Over the years I have really come to appreciate the value of hedges. They can be an effective way to create privacy. And from a design standpoint, they are a great way to divide your garden into separate garden rooms or interesting spaces. Now if you’re willing to have patience and put in a little sweat equity, they can be an inexpensive alternative to brick or stone walls or even fences.
You just can’t believe the number of plants, both deciduous and evergreen, that are suitable for growing as hedges. In the North, you might try hemlock; in the West, escallonia or even bay; and down South, hollies are popular.
No matter where you live or what kind of shrub you grow there are certain principles you can always follow to make sure your hedge is lush and beautiful. And one of the first things I always do to promote fullness from top to bottom is to cut my hedges on a slight bevel so the bottom is out just a little further than the top. This will insure plenty of sunlight on the lower foliage. If I let the top grow out too far it would shade the lower limbs and they would become leggy and spindly.
Also, it’s important not to let other plants grow too close to the base of your hedge. They too can block the light, causing the foliage to become thin and weak creating holes in the form.
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