald green leaves and a narrow, compact habit. It is ideal for small gardens and narrow borders where a low hedge is required up to 120cm (4ft) in height.
As an alternative to Box (Buxus sempervirens), it is ideal in town and coastal gardens and is very shade tolerant. Plant 60 cm (2ft) apart.
Prunus lusitanica
Portuguese Laurel is an easier evergreen hedge to manage than cherry laurel because of its smaller leaves and dense habit. It is good in shade and has attractive foliage: dark green leaves with red leaf stalks. Plant 90cm apart.
Viburnum tinus ‘Spirit’
Is a compact form of laurustinus makes a lovely loose hedge with a long flowering season through winter and early spring. It is good in shade and overhanging trees and suits both town and country situations. Plant 75cm (30”) apart.
Whatever you plant, good soil preparation is paramount. Add plenty of garden compost or a shrub and tree planting compost and a slow release fertiliser. Water well after planting (and before in the case of container grown stock). Regular watering during the first growing season is essential.
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All Gardening coursesAs an expert in gardening and horticulture, I can provide information related to the concepts mentioned in the article about the ten best plants for hedging. Let's dive into it!
Best Time to Plant a Hedge
The best time to plant a hedge depends on the type of plants you are using. If you are planting container-grown plants, you can plant them whenever you have the time. However, there are some considerations for different seasons:
- Autumn: Planting in autumn is advantageous because the ground is warm and moist, providing favorable conditions for the plants to establish themselves over the winter.
- Early Spring: Planting in early spring is also a good option as it allows the hedge to establish itself just before the growing season begins.
- Summer: Planting in summer may require daily watering, so it's better to plant early or late in the year if possible .
Evergreen and Deciduous Hedging Plants
The article mentions two types of hedging plants: evergreen and deciduous.
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Evergreen Hedging Plants: Evergreen hedging plants are mostly sold and planted as pot-grown plants. They retain their leaves throughout the year, providing year-round privacy and screening. One example mentioned in the article is Griselinia littoralis, which is a bright evergreen with rounded, leathery leaves. It grows quickly and makes a dense hedge. It is suitable for coastal gardens and is wind tolerant.
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Deciduous Hedging Plants: Deciduous hedging plants are often sold as bare root plants, lifted from the field in a dormant state. They lose their leaves during the winter. One example mentioned in the article is Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam), which has bright green leaves that turn brown and mostly remain on the twigs in winter. It is well-branched and likes heavy soil, tolerating damp conditions. It is suitable for planting in a double row, with plants 60cm (2ft) apart and rows 45cm (18") apart.
Ten Best Hedging Plants
The article provides a list of ten best hedging plants along with their characteristics and planting recommendations. Here are some of them:
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Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam): It has bright green leaves that turn brown and mostly remain on the twigs in winter. It likes heavy soil and tolerates damp conditions. Plant bare root in winter in a double row, with plants 60cm (2ft) apart and rows 45cm (18") apart.
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Griselinia littoralis: It is a bright evergreen with rounded, leathery leaves. It grows quickly and makes a dense hedge. Plant 60-90cm apart (2-3ft).
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Thuja plicata (Western Red Cedar): It is an aromatic conifer with sprays of emerald green, shining foliage. It is ideal for tall screening hedges. Plant 90cm (3ft) apart.
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Olearia x haastii: It is an evergreen daisy bush with small, leathery olive-green leaves on greyish twigs. It produces masses of white daisy flowers in summer and makes an excellent low hedge. Plant 60cm (2ft) apart.
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Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn): It is one of the toughest hedging plants and suits rural situations. It can be clipped from an early age to make a dense, thorny, impenetrable barrier. Plant as bare-root transplants in late autumn to early spring, 60cm (2ft) apart in a double row.
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Taxus baccata (English Yew): It is a fast-growing hedging plant with very dark green foliage. It makes a dense, dramatic hedge and can be used to create large screens. Plant 90cm (3ft) apart.
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Acer campestre (Field Maple): It naturally grows to form a spreading tree but can be pruned from an early age to make a lovely hedge. It has lobed leaves that turn rich, butter-yellow in fall. Plant as for hornbeam.
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Euonymus japonicus 'Green Spire': It is an upright evergreen with shining, emerald green leaves and a narrow, compact habit. It is ideal for small gardens and narrow borders where a low hedge is required. Plant 60cm (2ft) apart.
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Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese Laurel): It is an evergreen hedge with smaller leaves and a dense habit. It is good in shade and has attractive foliage. Plant 90cm apart.
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Viburnum tinus 'Spirit': It is a compact form of laurustinus that makes a lovely loose hedge with a long flowering season through winter and early spring. It is good in shade and suits both town and country situations. Plant 75cm (30") apart.
Remember, these are just a few examples, and there are many other hedging plants to choose from based on your specific requirements and preferences.
Soil Preparation and Care
Regardless of the type of hedging plants you choose, good soil preparation is essential for their successful growth. It is recommended to add plenty of garden compost or a shrub and tree planting compost, along with a slow-release fertilizer. Watering well after planting and regular watering during the first growing season is also essential for the plants' establishment and growth.
I hope this information helps you in selecting and planting the best hedging plants for your garden! Let me know if you have any more questions.
