Throughout the winter, we will be researching plants for our border hedge. We hope to beautify our yard, create some privacy, and also increase our food plants. We have a dog so need to consider what plants she will have access to in order to keep her safe. We can also use both sides of our fence differently: the front which has a street view and increases our home’s curb appeal, and the inner side, which can create a good sturdy structure for plants that need support.
Today, we created a list of plants that would make good hedges as a starting point:
- Boxwood: easy to care for and has a compact growth habit
- Holly: has glossy, evergreen leaves and produces berries that attract wildlife
- Privet: easy to care for and has a dense growth habit
- Juniper: hardy and has a dense, upright growth habit
- Rose bushes: produce attractive flowers and can be trained to grow in a specific shape
- Hydrangea: produces attractive flowers and has a compact growth habit
- Spirea: produces attractive flowers and has a compact growth habit
- Ligustrum: easy to care for and has a dense growth habit
- Arborvitae: hardy and has a dense, upright growth habit
- Yew: hardy and has a dense, upright growth habit
- Barberry: can make a dense, attractive hedge when planted closely together, and it is adaptable to a range of soil types and climates
- Hedgehog cactus: drought-tolerant and can make a unique and eye-catching hedge when planted closely together
- Lavender: a fragrant, drought-tolerant plant that can make a beautiful hedge when planted closely together
- Rhododendron: can make a beautiful hedge when planted closely together, and it is adaptable to a range of soil types and climates
- Forsythia: can make a beautiful hedge when planted closely together and trimmed regularly, and it is adaptable to a range of soil types and climates
- Rosemary: can make a unique and attractive hedge when planted closely together and trimmed regularly, and it is adaptable to a range of soil types and climates
- Viburnum: a deciduous shrub that can make a beautiful hedge when planted closely together and trimmed regularly, and it is adaptable to a range of soil types and climates
- Bluebeard: a deciduous shrub known for its clusters of small, blue flowers and aromatic leaves. It can make a beautiful hedge when planted closely together and trimmed regularly, and it is adaptable to a range of soil types and climates
- Dogwood: a deciduous shrub or small tree that is known for its colorful stems and attractive flowers. It can make a beautiful hedge when planted closely together and trimmed regularly, and it is adaptable to a range of soil types and climates
- Japanese holly: an evergreen shrub that is known for its small, glossy leaves and ability to tolerate trimming. It can make a dense, attractive hedge when planted closely together, and it is adaptable to a range of soil types and climates
- Butterfly bush: a deciduous shrub that is known for its clusters of small, fragrant flowers and ability to attract pollinators such as butterflies. It can make a beautiful hedge when planted closely together and trimmed regularly, and it is adaptable to a range of soil types and climates
- Ficus: a tropical plant known for its glossy leaves and ability to tolerate trimming. It can make a dense, attractive hedge when planted closely together, and it is adaptable to a range of soil types and climates
- Blueberry bushes: provide a tasty fruit and have attractive foliage
- Raspberry bushes: produce a sweet and flavorful fruit
- Blackberry bushes: relatively easy to care for and produce a tasty fruit
- Grape: can make a beautiful hedge when trained to grow along a trellis or fence, and they are adaptable to a range of soil types and climates
- Strawberry plants: produce a sweet and tasty fruit and can be grown in containers or in the ground
- Lemon trees: produce a tasty and fragrant fruit and have a compact growth habit
- Orange trees: produce a sweet and tasty fruit and have a compact growth habit
- Apple trees: produce a tasty and versatile fruit and have a compact growth habit
- Cherry trees: produce a sweet and flavorful fruit and have a compact growth habit
- Plum trees: produce a tasty and versatile fruit and have a compact growth habit
- Peach trees: produce a sweet and flavorful fruit and have a compact growth habit
- Kiwi: can make a beautiful hedge when planted closely together and trimmed regularly, and they are adaptable to a range of soil types and climates
- Lime trees: can make a beautiful hedge when planted closely together and trimmed regularly, and they are adaptable to a range of soil types and climates
- Grapefruit trees: can make a beautiful hedge when planted closely together and trimmed regularly, and they are adaptable to a range of soil types and climates
- Pineapple plants: can make a unique and eye-catching hedge when planted closely together and trimmed regularly, and they are adaptable to a range of soil types and climates
Ultimately, many plants can suffice, as a hedge is merely a row of shrubs or trees that is planted and maintained for a variety of purposes, such as providing privacy, marking a boundary, or adding visual interest to a garden. Hedges can be made from a wide range of plants, including evergreen and deciduous shrubs, trees, and herbaceous plants. They can be trimmed and shaped to create a uniform, dense barrier, or they can be left more natural and allowed to grow into a more informal, informal look. Hedges are often used in landscaping and gardening to create boundaries, screens, or dividers, and they can be an attractive and practical addition to any outdoor space.
What plants have you found make good hedges?