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The hedge as a decorative element of the landscape is relevant at all times. This is not just a living fence, but also a way of zoning the territory, giving it a well-groomed appearance and creating a special microclimate. In order for all these functions to be performed, it is necessary to choose the right plants for the hedge.
Advantages and disadvantages
A hedge of plants in the country has a lot of obvious advantages:
- first of all, this is a decoration of the site – well-groomed, timely cut shrubs look great;
- a high fence around the perimeter of the site will originally designate the territory, close it from prying eyes;
- medium-height hedges – a great way to zoning a site for a functional purpose;
- low living fences can designate flower beds, lawns, garden paths;
- dense fencing can significantly reduce the noise level;
- a high living wall protects the site from the winds, reduces the amount of dust and creates a favorable microclimate around the house.
Of course, growing a beautiful and functional hedge is a troublesome task, but this can hardly be considered a disadvantage. Every year, and sometimes several times a season, each bush needs to be shaped and cut, giving it the desired shape.
Especially often “repair” is required for fences with a straight top line, since in this zone the growth of shoots is the most active and the decorativeness of forms is quickly lost. However, you can always choose plants according to your capabilities. For example, to form a round or triangular fence, use weaving plants or conifers.
Video “Types of hedges”
In this video, an expert will talk about the types of hedges, their benefits.
hedge plants
The choice of plants for decorative fencing is varied, but to make it easier to solve this problem, you should immediately decide on the purpose and appearance of the future “fence”. It can consist of one or more tiers, have strict or free forms, be an exclusively decorative element or perform a protective function.
In each case, different shrubs are planted for hedges: deciduous, coniferous, flowering, with climbing shoots. All of them have their own characteristics, which will be discussed below.
Deciduous
Decorative hardwood fences are the most original and unpretentious due to the following qualities of the crops from which they are formed:
- good adaptation to changing climate;
- lack of high care requirements;
- they painlessly tolerate frequent pruning;
- as they grow and mature, they form perennial, very dense hedges;
- change their appearance depending on the season, giving the site a special charm;
- evergreen deciduous fence looks incredibly fresh in winter, when there is no greenery at all.
For the formation of a dense deciduous hedge, compact shrubs with small leaves and thin branching shoots should be preferred. These include:
- currant golden, alpine;
- berries: aronia, erga, buzina, viburnum;
- honeysuckle is infertile;
- shrubs forming dense thickets: hawthorn, cotoneaster, blackthorn;
- yellow and pink acacia;
- variegated sod;
- flowering plants: spirea, hydrangea.
If you need a fast-growing and dense hedge, plant a willow. This plant is famous for the fact that it easily takes root in any conditions, very quickly unwinds and builds up a green mass.
Curly
Creepers and climbing plants are able to embody the most daring design idea on the site. This is the perfect way to hide an unsightly wall, fence, or outbuilding. Flowering plants, such as roses and clematis, can be used to decorate small architectural objects in the recreation area (arbors, arches, verandas, balconies). To create a hedge, any fast-growing shrub with an increase in shoots of up to 1 m per year is suitable: blackberries, Siberian hawthorn, creepers.
Coniferous
The evergreen coniferous hedge is a timeless classic. Fences from such plants are always popular for a number of reasons, including:
- high density and durability of the fence;
- decorative effect that persists regardless of the season;
- slow growth of shoots, relieving the gardener from the need to often get scissors for pruning;
- versatility in use (single-type planting or combination with deciduous crops);
- in addition, conifers painlessly tolerate a haircut and easily take the desired shape.
Unfortunately, not all conifers have sufficient winter hardiness. For the conditions of the middle lane, conifers such as thuja (“queen” of hedges), dwarf mountain pine, spruce, and junipers are suitable.
Height selection
The height of the fence is divided into three main types.
Low
The height of such a fence is no more than 50 cm. Sometimes it is called a curb. The main purpose of a low hedge is to frame flower beds, walkways. Borders of flowers or herbaceous crops look great against the background of a mixborder, they can complement any landscape composition, with them the cottage takes on a completely different, more well-groomed look. You can make a low border from euonymus, boxwood, spirea, dwarf jasmine, undersized thujas and junipers.
High
A fence over 1,5 m high falls under this definition, although it is not uncommon for a living wall to be several meters high, especially if it covers a perimeter area. So that the perennial “fence” does not lose its decorative decoration for a long time, it is advisable to plant tall, but compact trees: cypresses, arborvitae, fir, maple, honeysuckle.
Average
A hedge from 50 cm to 1,5 m is considered average in height. Since a hand can easily reach its edge, a planting can be formed from any plants, including fruit and berry plants:
- various types of currants, dogwood, shadberry, hazel;
- flowering plants: derain, acacia, forsythia, lilac;
- conifers and evergreen deciduous shrubs.
When choosing plants for a hedge, be sure to pay attention to criteria such as adaptability to shade, certain climatic conditions, shoot growth rate and age. All cultures must be of the same age and make the same demands – only in this case you will be able to achieve the desired result, and get aesthetic satisfaction from the work.