Yew hedges make the perfect backdrop to borders, highlighting summer flowers well. And pleached trained hornbeams are a classic choice for a formal layout
Why plant a hedge?
Hedges make great boundaries, they’re ornamental and are good for wildlife, so what’s not to like? Camilla Phelps looks at which shrubs and trees make good hedging plants
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HEN it comes to garden boundaries, hedges are worth the time and effort. They are a long-term plan that will reward you with green garden walls that give you privacy, are wildlife friendly and, if you plant wisely, they will become a stunning feature in their own right. Hedges are also the most practical solution if you want to create a windbreak – you can say goodbye to blown-down fences as hedges are very effective at filtering wind. They can be good for added security, particularly if you choose thorny specimens such as Prunus spinosa that have a dense network of thorny stems. And if you’re looking for a strong design feature, hedges offer plenty of options. Dividing gardens into ‘rooms’ Plant a classic evergreen like yew as a formal backdrop for a colourful perennial border. Use traditional hornbeam hedging to divide a garden space into ‘rooms’. And don’t just think of hedges as growing from the ground up – a tall hedge of pleached or standard trees is a great way to screen unsightly buildings or views. 24 AMATEUR GARDENING 22 OCTOBER 2022
But it’s not all about the foliage – there are evergreen hedges that also have summer flower interest, like elaeagnus with tiny, scented blooms, or cherry laurel. Many flowering shrubs and trees can be grown as hedges, such as camellias, Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’ or lavender for a lower-growing option. If you want to create a wildlife haven, a
Escallonia ‘Apple Blossom’ makes a bushy flowering hedge
mixed hedge of native trees and shrubs, such as hawthorn and dog rose, will give you flowers and fruit, too. This has the added benefit of providing food and shelter for birds and insects – and you might even be able to harvest some of the edible fruits for your kitchen. Fast-growing hedges If you’re considering planting a hedge, don’t be put off by the fact that it takes a few years to establish. There are fastgrowing shrubs, but do avoid Leyland cypress that can put on 3ft (1m) of growth a year. It doesn’t offer any benefits to wildlife, takes nutrients from the rest of the garden and there are many mismanaged leylandii hedges that have grown out of all proportion and are hard to restore or remove. Far better to look at an alternative evergreen like escallonia, which is easier to maintain and will establish quite quickly.
Where to buy Hopes Grove Nurseries hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk ✆ 01580 765600 Hedges Direct Hedgesdirect.co.uk ✆ 01257 494 085 Burncoose burncoose.co.uk ✆ 01209 860316
