Maybe you want to create a border for your lawn, or add a touch of style under your windows. Or perhaps you need a privacy screen. For all sorts of reasons, hedges are useful and attractive. Planting hedges can add beautiful features to your landscape.
Hedges perform different jobs. Low hedges provide accents and backdrops in landscaping. Tall ones block objects from view and give you privacy. Once you're sure what your needs are, it's easy to get started.
There are lots of different kinds of plants that work as hedges. Once you do a little homework and pick out one that thrives in your area, it's time to think style. Do you want a formal, manicured appearance for your hedge, or a more natural look? Check out landscaping books and talk to your local nursery for ideas.
This is where the root ball meets the row. How you plant depends on whether you're working with small or large plants. If you're planting small plants spaced 18 inches apart or less, dig a trench. Make sure that the trench is as deep as the root balls and twice as wide. For larger plants spaced more than 18 inches apart, dig individual holes. Again, dig as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. In either case, back-fill with the dirt you dug out, and tamp it down. Also, don't forget to water thoroughly.
The hard work is done. But before you start trimming, let your hedge grow for a full year to let its roots establish. After that time, shear off only half an inch for every four inches of new growth. This will help your hedge thicken its foliage to create the green-wall effect. Once the hedge reaches the height you want, go ahead and prune. By cutting no more than half an inch above the new growth, you'll be able to maintain the size and shape you like.
