How to Create a Hedge

Hedge plants serve as friendly fencing or a hard-working barrier to keep noise, strangers, or a bad view from intruding on private space. For maximum benefit, here are some tips:

Types of Hedges

As opposed to purely decorative plantings, formal hedges are grown and trimmed as one thick unit. Often they border a property but a low hedge can also visually separate areas within a yard or beautify a building’s foundation. An informal hedge employs more than one species and the plants maintain their natural shape so the hedge requires less pruning and shows more interest in color and texture, but an informal hedge will not be as compact or opaque as a formal hedge.

Leaf Size

Pruning is less obvious on plants with small leaves so the hedge maintains a neater shape. Speaking of pruning, do not plan a hedge with flowering plants. Pruning destroys the flowers and most flowering plants are sprawling so they won’t make a good hedge. Save them for decorative use.

Choose Quality

A hedge occupies a large space in the yard so do it right the first time. Plants must be hardy to provide a long-lasting, abundant hedge. Consult a landscape expert who can help choose the plants that will grow in the allotted space, whether it’s dry or wet, sunny or shady. Choose prime plants for a thicker hedge that won’t easily succumb to the elements.

For Thickness, Plant Rows

For a thick windbreak or sound barrier, plant extra rows to fill in spaces more easily. Just arrange plants in a double or even a triple row with the rows offset. Keep in mind that the width of most hedge plantings will be equal to their height. Unless a plant is very narrow, a 6-foot high hedge will end up being about 6-feet wide; plan accordingly. However, keep space between a building and the plants and allow for growth.

Make It Easy to Maintain

A hedge requires more upkeep than a simple cluster of free-standing plants. And, a hedge normally covers a lot of space so avoid anything that will require constant maintenance in trimming, pest control or weeding. Also, a hedge over six feet high will be more difficult to maintain so avoid plants that grow high or grow very fast.

Unlike a wall, a hedge requires water and fertilizer. Choose plants that work well in your climate and provide irrigation if needed. By the way, do not try to make a hedge look taller by planting it on a berm; that simply removes the roots from the water table.

Stay Away From Thorns

Unless intruders are a major issue, thorny plants are difficult to trim and maintain. Even if security is an issue, consider using a chain link fence instead, with the hedge or other greenery inside it to hide the chain link from your view. But don’t use the type of plantings outside that make it easy for intruders to hide or help them climb over the fence!

Avoid Invasive Species

Never plant invasive exotic plants such as orange jasmine or beach napauka. They’re too difficult to control. Even some common plants can be a problem as a hedge. For example, ficus are fine in a pot but can overwhelm areas outside, where it can lift pavement, crack foundations, and invade plumbing.