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Pruning old hedges is something you can do with a variety of different tools, including a chainsaw. Prune old hedges with help from a certified horticulturist in this free video clip.
The work variegated means that there is more than one color in a single leaf. Thicken variegated boxwood hedges with help from a certified horticulturist in this free video clip.
When hedging with buxus, you're always going to want to keep a few very integral design tips in ind. Hedge with buxus with help from a gardening professional in this free video clip.
Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), also called Confederate jasmine, offers sweet-scented, star-shaped blossoms and a versatile growth habit. Growing it as a hedge is easy with enough pruning, but you can also grow it as a trailing or climbing vine. To accomplish a hedge shape, allow the vine to grow and begin pruning as necessary to constrain it to a tight hedge shape. Persistent pruning is required to control the fast-growing vines. Without support, star jasmine will grow to about 1 1/2 to 2 feet tall, and 4 to 5 feet wide, but you can provide a trellis or fence to…
Using hedge shears allows you to get as precise as you need to during your hedge trimming sessions. Find out how to use hedge shears with help from an expert with over two decades of experience working in Garden Centers in this free video clip.
When an investor owns a security, he may worry about losing his money if the price of the investment falls. To protect himself from a loss, he can place a short hedge. This strategy allows him to earn a profit if the price of his primary investment declines.
The yew (Taxus baccata), also called common yew or English yew, is a popular backyard evergreen plant. This is due to its low maintenance requirements, hardy nature, and moderate resistance to pests and diseases. Grow the coniferous shrubs in a row along your property to form an ornamental hedge that provides year-round color. Although established, your mature yew hedge requires care so it remains healthy and produces bushy growth.
Hedging is a trading strategy that involves investing in an asset to offset possible losses in another investment. If you own stock in a company and you want to hedge against loss in case the price of that stock goes down, you can buy a put option on the same stock. A put option gives you, the buyer, the right but not the obligation to sell a stock at some time in the future at an agreed-upon price, known as the strike price or exercise price. A put option is a financial derivative, which means that its value is “derived”…
Tropical vines of any species can quickly take over the hedges. If not removed, the vines suffocate the hedges and steal nutrients the hedges require for proper growth. Many herbicides kill the tropical vines but also damage and possibly kill the hedge as well. Removing the tropical vines is not a difficult process. However, removing them without harming the hedges as well as preventing the vines from growing back is more difficult.
Yews, a narrow-leaved evergreen, remain attractive whether they are allowed to maintain their natural shape or pruned severely into a hedge. The shrubs tolerate heavy pruning but regrow slowly, so only minimal pruning is necessary unless the shrub hasn't been pruned in some years. Like most evergreens, the best time to prune a yew shrub is in late winter or early spring right before the first spring flush of new growth. Yews also benefit from a light pruning in late summer if you prefer a more formal looking hedge as opposed to a natural shape.
Privet is part of the Ligustrum family of plants and grows in a shrub form that reaches heights of between 6 and 10 feet when fully mature. It develops masses of white flowers in the spring and is an evergreen that maintains its green foliage year-round. Due to its evergreen nature and the rapid growth rate, privet it commonly planted as a hedge. When planting multiple privet plants for a hedge, it’s best to till a trench instead of digging individual holes.
Boxwood, a common landscaping shrub with dense foliage that remains bright green year-round, requires minimal maintenance to keep it looking its best. Because boxwood is so dense, it is an effective plant for a hedge, providing beauty and privacy. Although boxwood has two varieties, hedges are usually grown from Japanese boxwood (B. microphylla), which reaches about 4 feet at maturity. Common boxwood (B. sempervirens) grows much taller, to mature heights of 10 to 15 feet.
Hedges often outgrow their growing area, shade out struggling turf grass or would look better in other areas of the landscape. People save money changing their landscape around by digging out their hedge and transplanting it to another area of the lawn. The best time to dig up and move the hedge is in the fall right after dormancy. Moving a hedge during the growing season results in transplant shock.
Ficus is ideal if you want a full hedge right away, but unless you are prepared for constant pruning, it is not always the easiest. Many ficus species, including the popular Ficus benjamina, grow very quickly, as they are technically trees, not bushes. Such plants are appropriate if you'd like a large privacy screen or border. Ficus will usually naturally grow into a full form, depending on the species, but should be pruned to keep it a consistent height or to produce a full, neat look.
Hedge funds are highly complex and controversial investment vehicles that are typically utilized by those who are considered among the ranks of the extremely wealthy. In fact, to be eligible to invest in one of these funds, the investor must have a net worth over $1 million or be able to show a personal income exceeding $200,000 in each of the two previous tax years. The controversy surrounding hedge funds stems from the potential tax loopholes that investors may be able to utilize as a result of hedge fund transactions.
Laurel hedges are popular for creating borders and privacy hedges. Laurel plants grow up to 10 feet in height, which can cause problems in some areas of the yard where they are shading grass or ornamental plants. You might need to transplant your laurel hedge to increase sunlight in some areas. The best time to transplant a laurel hedge is in the fall before the ground freezes or in the spring when new buds are forming.
The Hicks yew (Taxus x media "Hicksii") is a cultivar of Anglojap yew, a cross between English and Japanese yews. It's a common choice for yew hedges because of its naturally upright, columnar form. Mature Hicks yews can reach 20 feet high and 12 feet wide, but are usually kept to a more manageable size. Unlike most evergreens, yews tolerate severe pruning, so with patience and some muscle power it's possible to rejuvenate overgrown Hicks yew hedges successfully. The hedge will look barren at first but will fill in quickly.
Hedge trimmers are a gardening tool used in both the residential and commercial industry. This tool is designed to cut, prune and cut bushes and trees. While standard hedge trimmers may operate on batteries or power cords, heavy-duty hedge trimmers run on gas and oil for more power and durability.
Despite sounding like the name of a comic book villain, Podocarpus gracilior, also known as weeping or fern Podocarpus, is a tropical evergreen tree species. The keys to its usefulness as a hedging material are the large, dense crown, fine evergreen leaves and minor pruning requirements. The branches grow very low on the trunk, and the tree can reach 50 feet in height, making it capable of easily screening or shading large areas. The Purdue University website recommends pruning your Podocarpus gracillor only lightly, each year or so, in the late winter or early spring before new growth emerges.
When you buy a long equity position, it means that you expect that stock to increase in value at some point in the future. Although you may expect the stock to increase in value, sometimes it does not always work out that way. Because of this risk, you may wish to hedge your long equity position. By hedging your position, you can minimize the risk that comes with going long. There are a few different options if you wish to hedge your position.
Hedges serve several functions in gardens and lawns, including privacy. They can also be turned into works of art or simply become an aesthetically pleasing part of your landscape. Eugenia, though most often used as a topiary, is a flowering shrub that can grow to more than 8 feet tall, and thrives as a hedge in full sun or partial shade. Eugenia can be planted against a wall or along a fence and can grow to its full potential with proper care.
The hibiscus is a medium- to large-sized shrub that often appears as a tree due to pruning. In the spring and summer, the dark green foliage accentuates large pink, white and purple blooms. While many gardeners grow hibiscus as individual specimens, they also make good hedges. The benefit of a hibiscus hedge is that it creates a privacy screen of flowers instead of just foliage. When planting a hibiscus hedge, spacing is an important consideration.
Hibiscus are colorful and fragrant shrubs that can be planted singly or used to create a hedge. They develop rich green, often glossy, foliage on sturdy branches and stems. Some hibiscus, such as the red leaf hibiscus, produce showy and colorful leaves ranging in hues of reds and purples. The vibrantly colored blooms range in color from creamy white to rich reds and yellows. Tolerant shrubs, hibiscus can withstand moderately salty soils and short periods of drought when supported by proper sunlight and care. Though species vary, the overall care of hibiscus plants are similar.
A hedging transaction is a secondary transaction undertaken by a trader in securities, commodities or other markets in order to minimize that trader's risk on a primary transaction. Hedging typically seeks to cut losses in the event that the market moves in an unexpected direction. Those with questions about a specific hedging transaction should seek professional financial advice.
Home landscapes include a wide range of fixtures and foliage, like rolling lawns, vegetable gardens, flower beds, trees and shrubs. Border and row plantings look best, though, with lush shrubs and vining plants like bougainvillea and hibiscus. Plant these tropical specimens against a fence or trellis and train your own colorful, flowering hedge. Start with the right sites and soil, then maintain the shrubs for bright blooms and full growth.
There are more than 150 different types of viburnum shrubs. The plants, no matter which variety, have horizonally growing branches covered in flat, green leaves. In the spring, tiny flower clusters cover the length of each stem and emit a strong fragrance. If you have a viburnum hedge and need to transplant it, be ready to do a lot of digging. If the shrubs in the hedge are large, having another person assist is helpful. Wait until the early spring to transplant the viburnum hedge, just as new growth emerges and after threat of frost is over.
Electric hedge trimmers provide a much easier and more time-efficient method for keeping your hedges maintained. Echo brand hedge trimmers are sold with the blades already attached, so you will not need to attach them to the trimmers as part of the assembly process. However, there are still a few steps you will need to take before the blades are fully installed and ready to use on your hedges.
A hedging strategy lowers the risk of investing. Investment risk is the probability that your portfolio return will be lower than expected, due to the variability in the market. By using hedging tools like options or futures, you can reduce the risk in your portfolio and have a more stable investment return.
The word "hedge" refers to a formation of shrubs or bushes rather than to a particular type of shrub or bush. Cedar shrubs usually die because of environmental stress conditions, improper planting and soil issues, according to the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture. If a shrub begins to show signs that it is dying, evaluate its symptoms to determine if the shrub suffers from pests or a disease. With prompt treatment the cedar shrub has a chance of surviving.
Home gardeners are often in search of shrubs that are fast-growing to use as screens or hedges. Many evergreen shrubs produce colorful blooms and lush green leaves, making them a lovely choice for any home or garden. Rose-of-Sharon and abelia are two shrubs that make excellent hedges, both of which are hardy and rapid growers.
Laurels are small evergreen trees. Their quick, dense growth makes them ideal for hedge plantings. For laurel to bush and fill out to its potential, it needs a little pruning help. Regular cutting and trimming will stimulate growth and encourage density. Laurels are good plants to practice your pruning skill on. They'll take a lot of abuse, hard cutbacks and mistakes and bounce right back. The best time to hard prune laurel bushes is in early fall. But the laurel will take maintenance pruning during any time of the year.
In an era before barbed wire or electrified fences, farmers used living fences, or hedges, to keep stock from scattering across the countryside. Known as hedge laying, pleaching or plashing, this method has been employed since Roman times. A properly laid hedge can keep sheep and cows secure for more than 50 years, or much longer with regular maintenance. Although the practice all but died out after World War II, hedge laying has enjoyed a resurgence, and more than 100,000 miles of living hedges are managed in England alone.
Stopping the practice of oil hedging depends on who you are and what your purpose is, whether as an investor or concerned citizen. Also important is an accurate, basic understanding of what oil hedging is, and in what context. According to the International Monetary Fund, the purpose of hedging is as old as the art of investing itself. And while the intricacies of hedging go far beyond the scope of a short article, covering the basics will both empower you and help you take the next step, whatever your purpose is in stopping oil hedging.
Laurels are evergreen broadleaf shrubs or small trees. They are extremely hardy and adaptable to a wide variety of soils. Laurels grow quickly and are often used as borders or hedges. Their versatility makes them suitable for most light situations, and they fill in quickly making a dense, living fence. Laurel hedges need constant maintenance keeping their growth in check and managing their shape. Removing the hedge is tricky because the plants grow deep taproots and have wide, thick root systems.
If you have a healthy, thriving hedge in your landscape, you may want to use the good DNA of that plant to start a new plant. If the plant develops well, the new plant possesses the same characteristics as the original. To begin a new plant from a mature hedge, you must take a cutting from the hedge that you can plant like a sapling.
You may need to wilt a hedge in order to weaken it for removal. You may also want to conserve water by drying out your hedge and planting something else. Wilting a hedge can be easy if you live in a dry climate where you directly control the water the plant receives. If your hedge receives water from an irrigation system, just stop watering it. However, if your hedge gets water from precipitation you will have to follow these steps to wilt it.
A bougainvillea hedge can grow energetically in a sunny spot as an ornamental specimen plant. With regular pruning, bougainvillea will stay healthy and attractive for many years. If your bougainvillea suffers neglect or a lack of maintenance, a hard prune can rejuvenate it. Hard prune a bougainvillea hedge to keep it healthy and attractive and it will recover with renewed growing energy.
Cedar hedges are made by planting cedar trees close together to achieve natural fencing. They can be pruned for desired height and provide long-term privacy shielding. If it becomes necessary to move the hedge to a different location, it can be done without losing the plants, but some precautions and proper handling of the trees are necessary.
Cedar hedges discolor and die back for many reasons. The most common causes stem from misunderstanding the plants cultural requirements. According to North Dakota State University, cedars are low maintenance compared to other shrubs, but it is not a no-maintenance genus. Without proper care, the plants are stressed, become weak and attract opportunistic insects and diseases that do further damage. If the shrubs are still alive with some remaining green foliage, you can attempt to save the plants allowing a few seasons to let the hedge recover.
Much like mowing the lawn, there's a rhythm and reason to trimming hedges. Because timing is the biggest factor, you should prune a hedge when it is least likely to result in damage, usually late winter or early spring. Some exceptions exist, however, and gardeners need to weigh each plant's needs on an individual basis. Avoid trimming immediately after new growth develops, because a dwarfed hedge may result.
Boxwood (Buxus) is an evergreen shrub often used as a formal hedge or in foundation plantings. Its dense, glossy leaves are small and smooth. Because boxwood tolerates heavy pruning, it is ideal for hedges. In formal English gardens, shaped boxwood often forms living walls between garden rooms. Boxwood thrives throughout the world and about 30 species exist.
In order to maintain both the health and neat form of a hedge, it is necessary to routinely prune or cut it. To yield the best results, it's important to use the proper equipment. Hedge cutting equipment is not complicated. There are a few options to successfully tend to the task.
Shrubs and hedges have deeper root systems than groundcovers and shallower root systems than trees. The average root depth of a hedge is 18 inches. Actual hedge root system depths vary. Improperly watered hedges, regardless of species, will develop shallow, ineffective root systems. Heavy clay and dense soil can also impact root system depth and development. Some species are noted for large, sprawling root systems while others are known for high wind tolerance and good anchorage.
The Japanese boxwood (B. microphylla var. japonica) is one of the 160 registered cultivars of boxwoods (Buxus spp.), according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension. The plants are widely used for creating borders, hedges and screens due to their evergreen, dense growth. With its mature height of 3 to 6 feet, Japanese boxwood is also the fastest growing boxwood. Transplanting the Japanese boxwood during summer is not recommended.
Hedges serve various functions in the garden. They can divide areas, provide a privacy screen or form a focal point in the yard. Privet plants (Ligustrum sp.) are used widely to form hedges. The individual shrubs are planted closely and pruned to keep the leaves and branches dense. As they mature the plants form a wall of green that can reach 5 to 10 feet high. Proper planting and care allows your privet hedge to thrive.
Privet (Ligustrum) is often used for hedges, although it works well as a specimen shrub in a mixed border. Evergreen varieties, such as glossy privet, are common in areas with mild climates, while deciduous varieties are hardier. Plant privets in full sun and well-draining soil. These plants transplant easily, and you may soon have more than needed.
Leylandii is a variety of tree that has the botanical name of Cupressocyparis leylandii but is more often grown as a shrub. Leylandii is an evergreen specimen that grows very rapidly, thus forming a formal hedge shape much sooner than other shrub and tree varieties. In fact, leylandii hedges grow so quickly that they require frequent trimming to maintain their appearance and height. Planting a leylandii hedge can be done at any time of the year.
Swenson pivot shears are often a go-to tool for workmen looking to cut metal. Few things are more frustrating than ruining a cut by trying to cut metal panels with a pivot shear that has gone dull. If you are having difficulty making a metal cut, you can easily remedy this problem by sharpening the Swenson shear. With just a few steps, you can have your shears cutting as cleanly as the day you first bought them.
Oleander (Nerium oleander) is an evergreen, flowering shrub that is best suited for regions with mild climates. A native of the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and Northern Africa, the plant naturalizes rapidly in dry and warm areas. Oleanders have a rapid growth rate and bloom with salmon, yellow, pink, red or white flowers during summer. Transplant the shrub during the recommended time of year for best growth.
Leylandii plants have the botanical name of "Cupressocyparis leylandii" and are rapid growing evergreens that have green or yellow foliage. Although many people classify them as shrubs because of their short stature, they actually are trees. They often are planted close together to form hedges because the thick foliage creates a natural privacy screen. Because of the rapid growth rate, a leylandii hedge must be pruned at least twice per year to maintain an attractive appearance.
Hedges serve a variety of purposes in residential yards including adding to the aesthetic appeal and creating dividers between property lines. In addition, taller hedges also create privacy for the home owner by blocking out visibility from the street or neighboring homes. Part of maintaining landscaping hedges is cutting them back annually. This neatens the appearance and prevents them from growing out of control and overtaking surrounding plants or shrubs.
Dwarf maples are attractive, small trees that are desirable additions to the landscape in climates where they grow. Trees should be planted in a spot where they will remain for the rest of their lives, but sometimes a tree eventually needs to be moved because it is obstructing a view or the entire landscape is being redesigned. In any case, the process for transplanting a dwarf maple is the same as that for any tree or shrub.
The Ficus genus contains well over 800 distinct plant species, each of which is popularly grown as an ornamental decorative plant. Like many other plants, however, ficus plants are prone to infection from a wide range of fungi that can transmit diseases to the ficus and threaten to eliminate all of its aesthetic advantages. Luckily, with some careful prior knowledge of what fungi are more likely to attack ficus, you can prevent this from happening and reap all the decorative benefits this plant offers.
Ligustrum, or privet, is a family of trees and shrubs that grow widely throughout the United States. Homeowners cultivate them as hedges and landscape shrubs and value them for their rapid growth rate, tolerance for heavy pruning and ability to adapt to a variety of growing conditions. Several fungal infections attack ligustrum plantings.
Ficus hedges are actually ficus trees that have been pruned and shaped into smaller, tamer hedges. The ficus has many variations, including the ficus benjamina (weeping fig) and the ficus elastic (rubber tree). Similar to the full-sized counterparts, ficus hedges are susceptible to several diseases, some of which can be fatal to the ficus if left untreated.
Distinguished by its smooth bark and white flowers, Chinese privet is a perennial shrub that grows in woodlands, floodplains, pine lands and lake shores. Although Chinese privet was originally used for ornamental purposes, its adaptability to various habitats and tolerance for poor environmental conditions caused this plant to become invasive. Chinese privet now develops quickly and competes with native species. Aside from Chinese privet's negative effect on natural landscapes, this shrub produces fruit toxic to humans. The best control of Chinese privet is removal.
Boxwood shrubs are evergreens frequently used as formal shrubs in landscapes and gardens. The standard boxwood variety gets its name because it grows in a naturally boxy shape. However, there are more than 60 boxwood species and some varieties grow in prostrate and weeping forms. Because they have rather compact root systems, boxwood shrubs can be transplanted as long as you do not cut into the main root ball.
Privet is also called ligustrum and is an evergreen shrub or small tree that is commonly used to form hedges in the home landscape. The shrub is prized mostly for its glossy foliage, which is either dark green or a grayish blue. All privet varieties also develop white flower blossoms in the spring. They grow rapidly and pruning is an important part of caring for the shrub to control the size.
Boxwood is an evergreen shrub frequently used in hedges and borders. You can groom it into many shapes, but it is traditionally shaped into a formal hedge that is flat on the top and sides. Prune the shrub frequently throughout the growing season to keep its shape neat. You can trim boxwood up to four times a season to keep a formal hedge looking its best. Topiary shrubs need more frequent pruning to maintain their look.
A tightly trimmed boxwood hedge is a hallmark of the formal garden and the classic English cottage garden. Boxwood plants should be pruned in spring to avoid pushing new growth that may become damaged by cold winter temperatures. There are two schools of thought for trimming the hedge: One insists that hand pruning is the way to go and the other touts shearing as the best and most effective method.
Apple trees are found throughout the United States, both naturally and as part of a cultivation farm. These trees provide nourishment, protection and are a source of food for many insects, and small animals. Spiders are attracted to these fruit trees. There are a variety of apple species found in nature and also in cultivation. Certain apples
Removing a large shrub or a hedge by pulling out the roots is time-consuming work. A less labor intensive way to remove a shrub is to use a combination of pruning and herbicide. The non-selective herbicide triclopyr kills all vegetation it comes in contact with. It enters the vascular system of the plant and moves through its entire system, spreading its deadly poison and resulting in the death of the entire plant, roots and all. Autumn is the best time to treat woody shrubs and hedges with non-selective herbicide because the plants are already sending nourishment down to its roots…
A braided hedge consists of trees that have been interwoven either with each other or with upright supports. The trees must be woven when young saplings, otherwise they're not sufficiently flexible. The best trees for braiding are those with supple, springy stems (willow, for example), although it's also possible to use sturdier trees, such as hawthorn, in very simple designs. Braided hedges provide a natural, impenetrable barrier for animals and children and can be developed into complex designs or stand-alone features.
Shrub hedges provide privacy, block unwanted sights and sound, make shade in the summer and create wind barriers in the winter. To create a clean-looking hedge, choose densely foliaged evergreen shrubs that grow slowly and tolerate pruning. Evergreens keep their leaves year-round, which reduces leaf drop under and around your hedge. Shrubs that naturally grow in compact forms require less maintenance to retain their neat, formal appearance.
Privets (genus Ligustrum), often called hedges, are a family of around 50 species of deciduous or evergreen trees and shrubs native to North Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe. Several of these species have naturalized in the United States. Homeowners value them for their attractive foliage and showy blossoms, and plant them as hedges, shrubs and specimens. They propagate by grafting, cuttings and seeds.
Humans have been practicing the art of hedge sculpture or topiary since the hanging gardens of Babylon, according to the Iowa State University Extension. These sculptures range widely in size, form and color, from tiny topiaries that grow in containers for indoor use to large, sculpted hedges that define the landscape. A number of plants can be used to create sculpted hedges, but most have dense, evergreen foliage, grow quickly and tolerate pruning well. Sculptures can be pruned into shapes or grown on shaped wire forms.
A hedgerow is a line of closely planted shrubs, pruned and trained to form a dense barrier or hedge that provides privacy or serves as a natural boundary wall. Removing a hedgerow requires you to pull each hedge out of the soil, along with the roots, to prevent it from growing back. Although the process is time and labor intensive, a combination of aggressive pruning and digging ensures complete eradication of most hedging parts.
Hedges can be made from nearly any type of shrubby plant material. They are used to define areas, screen views, block wind or provide privacy. Hedges can also improve the look of your landscape. They don't just grow and look beautiful by themselves, though. Experienced gardeners know that to be most effective, hedges have to be trained from a young age, and maintained throughout the lifespan of the plants.
Cutting or trimming your hedge is a task that must be performed regularly to keep it neat. Hedges that are tall and wide are difficult to trim without the use of suitable equipment to reach every part. Leaning a ladder against the hedge is not practical as it pushes the hedge out of shape while you are cutting it, but several types of access equipment are available for the purpose.
The broad-leaved evergreen foliage of laurels provides year-round interest to the landscape. The large leaves remain glossy green throughout the year, making them an ideal choice for use as a hedge or privacy screen. Laurels grow quickly and tolerate heavy pruning. They work well as both formal and informal hedges.
While exploring Tennessee's parks, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the state's native trees and shrubs. Large recreation areas such as Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, spreading between Tennessee and western Kentucky, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, provide ample opportunities to explore the environment. Some of Tennessee's trees and shrubs are also used for ornamental purposes.
Weed Eater is a company that makes string trimmers, hedge trimmers and even lawnmowers; but when most people think of weed eaters, they are referring to string trimmers. These electrical or gas tools quickly trim grass and weeds by cutting them with a swiftly turning plastic string. Using them to trim hedges is generally not recommended.
It is a common belief that hedge apples can repel insects and act like natural pest controllers. This belief comes from old folktales. However, pest control experts agree that there is no scientific evidence to prove this belief and as a result there is no concrete evidence to show that hedge apples do repel insects. In a research conducted by Iowa State University, researchers extracted compounds from hedge apples which repelled insects, but just in concentrated form.
Cedar hedges are susceptible to many environmental elements that can cause damage to the hedge. Once a hedge has been planted, it may take time to tell whether or not the tree was planted correctly or will take root and survive. If your cedar hedge begins to turn brown or is smaller than other hedges around it, these tips may help save your tree.
Hedges come in handy in landscaping. Hedges block unsightly views, create privacy from roads or neighbors and hide objects. In addition, the rows of vegetation are sometimes used in landscaping as borders or to create shapes. Hedges don't have to be formed from bushes. In some cases, you can create hedges from evergreen trees and low-growing deciduous trees such as fruit trees.
Hemlocks belong to the pine, or Pinaceae, family. There are several varieties of hemlocks. The most commonly grown is the eastern hemlock, or Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. This evergreen is also called Canada hemlock, hemlock and hemlock spruce. Hemlock is normally a large tree, but there are also cultivators that are medium, small or even dwarf shrubs, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. You can control the size of hemlock with regular trimming.
Natural evergreen hedges are inexpensive, versatile and customizable. The best type of evergreen hedge depends on the intended use. You can build protective sound barriers, entry barriers, wind breaks and privacy screens with evergreen hedges. The breadth of various species available allows solid colors, tones and colorful floral patterns depending on the species and type of plant.
Wax green ligustrum (Ligustrum japonicum), also called wax leaf ligustrum or wax leaf privet, is a hardy evergreen shrub with glossy foliage. It reaches heights of 15 to 25 feet and is covered in fragrant, delicate white blooms during spring and summer. Blue-black berries form late in the season and attract a variety of birds to the garden. Wax green ligustrum does well in a sunny or partly sunny location and grows in nearly any soil. It is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 7b through 10b.
The box shrub (Buxus sempervirens) is a slow-growing bush often planted in rows to form hedges. It is an evergreen with small, glossy leaves and very dense growth which makes it ideal for year-round privacy. Once used as a form of boundary fencing, it is now used as an ornamental around homes and gardens. It is also ideal for use as a topiary. The box hedge is extremely long-lived, so proper planting ensures a beautiful hedge you can enjoy for many years.
Considerations for landscaping with hedge fences include how much space you need to cover, the time you have to maintain a row of hedges, and how decorative they are vs. plain utilitarian. A shrub such as cinquefoil can be neatly trimmed back each year or left to grow into an impenetrable tangle. Forsythia and snowmound provide bright spring flowers while an evergreen hedge keeps its greenery year around. After examining the needs and possibilities, it becomes time to purchase the hedges and break out the shovel.
Hemlocks (Tsuga heterophylla) soar up to 200 feet in Western skies. You can identify this evergreen by its flat, short needles and the mature tree's dark, deeply-ridged bark. Like most conifers, hemlocks resist drought and tolerate poor soil; hardy and self-sufficient, they require little maintenance and, in fact, thrive on neglect. Be certain you have a good reason to prune your hemlock before you pick up your shears; unlike hardwood trees, conifers do not replace growth. Wise gardeners think twice before every snip of this unforgiving tree.
Straight hedges create a well-groomed look in the garden. They are used in fence lines or to section off parts of a large garden. However, straight hedges need more pruning than natural hedges. Deciduous shrubs require pruning at least twice a year to keep up their appearance, whereas evergreens grow slower and need pruning once a year. Trim deciduous shrubs in late spring after the year's first new growth. Never let a hedge grow more than one foot of new growth at a time, or it starts to block light and kill the leaves underneath.
A shrub is a perennial that has woody stems and is smaller than a tree. Shrubs have many stems that grow low to the ground. Shrubs are different from vines because they do not climb, and they do not need support. Shrubs have many functions in the landscape, including borders, ornamental plantings and privacy screens. Some shrubs produce aromatic blossoms, decorative leaves and edible fruits.
American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), found in the eastern third of the U.S. from upper Michigan to Texas and areas east, grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 through 8. Also known as ironwood, American hornbeam is a slow-growing tree that reaches about 25 feet tall and wide. You can grow American hornbeam in full sun or partial sun, but expect shorter height when you grow the tree in full shade. American hornbeam grows best in moist soil, yet it adapts to dry locations. The tree tolerates wind, making it suitable as a windbreak. Plant American hornbeam in the…
A number of birds build their nests in shrubs, including blue jays, thrashers, sparrows, vireos, flycatchers and warblers. Encourage birds to pick your hedges as a nesting site by carefully pruning them to create more nesting and roosting sites. This will create a less manicured looking, but more natural shrub.
Hedges are rows of groomed shrubs or small trees that form a barrier or fence line. These hedges require regular maintenance to keep them in shape. Pruning shrubs takes place several times a year, but the fall pruning differs from other cuttings. Fall pruning strengthens the shrub through thinning. Do not prune evergreen shrubs in the fall unless they are riddled with disease. Pruning evergreens in the fall leaves them with sap-filled wounds that are more susceptible to disease.
Magnolia virginiana is the scientific name of a species of magnolia tree that goes by different names, including sweetbay magnolia and swamp magnolia. Growing wild from as far north as southeastern Massachusetts to Florida and west to parts of Texas, Magnolia virginiana makes an interesting landscaping tree.
Prunus virginiana is the botanical name for a tree that is commonly known as the chokecherry. Native to North America, P. virginia is hardy to zones 2 through 7 on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone Map. This landscape ornamental is a member of the rose family and bears fragrant white flowers from April to May. Growing to a height of 30 feet, with a 15- to 20-foot spread, Prunus virginiana provides landscape interest and is easy to care for.
Soft-bodied insects that infest boxwood shrubs, such as mealybugs and boxwood mites, can be controlled with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap, but boxwood miners are more difficult to control without the use of pesticides. The best organic approach for controlling these pests is to plant resistant varieties, such as Pendula or Suffruticosa. In many cases, a healthy boxwood survives insect infestation on its own, although it may suffer some aesthetic damage.
Ligustrum, or privet, is a large evergreen shrub or small tree. Widely grown throughout the United States, these plants vary in color, shape and size depending on the species. They are useful as specimen trees, hedges, borders and landscape shrubs. Homeowners value these plants for their fast growth rate and low-maintenance requirements.
Boxwood is one of the most widely cultivated garden shrubs, and it has been grown in North America since the 17th century. Most boxwoods grown in North America are one of three species, but over 160 cultivars have been developed. While boxwoods are not typically tolerant of cold temperatures and are susceptible to winter damage, many cultivars have been bred for their cold hardiness.
The Japanese box hedge is a great plant because it grows so quickly. It can grow up to half a meter in three to four years. It works well as a border to flowerbeds and terraces and can be clipped and pruned into various shapes. It has very shiny leaves and grows without needing much attention, making it a popular plant to grow throughout the world.
Commonly known as the wild strawberry, Fragaria virginiana is one of the plants used to develop the cultivated varieties of strawberries grown today. Although their berries are tiny in comparison to their cultivated descendants, Fragaria virginiana berries are much sweeter and pack a bigger punch of strawberry flavor.
Hornbeam hedges can rise as high as 30 feet, providing an ideal privacy or noise screen. They can also serve as a means of dividing property lines. Hornbeam hedges require trimming on occasion to maintain a clean and symmetrical appearance. Trimming also helps them retain their fall leaves during winter.
Prunus virginiana var. demissa, also called western chokecherry, is a thicket-forming large shrub or small tree native to British Columbia and the western United States. Although no cultivated varieties are available as of 2011, western chokecherry works well in its natural form as an ornamental plant and adds color to a variety of outdoor spaces, such as home and park landscapes.
Laurel is an evergreen shrub that comes in different varieties, such as cherry or mountain laurels. These plants are hardy and produce dense foliage that is easily groomed into hedges. Hedges can be box-shaped, or a tight line of A-shaped shrubs. They can also be groomed into shapes if desired. Use sharp hand pruners when trimming laurel. Electric pruners do too much damage to laurel's foliage.
The ligustrum tree, also known as the Japanese ligustrum or Japanese privet, is a large, evergreen shrub. The tree's pear-shaped leaves are lush and green and in the spring, clusters produce white flowers. With the proper care, the ligustrum can grow up to 20 feet tall, though most range from 6 to 12 feet. In order to keep a ligustrum thriving on your landscape for many years, you should fertilize the tree regularly throughout the warmer months.
Stihl manufactures both electric and gas-powered hand-held hedge trimmers. These hedge trimmers have a reciprocating bar lined with teeth that does the cutting when you pull the throttle. If your hedge trimmer blades do not cut as efficiently, or if they increasingly become snagged in brush, it is likely that they need to be sharpened. Stihl recommends you bring your hedge trimmer to an authorized Stihl dealer for sharpening. However, if you have a sharpening file of your own, you can do this at home.
The hedge ball is just one of the names for the fruit of the Osage orange. They are also known as horse apples, monkey balls, mock orange and green brains. The tree itself is known by the French name of bodark and scientifically as Maclura pomifera. The trees, planted as hedges, were used to contain livestock within pastures before wire fencing became common. Hedge balls commonly drop in the fall of the year.
Boxwood shrubs can rapidly outgrow their location if not enough foresight was used during planting. But boxwood shrubs are easily transplanted since they have a shallow root system, which means that the root ball's width is more than its depth. Before uprooting your boxwood, dig a hole at the new location. Getting the boxwood into the ground quickly is key to its survival.
Landscape plants can greatly improve the appearance of your home. Hedges are a good choice for the home owner, because of the sheer variety of choice you have and the functionality of the hedge itself. You can use hedges as a way to add privacy to your home, or as an accent for windows or doors. The flowers or foliage of the plant can brighten the home and offset the color of the house paint.
Before planting any new tree on your property, it is important to factor in all of the tree's characteristics. This helps you determine the best location for the tree within your landscape and whether plants and fixtures can be incorporated into the yard space below. It also helps you decide which tree is the best for your location and needs. An oak tree, for instance, can provide cooling shade in your backyard.
Boxwoods (Buxus spp.) are evergreen plants with small, alternate foliage and a dense growth habit. Boxwoods are widely used as hedges, screens and as foundation plants in landscapes. There are nearly 160 different registered varieties of boxwood, of which 115 are available at the commercial level, according to Alabama Cooperative Extension. Boxwoods require regular pruning and thinning for controlling growth and maintaining plant health.
If you want to make a big impression with your landscape make your hedges into sculptures. Sometimes referred to as topiary, hedge sculpting is the art of cutting hedges and trees into shapes. Hedge sculptures can add plenty of wow factor. They also, however, create plenty of work. If you want to create hedge sculptures in your landscape, be prepared to cut the hedges by hand to get the best form and shape to your hedges.
Healthy gardenias are much less likely to become infested with bugs than those suffering from nutritional deficiencies or poor growing conditions. Make sure your gardenias are best able to withstand insects by planting them in rich, well-drained acidic soils. Gardenias need full sun and good air circulation. If they are too crowded or too close to walls, air cannot circulate. Bugs will move in if conditions become fetid.
Shrubs and bushes are a staple in landscapes where the 2- to 20-feet-tall, multi-branched, woody plants help to bridge the gap between the low-growing perennials and annuals and the taller trees. Bushes and shrubs are just as susceptible to diseases and pest infestations as other plants. Common pests include some types of tiny white insects. Proper identification of pests is the first step toward effective management.
Walnut trees are large, deciduous round-shaped trees grown for the nuts produced and sometimes the wood. The Carpathian English walnut, or Juglans regia "Carpathian," grows 40 to 60 feet high and wide, and the black walnut, or Juglans nigra, can reach from 50 to 75 feet high with equal sized spreads. If these trees were planted in locations too small for the mature size, you will need to transplant them. This calls for planning to ensure your walnut tree survives the move.
Cedar is a genus of narrow-leaf or needle species that has been long prized for use as low-maintenance evergreen hedging of various shapes and sizes. Pruning requirements for all cedar species are minimal, and trimming requirements for even formal hedging styles are not onerous. As with most needle and scale evergreens, you want to restrict pruning to deadwood and the green portions of the plants. Once you cut back into defoliated wood, the plant will not be able to regenerate new branching or green growth in that location. Maintaining cedar hedging in either natural or very formal geometric styles is…
A privet hedge requires careful attention to keep it and your garden looking its best. However, pruning a shrub at the wrong time can often have unfortunate consequences. Of course, the best time to prune a privet hedge is frequently different for each gardener. Armed with the proper information, however, you can determine when the optimal time for pruning your privet hedges is with ease.
The carburetor on a Homelite trimmer helps deliver the fuel and air mixture to the internal combustion engine. After several seasons, gas and oil impurities will gradually deposit build up on the jets of the carburetor and in the walls of the cylinder. These deposits will choke the cylinder of air and fuel, which will lead to sluggish acceleration, poor idling and no power under load. To get the trimmer running well again, the carburetor must be removed, disassembled and cleaned.
With their big round eyes and chubby bodies, hedgehogs have the cute factor that leads people to want them as pets. However, if you don't learn how to properly care for your hedgehog, your house will stink, and your pet can become sick. Choosing the right bedding and maintaining your hedgehog's home are just two aspects of hedgehog care.
Boxwood leafminers are one of the most destructive pests of boxwood, a low-growing evergreen shrub commonly used in landscaping. The insects are difficult to control, since their larvae live inside the leaves of the plant where they are protected from insecticides. A heavy infestation has the potential to completely defoliate your boxwood.
When planting a new flower bed or garden, the first thing you need to do is to till the soil. This is a process in which the sod is torn up and the soil underneath is loosened so you can plant seeds or plants. Tilling the soil is easier with the use of a rototiller. One such machine is the Stihl MM 55 Yard Boss, a multipurpose power tool that can be used for several different functions, including as a tiller.
A staggered hedge is a hedge made up of plants in a triangular shaped pattern so the hedge doesn't look straight but instead looks a bit zig-zagged. Staggered hedges look good in informal settings, around cottages or country homes since they are a bit crooked, but thicker than a single row of hedges. Planting a staggered hedge is similar to planting a normal straight hedge except the plant spacing is different.
Based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Stihl manufactures and sells landscaping equipment such as chainsaws and edgers. Edgers cut grass in a straight line to create a pristine line between concrete patios or walkways and the edge of your lawn. Edgers can make your landscaping job easier, as long as they are working properly, of course. If your edger is not working properly, troubleshoot the problem as soon as possible. Using an edger that is not working properly can damage the machine or cause you injury.
Landscaping is an artistic expression of your tastes. Various flowers, herbs, shrubs and trees are placed in strategic locations around your lawn to create a visual effect. Your landscaping design may change as your tastes and moods change throughout the years, and these changes may require you to move a plant from one place to another. Take your time and be gentle when digging up, moving and replacing your plants so that they do not get damaged, suffer from shock or die.
Cypress is an evergreen that many people plant to serve as living fence or hedge. There are different varieties of cypress, and they grow in almost any type of soil. Depending on the variety chosen, the cypress can grow to heights of 40 to 100 feet. Planting a cypress hedge not only provides privacy for your yard, but it also gives a home and food to birds and other wildlife.
A row of tall hedges is like a living fence that also provides noise control and privacy. Some hedges can grow up 20 feet tall. Once they reach a considerable height, however, they can be difficult to maintain and keep looking attractive. Keep your hedges at a reasonable height by pruning them back once or twice a year. Trim your hedges for major growth in the winter or early spring. Make minor adjustments to their unruly nature in the summer.
A row of evergreen bushes can be planted to create fencelike hedges in your yard, or can be used individually to enhance your garden. These shrubs do not require much care, and have green leaves year-round, similar to pine trees. There are over a dozen different varieties of evergreen bushes, including flowering ones like the mountain laurel, and non-flowering types like the Japanese plum yew. Evergreen bushes do need to be pruned once a year in midsummer to keep them looking neat and growing correctly.
Box hedge (Buxus sempervirens) is also known as the common boxwood. Box hedges are commonly used in landscaping in a variety of ways. Because boxwoods produce dense, thick growth, the shrubs may be used as natural screens or sculptured topiaries. Box hedges may be grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 6 through 8. In zones 7 and 8, they may be planted any time of the year. Box hedges grow 8 to 20 feet high with a spread of 10 to 15 feet in a naturally round shape, but many gardeners trim box hedges to control their size…
Native hedges offer privacy for your yard and a habitat for birds and other wildlife. The hedges are composed of native shrubs, some of which produce berries or flowers for added interest. Shrubs native to your area will be more drought-resistant than non-native shrubs and will get by with less fertilization. A native hedge can be made up of one or more different kinds of shrubs.
Juniperus Silicicola, also known as Southern red cedar, is a native evergreen to the US. It grows up to 45 feet tall and 30 feet wide with densely packed foliage. Juniperus Silicicola is hardy to the US Department of Agriculture zones 8a to 10b. They have shallow roots are difficult to transplant unless quite young, so choose a tree that is under two years old. Give each tree plenty of room to grow.
When deciding what ornaments, trees and shrubs to plant in a landscape, the prudent gardener or homeowner researches his choices before doing any actual work. Cedar hedges have gained a reputation for being breeding grounds for mosquitoes, leading many planters to turn away from them. Knowing the truth, however, will ensure that you keep all of your options open for planting.
Hemlocks make excellent finely textured evergreen hedges for shady to semi-shady locations. The plants are a bit finicky about conditions. They are not tolerant of salt, drought or pollution, but in the correct site they provide a perfect barrier that is easy to maintain. Hemlocks can handle extreme shearing and pruning to keep the hedge effect. They carry numerous small cones and soft needles that are similar to yew foliage. The species is typically 25 to 35 feet in home cultivation but can reach four times that size in a natural habitat. Annual pruning is required in its U.S. Department…
Anyone can start a new plant by taking cuttings from existing plants or trees. Properly cut, nourished and cared for, a cutting will eventually grow roots, becoming a new plant in its own right.
Boxwoods are an evergreen shrub that is commonly used in hedges, as dividers, borders and to hide house foundations. They are common in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9 and grow to a mature height of about 6 feet. If your boxwood plants have outgrown their space or you want to change up your landscape, you will need to move your boxwood. Boxwoods should be moved in early spring or late fall. Moving your boxwoods successfully requires planning several months ahead because they must be root pruned - -cut off from the long roots -- the season before they are…
Cedar is a variety of evergreen that grows into a tree if left unpruned, but cedar is also commonly used as a hedge. Multiple cedar shrubs are grown closely together and pruned into a single long shape to make a hedge. To maintain the hedge shape, you must prune the cedar annually to reduce the height and width. Proper timing and technique are critical when pruning cedar, since cutting off too much or at the wrong time will leave bare spots that will not grow back.
Homeowners who want small trees for shady areas should take a cue from their own wooded landscapes. Look for trees that naturally grow beneath the canopies of much taller trees. These trees are native or naturalized to the area. They grow less than 30 feet tall and develop thinner leaves, larger stomata and horizontal branching habits to synthesize sunlight.
Hedge clippers allow you to keep your hedges and shrubs neatly pruned without all the work of manual clippers. More than one type of hedge clipper is manufactured, though, including electric and gas options. If you'd like to buy hedge clippers to help maintain your landscape, keep a few things in mind when shopping. Buying the right hedge clippers for your landscape will make trimming more effective.
Shrubs used for hedges are planted closely and free-standing, so they are open on both sides. They create a wall of foliage -- some with flowers or berries -- and are deciduous and lose their leaves every fall or are evergreens that provide color all winter. Ranging from 1 foot to 10 or more feet high, they divide gardens, conceal unsightly areas, create borders and provide privacy screens. Informal hedges are low-maintenance; formal ones require pruning.
Plants grown in containers aren't limited to flowers and vegetables; in fact, shrubs can also be planted in pots. Potted shrubs placed in close side-by-side proximity can help block an unpleasant view or serve as a privacy screen. Most shrubs, both deciduous and evergreen, can be grown in containers. Measure the length of area in the landscape where you want to place the pots to create a hedge. Also determine how tall the hedge should be to offer the amount of privacy desired. To ensure proper growth, plant shrubs when they are dormant, in fall or late winter.
Boxwood used as a hedge or border in creating Medieval and Renaissance knot gardens and was brought over to America in 1652 planted on Shelter Island, off Long Island, New York. They are dense, shrublike plants that have small, oval green leaves that fill in nicely to make a full hedge. There are nearly 160 cultivars of boxwood, but the most common are American, English and Japanese varieties.
Commonly used in the home garden as small trees or shrubs well-suited for hedges, wax leaf ligustrums are evergreens that go by many names, including Japanese privet, wax leaf privet and the scientific name Ligustrum japonicum. Though they are known for a resistance to pests, they are not immune. Examine your plants regularly to catch problems before they worsen.
A variety of plants are used as hedges for various reasons. Examples include windbreaks, sound barriers and privacy screens. Privacy requires tall plants. Both trees and shrubs of varying heights are used as screens. The most commonly pictured is the evergreen or conifer that never loses its leaves.
White cedar, also known as field cedar and swamp cedar, is the native North American cedar primarily used for hedges. An inexpensive choice for a low-maintenance hedge, this wild cedar transplants and grows easily. When trimmed properly, it develops into a bushy hedge that makes an effective windbreak, a visual screen and an attractive landscape feature that will attract birds. A healthy cedar hedge will live for 50 years and retain its shape and color in all seasons if trimmed properly and at the right times.
A privet hedge is a popular plant for borders and privacy edging on a property line. Many cultivars exist, with a variety of leaf textures and colors. Depending on the cultivar, a privet hedge may grow 4 to 9 feet tall. This hedge is easy to care for, requiring little attention other than pruning, and thrives in a variety of conditions.
Hedges are largely aesthetic landscaping plants that can add beauty to a home's exterior and provide a backdrop for a planter or garden. Hedges have root systems just as trees do, and they can be invasive to a garden, planter or the foundation of a home or structure. When cutting down hedges, the roots also will have to be extracted from the ground to ensure the hedge does not regenerate.
Shrubs need a degree of heat tolerance to survive in hot regions. The United States Department of Agriculture categorizes hardiness zones across North America using the average annual minimum temperatures. In the southern part of the country, zones 10 and 11 stretch across parts of California, Arizona, Texas, Florida and Hawaii and don't experience average lows below 30 to 40 degrees. Choose shade-tolerant and heat-resistant shrubs to plant in shady sites in these states.
The maple tree is a colorful species of the Acer family that comes in many variations. These colorful trees produce foliage that ranges from rich green to vibrant hues of reds, oranges and purples. The brilliant colors and low-growing form make the maple bonsai a popular selection.
Stihl trimmers require a fair amount of cleaning, maintenance and repair work to keep them running like new. These trimmers can't just be put on a shelf and be expected to start up and run perfectly every time. Like any engine, taking care of it will help extend its life and extend your investment. Some of these procedures need to be done after every use, while others may only need to be done seasonally.
Boxwoods are used by many as filler in landscaping, as border hedges, and in ornate garden designs. The shrubs are a nice addition to a yard or garden when they are properly cared for; unfortunately, sometimes they are neglected. When boxwoods are allowed to grow larger than the gardener is able to maintain or they are not pruned properly, the inner branches may die out. If this has occurred with your boxwood, consider removing it and planting something else in its place.
Boxwood (Buxus spp.) is a genus of evergreen shrubs and low-growing trees most commonly cultivated as foundation plants or hedges in formal gardens. Like any plant in the garden, boxwood plants are susceptible to a range of harmful pests and diseases which are better off prevented than treated.
Boxwoods (Buxus spp.) are evergreens with dense, dark-green foliage. They are widely used for creating hedges, screens and windbreaks in landscapes. Growing boxwood hedges is easy if you start with healthy plants and growing conditions required by the plant. There are nearly 160 varieties of boxwood, 115 of which are available commercially, according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
When choosing plants for shady spots, determine exactly how much light the site receives each day. Full shade spots, often found beneath evergreen canopies or in northern exposures, don't get direct sunlight. Partial or moderately shady sites receive mostly reflected light. Light shade sites receive filtered sunlight that often comes through moving, open, tree canopies. Some flowering shrubs thrive in shady conditions, but generally produce fewer or less-intensely colored flowers.
Because dogs are omnivores, it is not uncommon to see them nibbling at grass and plants. If your dog is a constant nibbler, then you should avoid planting trees poisonous to dogs or plan on keeping your dog away from these trees. If you fear your dog has ingested the leaves of a poisonous tree, contact your veterinarian immediately. You can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.
Hedge apple is the common name for Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) for its large, nubbly, green-rinded fruit. It can grow to a height and spread of 30 feet or more, and is often planted for dense hedges and screens. One of the hardest of hardwoods, hedge apples were planted as livestock fencing throughout the Midwest, up until the invention of barbed wire. If you need to remove a hedge apple, watch out for the long, spiky thorns.
Lisgustrum is a tree or a large shrub that is tolerant of cold temperatures. The evergreen plants consist of over 50 different species and have dark green leaves with tiny, white flower blossoms that develop in the spring months. Some varieties also produce black berries that persist from the late fall through the winter months. Following a proper fertilization schedule is critical to keeping the ligustrum healthy and vigorous.
Juniperus Virginiana "Taylor" is a type of red cedar tree used for home landscapes. While the variety is called cedar, it is actually a juniper. The trees grow in upright columns up to 30 feet tall and only 3 feet wide. They are hardy from the U.S. Department of Agriculture growing zones 3 to 9. Juniperus Virginiana "Taylor" needs full sun and well-drained soil to grow. Propagation of the red cedar is done by seed.
Fencing can establish a property line, block a view or redirect foot traffic. When there's no need to corral a dog, a natural fence in the form of a hedge can fulfill the same functions as a wood, vinyl or wire fence. To maintain a manicured appearance, the hedge may need pruning annually. Many plants suitable for use as a tall hedge do not require pruning to provide years of beauty and function to the landscape.
Oleander is a perennial, evergreen shrub featuring long-lasting and fragrant flowers that bloom through the summer and fall seasons. The flowers on the oleander bush bloom in a variable array of colors including white, red, purple, coral and yellow. Oleander bushes can grow as tall as 20 feet when growing conditions and proper maintenance routines are observed. Once established, oleander bushes offer the gardener a hardy and low-maintenance bush to line walkways or add into fragrant gardens.
A hedge or shrub serves many purposes, from providing privacy, as a landscape border or a natural wind-break. Since hedges come in many shapes and sizes, they can accessorize any house style and landscaping. Whether allowed to grow naturally or sculptured into topiary, a hedge can add beauty and value to a home's landscaping.
Hedges are used to complement a garden, to beautify and decorate the exterior of a home and even to serve as a natural fence. Because hedges are used in so many different locations and purposes, different types of hedges are best for different purposes. These hedges are defined by their stamina, beauty or adaptability.
Boxwood bushes often are used as hedges in many yards and gardens. While boxwoods are generally healthy, they are susceptible to insect infestations that can affect their health and appearance. The boxwood leafminer is the most common pest of all boxwoods, but slow growing cultivars are generally less susceptible to this pest.
A chainsaw can be used to trim bushes, hedges and shrubs. While not as effective as a hedge trimmer, a chainsaw can cut fast enough to trim through lighter woods. However, if you're looking for those precision cuts, a hedge trimmer will best serve your purposes. If it's only needed to pair back overgrown bushes, a chainsaw will suffice.
Trees make excellent privacy hedges since they often grow taller than even the nosiest neighbor can stretch his neck to peer over. Planting distance is key when using trees to form a hedge. You want to allow enough room between the trees for them to grow. For evergreen trees such as juniper and spruce trees, you should space them between 6 to 8 feet apart. Pines and spruce trees, however, need more room and should be planted 10 to 12 feet apart. With deciduous trees, planting distance depends upon the species.
Sheet metal cutting shears are used to cut sheet metal into specific shapes for special building projects. The shears are sold equipped with razor-sharp blades from the factory. However, after extended use, these blades can dull and become ineffective; they must be sharpened periodically to ensure that they function properly. Many methods may be used to sharpen sheet metal cutting shears, some of which require specialized tools. However, the work may be done with a set of common metal files.
A hedge -- a natural border created by dense bushes and shrubs -- can be used to mark a property boundary, create privacy or provide landscaping beauty. Plants that develop into hedges grow at varying rates, depending on climate, soil conditions, access to sunlight and water availability. The keys to achieving a tall, thick hedge in a brief period of time can be attributed to landscaping with mature plants and choosing plants that grow at a faster rate.
A versatile tool, a chain saw offers many uses to its owner. Trimming hedges, bushes and shrubs with a chain saw can save time and energy. Chain saws, however, carry a number of risks and dangers, such as too much power, which some may find unsuitable for a light job such as hedge trimming. Smaller chain saws, with smaller guide bars, are ideal for hedge trimming, but you can achieve similar results with any size chain saw under 40 inches.
Wisconsin is located in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 5. When choosing shrubs for your home, pick those that are hardy up to -35 degrees Fahrenheit, especially in the northern portions of the state. Luckily, many shrubs can thrive in Wisconsin's cold winters; shrubs range from broad-leafed shrubs to evergreens.
Because gardeners train hedges to have thick foliage that grows low to the ground, frequent trimming is necessary for proper growth. An occasional trim may work for other shrubs in the garden, but it is not enough to keep hedges dense. Before pruning, however, gardeners need to protect their hedges' health by considering the safest times to prune.
There are several reasons why a home-owner would want to use shrubs with small leaves in a landscape. These reasons include wanting to put an emphasis on flowers in the landscape, as opposed to foliage, as well as having the desire to prevent foliage in the landscape from noticeably drooping or wilting during inclement weather. As Virginia Cooperative Extension notes, small-leaved shrubs are especially popular for use in mass plantings or groupings.
Hedges add value to property by providing privacy, blocking an unwanted view, reducing the impact of wind, or by bringing fragrance, flowers and fruit to a landscape. Consider your site's sun exposure, soil type, USDA plant hardiness zone and water requirements before selecting plants for hedges.
The Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is a graceful evergreen tree appropriate for planting in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. It grows wild in the northeastern U.S. but is often planted for privacy screens, hedges and specimen trees outside of its range. Many varieties are available in the nursery trade, such as mounding, dwarf or prostrate varieties.
The hedge shear is a very important tool for landscapers and landscaping enthusiasts alike. They provide "pleasing symmetry, balance and beauty to most of the shrubbery, some grasses and even small trees," according to Grounds Maintenance. When purchasing hedge shears, it is important that you find a quality pair that will last, break down rarely, and keep the user from getting too fatigued. Hedge shears come in both hand and power models.
Hedge trimmers offer a quick way to prune those bushes in spring and fall when they've grown long and shaggy. These outdoor power tools use interlocking metal teeth to cut off branches in a hurry. What used to take hours with shears will now take a fraction of the time.
You don't necessarily need to install a fence to create a private area in your back or front yard. You can plant trees or bushes that are tall and dense enough to form a privacy hedge. Privacy hedges are sometimes referred to as "Mother Nature's fences."
Hedge trimmers provide homeowners and lawn care professionals with a tool that saves time from a job that used to take all day. By using two pairs of teeth, hedge trimmers snip bushes much like a shearers, except a motor powers the teeth, so all you need to do is hold it in place and press the trigger. To find the hedge trimmer that fits your needs though, you'll need to consider a few factors to make sure you get the right one.
Hedges are versatile and multifunctional. They define boundaries, create privacy and shelter and act as backdrops against which to display groups of colorful flowers and plants. Hedges can also provide food for wildlife. You can grow a hedge to suit any garden design, from formal, architecturally shaped hedges to low, informal ones. Deciding on the purpose of your hedge will assist you in selecting the right hedge plant.
Gas-powered hedge trimmers use reciprocating teeth to trim back overgrown bushes, shrubs and hedges. These power tools act much like garden shears, except with a motor to quickly snip and dice, saving you crucial time on your weekend lawn care. Gas-powered hedge trimmers will help make your hedges look manicured but finding the right one will take some careful consideration, as there are many different options on the market.
Gas hedge trimmers use a pre-mixed blend of oil and fuel to power the engine, as opposed to an electric hedge trimmer, which uses current from a battery or cord. Gas hedge trimmers have a number of advantages and disadvantages. To find the right gas hedge trimmer for your needs you'll want to consider how much power you can handle, what extra features you'll need and how much you're willing to spend.
The Black & Decker TR250 hedge trimmer comes with cutting teeth that you can sharpen. These teeth need to be extra sharp to cut through the wood branches of your hedges. If the teeth are dull or chipped, they will snag on the wood, giving you uneven hedges. While Black & Decker recommends taking the hedge trimmer to a professional to have it machine-sharpened, you also can sharpen the blades quickly yourself.
Briggs & Stratton is a common name among manufacturers of small gasoline-powered engines. For decades, Briggs & Stratton has been the driving force behind many lawn mowers, garden tillers and other equipment. Many owners of machines powered by Briggs & Stratton engines choose to perform maintenance on their engines themselves. One maintenance operation that can be performed by someone with average mechanical skills and a few tools is replacing the diaphragm on the carburetor.
Stihl gas hedge trimmers use two sets of cutting teeth to quickly trim overgrown bushes. Whether you hit a steel fence, a wire or another hard object, these teeth will gradually lose their edge; nicks, burrs and other surface anomalies will degrade the cutting performance of your Stihl hedge trimmer. To keep your bushes looking their best, you'll need to sharpen these teeth regularly. Since taking the trimmer in to be machine-sharpened by a professional can become costly in the long run, you can reduce those costs by occasionally sharpening the hedge trimmer yourself.
Unlike other shrubs that are thin at the bottom and spindly in some spots, hedges maintain dense foliage that reaches to the garden floor. This provides privacy in some gardens; other times, hedges act as natural fences. Their thickness is a man-made invention, which means frequent trimming is key to their full appearance.
A hedge trimmer cannot tell the difference between a wet hedge and a dry hedge: it can cut through either with little difficulty. With that said, some safety and maintenance issues need to be addressed before you go out on a wet day to trim your hedges. Addressing these problems will ensure you don't damage your hedge trimmer or injure yourself. These issues apply only to gas-powered hedge trimmers; electric trimmers should never be used in wet conditions.
Privet is also known as ligustrum and is commonly used as a hedge, shrub or tree. There are a variety of ligustrums used in landscaping, such as Japanese privet, glossy privet and Chinese privet. The rapid growth of this plant has made it an ideal landscaping choice. However, privet is susceptible to insect infestations that can affect its health and vigor. Aphids often attack privet and require control when infestations are heavy.
Trees and hedges can effectively provide a windbreak or boundary with natural greenery. If you choose to use hedges as landscape boundaries or to edge areas of a landscape, a Canadian hemlock hedge can make a dense and thick hedge with greenish blue foliage. Whether you desire a formally sheared hedgerow or a more informal hedge with a natural shape, a Canadian hemlock hedge will grow energetically to fill in your growing space.
Winter temperatures in United States Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zone 4 can drop as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter. Hardiness zone 4 includes states in the east such as Maine and New York and western states such as Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota. Despite the cold winter, the roots of a variety of flowering shrubs can survive the freezing temperatures to bloom again the next year, brightening up partially-shady to very shady areas of the landscape.
The inter-working teeth on your hedge trimmer can get dull and worn over time. When the teeth start snagging and catching on the hedge branches frequently, it's time to sharpen the teeth. While most hedge trimmer manufacturers recommend you take the hedge trimmer to a service dealer to have the teeth machine sharpened, you can file the teeth at home. Hand-filing, while temporarily sharpening the teeth, isn't a substitute for a machine, and if you want the best performance, take it to get machine sharpened
At some point over the course of your Tanaka hedge trimmer's life, it is likely to have starting problems. Repairs can involve anything from minor parts replacement to more expensive service. Some of these problems you can fix yourself, but others will require a professional. Knowing the difference may help you save a lot of money.
If you live in Georgia and want to add shrubs to your landscape, there are several native plants that will add brilliant color or decorative fruits to your yard. Georgia shrubs also vary in size, and some plants feature attractive flowers.
You don't need any gas-powered equipment to trim a hedge as long as you know how to use an electric hedge trimmer properly, trimming your hedge with care a bit at a time. Hone your hedge-trimming skills with this free video of outdoor lawn and garden tips.
A full, lush hedge adds to the landscape and property value, while a thin, straggly one does not. That's why it's vital to give the plants that comprise the hedge the best start possible. Planting at the wrong time can leave hedges struggling to survive, while planting at the right time will give hedges time to develop strong root systems and thick growth.
Shrubs create a long-lasting hedge that offers privacy and visual appeal to a landscape, with lushness that a fence cannot simulate. Hedges also naturally filter out noise. Evergreen shrubs provide year-round privacy, but deciduous shrubs appear bare in the winter and offer very little privacy once the foliage has fallen.
Shrubs are often characterized by their size -- they are smaller than trees, but larger than perennials. However, there are other classification factors to consider when recognizing shrubs and deciding which ones to add to your landscape.
Some two-cycle engine's carburetors operate with a diaphragm. The diaphragm is a rubber membrane on a carburetor that controls the needle valve, which in turn controls the fuel coming into the carburetor. Carburetors sometimes require adjustments and periodic maintenance. While there are complete rebuild kits available for carburetors, sometimes a diaphragm replacement is all that is needed. A diaphragm replacement project can be performed by someone with average mechanical skills with a few basic tools.
Many problems can occur during the life of your gas hedge trimmer. It may seem like every season something else needs replacing. These machines, designed for simplicity, have parts that tend to wear out quickly and if you have not maintained the hedge trimmer according to your user manual, they will wear out even more quickly. Following the cleaning and maintenance schedules for your hedge trimmer will reduce the number of breakdowns and extend the life of your hedge trimmer.
Many shrubs can be propagated from cuttings. It's a prime method of reproducing woody plants, including conifers, in the nursery industry. Raising cuttings is easy to do at home, but results are not likely to be as good as when cuttings are monitored in a commercial greenhouse. Nevertheless, it's a good way to increase your stock of shrubs or grow one you don't have.
Hedges provide privacy, protect an area from wind damage and offer a way to cover unappealing parts of a landscape. Dying hedges are caused by a variety of problems, including improper growing conditions, insects and diseases. A combination of preventive and corrective measures keep hedges in optimal condition. Dying hedges may respond to the right care and maintenance, depending on the original cause of the condition.
Hedge trimmers are an asset to any homeowner with shrubs. The reciprocating blades cut swiftly and accurately leaving your shrubs looking manicured and healthy. As with any power tool, hedge trimmers require some maintenance in order to continue working well for many years. One such task is sharpening the trimmer blades. This can be accomplished with either a file or an electric rotary tool.
The carburetors that come inside a hedge trimmer regulate the air and fuel mixture. This precise mixture must be maintained at all times or performance will be severely limited. While separate, the fuel pumps on these carburetors also tend to warp and wear over several seasons. Due to fuel impurities dirty carburetors need cleaning and servicing every couple of seasons.
The best type of evergreen privacy hedge is a dense barrier to sight, sound and wind, fast-growing to the height you want it to reach and low-maintenance. Most evergreens used for hedging meet these criteria, although there are poor choices, too. Avoid holly with prickly leaves if you have pets or children or like to walk barefoot in your yard. Although it is evergreen, it sheds and renews its leaves.
Evergreen shrubs are used for landscapes, borders and boundaries as well as for privacy and wind screens. Their appeal is due to their dense, hardy green foliage. Cedar trees reach heights up to 70 feet. Trade your hedge into a noise-reducing -- and aesthetically appealing -- hedge by choosing appropriate species and applying proper maintenance and pruning techniques.
Hedges serve many purposes in your yard; they mark property lines, provide wind protection, and offer shelter to wildlife. High hedges also create privacy screens. Like other trees and shrubs, hedges grow best if planted at the appropriate time.
Hedge trimmers are used to prune shrubs and trees in the landscape around a home or commercial property. Taller shrubs, hedges and trees can be difficult to reach. You can use a ladder to help reach taller shrubs and trees, however, an extending pole trimmer would be a safer alternative. The inner shaft of the trimmer rests inside an outer shaft. The inner shaft can be extended to help reach taller pruning chores.
One of the more popular and fastest-growing hedge plants is the California privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium Hassk.) It will grow at the rate of more than three feet a year and will reach heights of up to 10 feet tall within three years after planting.
A pole hedge trimmer is an outdoor power tool that is designed to help homeowners and professionals successfully trim hedges, shrubs and other hard-to-reach plantings. An articulating hedge trimmer adds the versatility of a trimmer head that will pivot for adjustment. The ability to angle the trimmer cutting head allows the operator to remain safely on the ground while accomplishing different cutting angles when trimming.
Black & Decker was an independent Maryland-based power tool manufacturer. The company merged with Stanley tools in 2010 and is now known as "Stanley Black & Decker." It manufactures such name brands as Price Pfister, DeWalt, Delta Machinery, Kwikset and Vector. Among its many power tools is the "Hedgehog," an electric hedge trimmer tool. After some use, the blades become dull and need to be sharpened.
While many shrubs need sunshine to perform best, others thrive in shade, producing small, fragrant, pastel flowers, and some have colorful berries or variegated foliage. Evergreen and deciduous shrubs both grow in shade.
The fruits of the Maclura pomifera tree are called Osage oranges or hedge apples. These large, green, bumpy fruits are inedible, but contain certain chemicals believed to have repellent powers. Many promote the use of these hedge balls to repel spiders.
Boxwood is a slowly growing shrub used extensively in landscaping to create barriers, borders and topiaries. It is an evergreen that will stand out against the bare surroundings and provide color and texture to your landscaping scheme year round. If a boxwood is damaged and loses a branch, you can graft a new branch in its place by taking a cutting from an inconspicuous spot on another plant. This process takes many years to complete successfully, but, the plant will appear to be fixed almost immediately.
Andreas Stihl & Co. manufactures a wide range of power lawn care equipment, including hedge trimmers, leaf blowers and grass trimmers, such as the FS 36. Once your trimmer has been properly assembled and filled with fuel, starting the unit involves only a few simple steps.
Shrubs make decorative additions to the landscape due to their appealing colors and berries or flowers. When you plan a garden, identify potential shrubs to help you select the best plants for your landscape.
Roses belong to the genus Rosa. Fossil evidence dates the rose to 35 million years old. There are over 150 natural species of roses. During the late 18th century, gardeners developed different cultivars of roses to increase bloom time, hardiness and appearance. Modern day roses are all results of early cultivars.
Landscaping along your property line means that you have to take into consideration how your choices will affect your neighbors. Roots, branches and foliage will grow where the conditions suit them best and will not constrain themselves based on land deeds. Identify your priorities to make this juggling act a little easier.
Natural habitats for white-tailed deer include woods and marshy areas near rivers, streams or ponds. As their habitats shrink, more and more deer find their way into gardens, yards and even metropolitan areas. Deer move across wide areas as they forage and bed down in grassy or leafy areas protected by shrubs and trees. If you want to enrich the habitat of your local deer population, plant shrubs and trees that provide both shelter and food.
A well-cared for oleander (Nerium oleander) can withstand salt spray or flooding. Grown as a tree or small shrub, the oleander grows well in a beach-side landscape and tolerates sandy soil with poor nutrients.
Hedge apples, a non-toxic fruit that gives off a light, generally non-offensive odor, stands in gardening lore as a popular pest repellent. Gardeners trying to get rid of moles might find hedge apples less than effective, however.
The Oleander plant is a plant that is poisonous and has a fragrant smell. The Oleander plant can grow as tall as 10 feet. The roots of the plant spread quickly and can survive in dry or moist soil. If you grow an Oleander in the south, you will find that the hot and humid weather is ideal for growing Oleander.
Ligustrum, also known as privet, is a group of plants commonly used as shrubs, hedges, borders or even as individual specimen trees. For best results when growing your ligustrum shrub, regularly apply a relatively balanced fertilizer, which will ensure that the shrub develops its thick, glossy evergreen leaves and that it produces a healthy show of small white clustering blooms every spring. Regular fertilization will also keep ligustrum healthy against common problems like whiteflies or aphids.
If frequently sheared, a privet plant (Ligustrum spp.) may never reveal its flowers or fruits to a gardener. If left to grow unpruned, the plant does produce seeded fruits shaped like spheres or ovals. Seeds result after flower pollination.
Boxwood is a widely used landscaping plant, particularly in historical gardens or to accent Colonial architecture. Varied forms of boxwood permit its use as a screen, a framework for a formal garden, an outline or border and even as a topiary piece. There are two primary flying insect pests of boxwood.
Shrubs can be affected by many different kinds of diseases. Various factors such as overcrowding, poor soil, lack of proper nutrition and drought can all make shrubs more susceptible to problems. Although many diseases are treatable, in some cases it is best to remove the affected plant so that other shrubs are protected. The main factor in treating shrubs is to know what is affecting them, since each type of problem must be handled individually. Preventative measures can also help to reverse or slow the progression of disease.
Boxwood was first brought to North America in the middle of the 1600s from Europe and is considered "Man's Oldest Garden Ornamental," according to The American Boxwood Society. American boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), along with English boxwood (Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa') boxwood include approximately 90 species and more than 150 varying cultivars that feature numerous leaf colors, sizes, textures, forms and shapes. American boxwood is an evergreen shrub that can grow 15 to 20 feet tall with equal spread and is often planted as hedges. Plant American boxwood varieties suited for your location for best results.
Evergreen privets (Ligustrum spp.) belong to the olive family. Ligustrums also include a number of semi-evergreens and deciduous trees and shrubs. Evergreen privets are commonly used as hedge plants given their dense growth.
Boxwood, with its glossy leaves and fluffy, cloud-like shape, is a widely planted evergreen in home landscapes. Appreciating its beauty, many people like to use boxwood greens for home decor. Boxwood wreaths, in particular, are popular seasonal decorations and can be enjoyed any time of the year.
Numerous species of privets belong to the Ligustrum genus. Some are used as hedges, while the Chinese privet and glossy privet are classified as invasive. Plants are evergreen and sport fragrant white flowers in spring and into the summer. In addition to being used as a hedge, some of the privets serve as shrubs in a landscaping plan, while others grow into small trees. Privets are common in landscaping because they grow quickly and can withstand heavy, frequent pruning to keep them confined as a hedge.
The chain saw and hedge trimmer possess unique capabilities but generally perform different functions. A comparison of the applications and characteristics of chain saws and hedge trimmers allows you to determine which tool suits your yard maintenance needs.
Hedges need cutting anywhere from one to three times per growing season, depending on the location and the growth rate of the shrub species. Cutting overgrown hedges is a difficult job, but using the right tools makes it easier.
Heavy traffic noise, lingering pedestrians and a need for privacy are just some of the reasons homeowners grow their hedges to a certain height. However, before growing or trimming a hedge, homeowners should research the local laws in their area to ensure they are not breaking any of them.
Oleanders are a type of upright shrub or tree originally native to Morocco. These plants are popular ornamental landscaping plants in areas with warm climates and produce attractive flowers year-round. Planting oleanders correctly can help produce a strong, established plant and beautiful blossoms.
Boxwoods are commonly used as hedges and screens in landscape designs. These shrubs are susceptible to flying red insect infestations that affect the health and appearance of the plant.
Holly plants are woody, evergreen shrubs well-suited to hedges. Holly plants offer diverse cultivars for compact, slow-growing hedges or tall, dense screen plantings. Trim holly hedges to maintain size, shape and growth.
Hemlock hedges require regular pruning in order to maintain a desired shape and to encourage dense foliage growth. You will need to begin pruning the hemlock hedge from the time you plant it so that the foliage fills in heavily and doesn't become thin or scraggly. Pruning must continue at least twice a year throughout the life of the hedge. Hemlocks, attractive evergreens with sprays of needle-like foliage, grow continuously throughout the spring and summer. As a result, you can prune these hedges any time, making establishment and maintenance a less-tedious task than training other evergreen shrubs as hedges.
Use nature to block out noisy neighbors, messy lots or unsightly commercial developments. Trees may be slow to establish, but are ideal for this purpose because they last a long time and are fairly hardy against the environment and weather. Choose trees with a wide spread to form a dense privacy hedge.
Hedge apples, a fruit native to the Great Plains region and introduced into other areas of the United States over the years, are commonly believed to repel spiders. Since the pioneer days, people have placed the fruits around home foundations and along basement walls in hopes of finding relief from spiders and other pests.
A hedge is basically a living fence. It divides yards without the unfriendliness of a hard fence, and you can start it from seed at almost no cost. There are hundreds of varieties of plants to choose from when picking a plant for your hedge, depending on your growing conditions as well as your likes. Euonymus plants are a great choice for row planting in most yards, as they're evergreen for year-round beauty.
Homelite sells a variety of electric hedge trimmers. (All of the trimmers are designed to prune bushes and other woody shrubs to keep the backyard looking clean. Each of the trimmers have distinctive features that separate them apart. These features are what set the price for each trimmer. Homelite produces both corded and cordless trimmers.
The large, yellowish-green hedge apple may smell bad and look rather ugly, but the grapefruit-sized fruits are not toxic to people or animals. While people can't eat the rough-looking, large apples, they can be used for a variety of purposes.
Privets, or ligustrum, are shrubs and trees that are usually planted as hedges. They grow well in either full or partial sunlight and tolerate most soils. Ligustrums are vulnerable to attack from a number of different insects.
The hybrid result of chance cross-pollination between the Chinese and English holly species, the Nellie R. Stevens holly is sometimes grown as a small specimen tree. It can be truly stunning when grown as a shrub and trained into a year-round 10- or 15-foot-tall privacy hedge. This easy-care evergreen features glossy, deep-green leaves year-round, with the added bonus of abundant, bright-red holly berries come holiday season. Plants do well in sun or shade, growing up to 3 feet each year, and survive even poorly drained soil, drought and neglect. Plant young hollies 4 to 6 feet apart in two staggered…
Shrubs and hedges are often used in empty places in the front or backyard to add some texture and color. While hedges are commonly used to create a sense of security or privacy around the backyard, they can also be used to establish clean lines, such as along the driveway or sidewalk. Before you choose a hedge or shrub for your yard, familiarize yourself with the options on the market.
Whitethorn, a genus containing approximately 280 deciduous shrubs and trees that typically feature thorns, is a member of the Rosaceae family. Common names of whitethorn (Crataegus laevigata) include English hawthorn, Midland hawthorn, haw, hawthorn, may, may bush and mayflower. Native to Europe, these plants grow up to 24 inches a season, with mature heights above 20 feet and equal size widths. Typically grown for their ornamental beauty -- which includes dark green leaves, white showy spring blossoms and bright red fall fruits -- the flowers, berries and leaves are sometimes used for medicinal purposes also. Plant whitethorn hedges in USDA…
Evergreen plants suitable for forming hedges will give your property color no matter the season. Some of these evergreen species display cold hardiness, allowing you to utilize them in some of the more northerly U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones. Others may be non-native plants, but are appropriate for the climate and growing conditions where you live. Many evergreens, when planted in a row close together, develop into a hedge with a little help from your pruning shears.
Perfect hedges give privacy, act as wind screens and add beauty to the landscape. The best hedges usually combine one of these features with other qualities such as fragrance, form or a fast rate of growth. When selecting a hedge plant, take into consideration the sun, soil and water requirements of the plant, as well as your U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone.
White cedar and Eastern red cedar are commonly used as hedges, screens or as the main focal points of a landscaping design. Cedar hedge trees are compact, have bright green foliage and reach heights of 6 to 10 feet. The cedar hedge is susceptible to certain diseases that affect its health and appearance.
Oleander (Nerium oleander) is a native evergreen shrub of northern Africa and southeast Asia that can reach 20 feet tall. It produces abundant white, pink, salmon, red or yellow flowers. Oleander is a plant that thrives in warm climates and in bright sun although it can also grow in partial shade. Its leaves grow densely on the plant, making it a good choice for hedges, accent plants and even in city gardens. It grows in USDA hardiness zones 8 to 10, generally throughout the deep South, in Florida and in Texas.
A yard with extensive shady areas needn't be a yard lacking color. Many shade-loving shrubs and hedge plants produce colorful blooms, foliage or both and do a great job of defining and drawing attention to shady spots, advises University of Vermont professor Dr. Leonard P. Perry. Choosing shrubs and hedges native to your region -- and already adapted to the local climate and soil -- is a low-maintenance way to bring life to your garden's shady areas.
Carpinus betula, or European hornbeam, is a densely textured, symmetrical tree with a mature height of 40 to 60 feet. The slow-growing tree and its various cultivars are popularly used as hedges and screens. European hornbeam, a native of Europe, is the most used hedge plant in English gardens. The dense foliage responds very well to pruning, which makes it a preferred choice for topiaries. Carpinus betulus grows in sun or shade and is hardy in USDA Zones 4a to 7b.
Keeping your hedges trimmed with a hedge trimmer that relies on electric can often be impossible without dragging around an extension cord that can make maneuvering around your yard difficult. While cordless hedge trimmers need frequent recharging, they make the task of getting around to all of the hedges in a large yard easier. Finding the best cordless hedge trimmer will provide you both convenience and effective functionality.
The Canadian hemlock is an evergreen tree that reaches up to 80 feet in height and spreads up to 40 feet in its native habitat. Frequently, the Canadian hemlock is trained to be a dense, evergreen hedge.
Common boxwood or buxus (Buxus microphylla) is one of the most widely used shrubs for hedging around homes and commercial landscapes. There are many varieties of buxus, but buxus, or common boxwood, is planted most often because of its durability and ability to be closely sheared and make a dense hedge. Buxus has been grown in gardens for more than 600 years. It does not grow in the wild.
Hedge trimmers are essential tools in keeping a yard's hedges and shrubs looking clean and tidy. When looking for a hedge trimmer, the features most important are how its powered, safety features and how the blade is constructed.
Privets (Ligustrum spp.) are evergreen, fast-growing shrubs introduced to the United States as an ideal hedge plant. Privets handle frequent pruning or even being cut back to the ground, enhancing their survivability as a hedge. However, the problems with maintaining privet hedges indicate that a different species or a mixture of plants should be used in place of a solid privet hedge.
Minnesota experiences long, cold winters and short, temperate summers. The state also has a patchwork of soil types that are in part the result of glaciers that covered the state during the ice age. Because of this, it is important to select privacy hedges that will survive in Minnesota's climate and thrive in its soils.
Hedges can serve an important border and privacy function in your home garden, in addition to adding to your overall garden aesthetic. Even if your hedges are all-weather tolerant, healthy and hardy, harsh chemicals can still damage them. There are several household ingredients that when purposefully or accidentally spilled or applied to hedges, will kill the hedges.
The easiest and least expensive way for a gardener to get new plants for the landscape is by starting cuttings from older plants. Many shrubs root easily from cuttings, such as forsythia, euonymus and weigela. Although you can take cuttings from your hedges at different times during the year, those taken in late summer, around August, are the easiest to root.
Hedge apples, also known as monkey brains and spider balls, are actually the fruit of the Osage orange tree. In the Midwest, where the hedge apple is common, it's thought that hedge apples repel spiders.
Hedge apples are the grapefruit-sized fruits of the Osage-orange tree. These trees grow 50 to 60 feet tall and the fruit they produce is related to the fig or mulberry.
Growing hedges along a front yard or backyard can help increase the overall amount of privacy a property owner has. Such hedges can drown out street traffic, foot traffic, and other forms of noise pollution. However, anyone interested in growing hedges for privacy's sake, or for cosmetic reasons, should always research the local ordinances that apply. Hedge height laws determine how high a hedge can be, and those who do not comply run the risk of being fined, imprisoned, or both.
Few hedge plants are as stubborn and invasive as the common, Chinese and European privets. Though they make a fine, dense screen and provide food for birds and deer, they can get out of control and have become rampant over most regions in the United States. Privet spreads through copious root systems and berries that birds disperse in their droppings. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends a three-pronged attack on these vigorous shrubs if you want to remove them.
Boxwood (Buxus) plants come in a diverse range of sizes, forms and textures and are among the most popular plants used for creating hedges, edging plants, borders and natural screens. Shallow-rooted boxwoods grow well in areas of full sun but prefer partial shade. Boxwood plants are susceptible to a number of problems including cultural stresses, fungal disease and insect infestations.
A hedge is a wall created by a grouping of shrubs or trees that provides privacy, a habitat for wildlife and beauty to the area. The purpose and height of the hedge should be considered when determining what type of shrubs or trees to purchase. Some hedges require pruning to maintain a pleasing aesthetic appearance. Thorn-less shrubs prevent injury to small children or pets playing near the area.
If you have ever seen a hedge maze, you may already be familiar with the Buxus plant. Buxus is the scientific name for the common boxwood. These plants have dense growth and tiny, oval leaves that grow opposite one another on the stem of a plant and may reach up to 9 feet in height. Boxwood plants have been popular hedge plants in North America since colonial times.
If good fences make good neighbors, a tall hedge can make a healthy community. A mass planting of greenery, rising high along a boundary, provides privacy and adds a beautiful natural element for the entire neighborhood to enjoy. Tall hedges take time to mature, often more than a decade, but the reward is an attractive landscape feature that serves as a backdrop for your overall garden design.
Consider Robert's Frost line about good fences making good neighbors when selecting the most suitable privacy hedge or shrub for your yard that screens out unpleasant sounds and prevents outsiders from gazing inside. This vertical green wall or living fence stands out in the landscape and enhances the appearance of the area. Select evergreen, dense, easy-to-maintain and impenetrable hedges or shrubs when making the final selection.
Junipers are narrow-leaved evergreens that do not require as much pruning as broad-leaved trees. Care must be taken when trimming these hedges because of the "dead zone" in the center of the shrub. If trimmed back too far, the shrub will not recover. Trimming to make the shrub look like a square is not the best way to trim, either, as it can lead to damage to the hedge during the fall and winter. Using the correct tools and trimming the right way will give you a soft, green hedge for years to come.
According to the Department of Horticulture at Purdue University, ornamental plants, trees, bushes and shrubs can all be used as a hedge plant. The term hedge is used to describe densely grouped plants that are used to mark off boundaries such as a driveway; or around the edge of the property in order to keep children or animals in or out of their yard.
Hedges perform multiple functions, beautifying the landscaping while adding privacy to selected areas. Choose evergreen plants to provide greenery throughout the year. Many evergreen hedge plants also bloom with attractive flowers during the spring and summer. Washington State is home to numerous growing zones --- ranging from zone 3 to zone 9. Consult your local nursery prior to purchasing hedge plants to verify that you are planting varieties that are hardy in your area.
The buxus family of plants are traditional plants that have been used in colonial landscaping since 1652. The plants, which are more commonly called boxwood, are suitable for both formal and informal landscapes and have been used in both topiary and as hedges. Boxwood must be trimmed frequently. The plant is slow growing and infrequent trimming can kill lower leaves and pull the hedge out of shape.
Regardless of where you reside in Florida, there is a vast variety of plants suitable for use as hedges. Many of these shrubs are Florida natives and tolerant of the state's warm, humid and subtropical weather conditions. Gardeners adding shrubs to their landscape for use in hedges should consider the plant's mature size for proper spacing. Those living in North Florida should select plants tolerant to the area's annual frosts and freezes.
Privet hedges are deciduous bushes that grow quickly and can soon overpower an area in your landscaping. Some varieties have a white bloom in the early summer and others have a blue-black fruit. Many homeowners plant this hedge because it provides privacy and a sound barrier. It is necessary to control the shrub with proper pruning techniques.
Growing hedges in your yard or garden can be an alternative to constructing a fence for those who wish to add more privacy to their property. However, those who wish to grow a hedge cannot grow them as tall as they want. Different regions have different laws in regards to how high a hedge can be grown, and those who violate these laws could face fines.
In nature, trees and hedges are cut back during storms, because of lack of sunlight and for a variety of other reasons. In a well-cared-for garden, however, plants may never have to face these stresses and can grow wild and uncontrolled without proper pruning. If your evergreen hedges have grown unsightly or are taking over your garden or lawn because you have failed to prune them, proper technique and careful cutting can control the branches while keeping the plant healthy and growing.
Hedges are often used as accent borders, but they are also ideal for creating privacy. Finding shrubs that will grow in shady areas can be tricky, however. Most plants prefer at least partial sunlight in order to grow well, and of those that do tolerate shade, some will drop their leaves in the winter -- ruining the private feel of the hedge. Still, there are some shrubs that will tolerate shade and make a nice privacy barrier.
Stihl Incorporated USA is a well-know manufacturer of outdoor power equipment such as chainsaws, leaf blowers, industrial demolition saws, edgers and hedge trimmers. If you have acquired a Stihl HS45 model hedge trimmer and wish to start it for the first time, it is a fairly straightforward task. Before you begin, be sure to fuel the unit according to the manufacturer's directions.
Cedars are versatile evergreens that are capable of growing in almost any type of soil. Unfortunately, they have gotten the reputation as being mosquito magnets. In reality it is not the cedars that are attracting mosquitoes.
Privet hedges are members of the Ligustrum species of plants that tolerate heavy pruning and grow rapidly. They are glossy-leaved, semi-evergreen shrubs that become covered in sprays of white flowers at summer's end. Maintaining a well-formed privet hedge requires attention to a few cultural details.
A hedge helps define property lines while providing privacy and screening for the home landscape. Cedar provides a thick, evergreen hedge that remains attractive year-round. Eastern red cedar is the type of cedar most often used for a hedge. Proper care and maintenance helps keep the hedge healthy and looking its best.
Hedges provide privacy, structure and beauty to the landscape. When planted properly, they will thrive for many years to come. Successfully planting hedges requires that you keep a few specific guidelines in mind.
Artful pruning transforms a line of shrubs into a decorative hedge used to define a perimeter of an area or provide a privacy screen. Consider your climate zone when selecting shrubs or bushes to add to your landscape. What commonly grows well in another area may not be suitable for your region.
Hedge apples, also known as osage oranges, are generally considered inedible. This is largely due to the unpalatable taste of its fruit despite its orange-like smell. However, hedge apples are non-poisonous. And those who can look past the hedge apple's bumpy, ugly exterior, eat its seeds.
Hedges are a formation of shrubs or low trees pruned into shape with gardening tools such as shears and hedge trimmers. Some plants prove better candidates for hedges than others. Hedges can be simple green varieties or might incorporate several flowering shrubs for a showy look. Prepare the soil for plantings with a bit of fertilizer and water new plants well to help them establish.
Electric hedge trimmers make trimming hedges and bushes easier and quicker than using manual hand-powered trimmers. Electric trimmers, the most popular type in the U.S., cost less and require less maintenance than gasoline-powered models. Electric trimmers are used most often by homeowners with the Black and Decker Hedge Hog series being very popular. While they are not premium products, electric trimmers like the Black and Decker Hedge Hog trimmer can keep trimming reliably for years with proper maintenance, including sharpening the blade's teeth.
Hedges are a classic way to add charm to a yard or garden but require significant upkeep. If you don't have the time, energy or finances to keep your hedges looking good, or have inherited a hedge in a new home which you don't like, then killing the hedge may be your best option. Dumping poison on the hedge will kill it, but chemical root killers can also contaminate the soil and make it difficult to grow other plants in the area. Luckily you can kill hedges naturally, without resorting to harsh chemicals or poisons.
Although mainly decorative, hedges can be a natural part of your landscape, helping reduce traffic noise in the yard and providing some privacy. Over time, though, hedges grow wildly out of control and look unkempt if they are not pruned properly. Your first may be to just cut what is overgrown, but you should familiarize yourself with the proper way to complete the task of pruning the hedges to keep them looking well-groomed.
Hedges serve a variety of landscaping functions. They define space within a yard or garden, provide privacy and hide undesirable views. Hedges are also used to soften architectural elements, such as fences or retaining walls. When used in combination with other plants, hedges provide a verdant backdrop for summer flowers or fall foliage.
Hedge apples grow on Osage-orange trees, which commonly thrive in Midwestern states. People also often refer to the hedge apple as bodark, bois d'arc, bowwood, monkey ball and spider ball.
Topiary is the art of sculpting plants into artificial shapes. These shapes may be geometric, or whimsical. Some topiary hedges are even trimmed to look like animals. Although professional topiary artists can train and maintain shrubs that look like animals without guidance, amateur gardeners may wish to use a topiary frame. A topiary frame is a three-dimensional wire sculpture that can be placed around a shrub. By trimming a shrub down to the frame guide, you train the topiary into that particular shape.
Hedges are shrubs or trees planted together to form a wall or boundary. As Susan Bianchi of HGTV points out, hedges serve several purposes, including privacy, the aesthetic framing of other plants and the creation of a focal point that draws viewers' attention to certain areas of a lawn or garden. Their most obvious purpose, however, is their beauty, which decreases when parts of the hedge begin to turn brown.
Pruning hedges helps them stay healthy, according to the horticulture experts at the University of Arizona. While it is easier to begin shaping a privacy hedge while the plants are young, it is possible to shape older hedges. It is best to begin pruning scrubs in the early spring, after the last frost but before the hedge's leaves are fully grown. When choosing a new set of hedge trimmers, select a pair of scissor action shears. These shears are less likely to damage living tissue than their electric counterparts.
Shrubs and hedges are used in the home garden to accent the landscape with flowers and foliage, for division within the garden and to provide privacy. Buying new shrubs and hedges from a garden center can be expensive. Propagating the plants by rooting cuttings is a more economical choice, and is easy to do with only a few tools. Choosing the right branch to cut for propagation is essential to the new plants' success.
Hedges have a number of benefits, including defining borders, creating privacy and blocking wind. Formal hedges consist of rows of intermingling bushes or shrubs that are trimmed to give them meticulously manicured shapes. If you prefer a more natural appearance as well as plants that require less maintenance, plant rows of bushes that do not require trimming.
Many diseases can affect your shrubs and hedges. Each one has different symptoms but can be diagnosed if you pay attention and look over your plants often. The diseases are usually caused by fungal infections, which are challenging to treat. The first step to restoring health and vigor to your plants is to diagnose the disease properly. If you can't figure it out yourself, take a picture and consult a horticulturist before spraying chemical treatments.
Extendable-handle hedge shears are also called telescoping handle shears. The basic operation of these shears is almost identical to traditional shears. The biggest difference is that the handles can extend and contract, allowing you to use them in locations that traditional shears will not reach. Extendable handle shears are more expensive than traditional shears but are available at most home and garden centers. The handle lengths typically range from 15 to 33 inches long.
The Juniperus Virginiana, also known as the Eastern Red Cedar, is a tree that grows to 50 feet high. The variety Juniperus Virginiana (canaertii), which reaches about 8 feet at maturity, makes a good choice for an average-size shrub. According to the Clemson University Extension, "Junipers grow from 4 inches to 50 feet tall with a spread from 6 to 20 feet depending on the species." Decide how high you want your hedge, and purchase the best species for your needs.
Both hedge shears and lopping shears work like scissors, using blades beveled on one side to slice through whatever they cut. Unlike scissors, lopping shears usually have a curved blade and a curved hook to meet it, rather than two straight blades. The curve prevents a branch from slipping away as you slice down, but it also presents a unique challenge when sharpening. Hedge shears with two straight blades look more like oversize scissors, but they may have a serrated edge on the blades, unlike scissors.
A healthy, dense hedge can provide family privacy, or create visual separation between one part of a yard or garden and another. The density of a hedge depends on various factors, including the plants selected, how they are planted, how they are trained and how they are maintained over time. For best results, think carefully about the hedge or hedges you want to grow, and how much time you can commit to hedge maintenance.
"Hedge apple" is a common term for an inedible fruit that looks like a green, undersized and knobby grapefruit. It may also be used to refer to the tree itself. The proper name for the tree is Osage-orange (Maclura pomifera) and it is a member of the mulberry family. The fruit itself has few if any uses, but the wood is very useful in a number of ways.
Sharp hedge trimmers make quick work of trimming bushes. The blades snip leaves and branches with each closing motion between the two blades, using the same technique as scissors. Hedge trimmers need sharpening when they tear leaves and branches instead of cutting them cleanly. Dull trimmers leave a hedge or bush uneven with small pieces protruding from the foliage.
Ficus benjamina is a common hedge plant in many parts of South Florida, as it is cheap to purchase and grows quickly. Unfortunately, it is more of a tree than a shrub--and a very large tree at that. Consequently, it is difficult to maintain as a hedge, and becomes an impractical and, in the long run, expensive hedge. In recent years, the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). Miami-Dade County Extension has also noticed an increase in calls regarding ficus plants that have turned yellow and dropped their leaves. This is due to the presence of…
Not all shrubs are suitable for hedges, as many shrubs either won't respond well to pruning or grow in a loose, sprawling manner that makes for an untidy shrub. There are a few kinds of shrubs that are particularly good for hedges and have proved themselves tried and true over the years.
Hedges are one the world's favorite methods of defining home boundaries. They are long-lasting, provide a home for wildlife and change with the seasons, adding interest to the garden. Hedges can also be almost any shape and size from a one-foot tall box edging hedge to a 30-foot tall leyland wall. Correct pruning of your hedge will help to keep it bushy and healthy and keep gaps to a minimum. Plants commonly used as hedging include privet, beech, yew and box.
Hedges provide privacy, reduce noise from nearby traffic, mark boundaries along property lines, serve as barriers to keep children and pets in the yard and serve as windbreaks when they are grown. American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) is native to the United States and will grow almost everywhere in the country. It reaches a height and spread of 20 to 30 feet and grows a dense crown when planted in full sun. This densely foliated crown makes it ideal for use as a screen.
Commonly called Osage orange, hedge apples (Maclura pomifera) are large, bright-green fruit with a distinctive bumpy skin texture. Despite their common names, this species is not related to oranges or apples, but are members of the mulberry family. The thorny, deciduous trees on which hedge apples grow are long-lived and shrubby, with 3-to-6-inch-long tapering leaves and pale green flowers. They are grown for their fruit and for the tree itself, which has many uses.
The hot and humid climate of the Florida panhandle makes that location ideal for a variety of plants. Some residents in the area choose to grow shrubs as hedges, maintaining shade and privacy on their property. With proper plant selection, care and pruning, these hedges can turn ordinary landscape designs into colorful expressions.
One of the ways that hedge trimmers are classified is according to the action of the trimming blade. Dual-action hedge trimmers perform a cutting action by activating two blades or cutting saws that run in opposite directions; single action hedge trimmers use only one moving blade to perform a cutting action. Though choosing the right hedge trimmer typically comes down to personal preference, dual-action hedge trimmers have some advantages over single action trimmers.
A privet hedge is commonly used as a boundary line, or fence, a border plant or just for general landscaping. Privet hedges are tall, fast-growing hedges that aside from pruning and trimming, require little maintenance. Privet hedges bloom in early to mid-summer, with small white to cream colored flowers. Bees and other insects are commonly attracted to the flowers. When fertilized, the flowers then turn into small dark blue or black colored berries that attract small, local species of birds to eat. It should be noted that all parts of most species of privet hedge, such as the leaves, berries…
The most common hedge plants in the United States are privets, members of the ligustrum genus. They are adaptable to a variety of soil and light conditions. Privets are also used for foundation plantings, shrub borders and patio trees. The ability of these everygreen shrubs and trees to handle severe pruning makes them well-suited for hedges. Rapid growth makes frequent clipping necessary.
Bushes are a natural way to create privacy or block unattractive structures or views. Bushes also add color and increase the beauty of your landscape. The best bushes for hedges are varieties with a dense growing habit that reach a height of at least six feet tall. Do not plant your bushes close together to speed the formation of your hedge. This will cause the plants to compete for nutrients and moisture and adversely affect the health of your hedge.
The hedge apple, which is also known as the osage orange, is the pomifera species within the Maclura genus, which is in the Moraceae family. The hedge apple originated in the Southern United States, where it served a practical purpose, as a barrier or hedge, and hence the alternative name. But, the tree's fruit, which do not resemble an orange or apple, emit a citrus-like smell when peeled or crushed.
Privets are fast-growing plants that thrive in almost any kind of soil, making them a popular choice for hedges. But if you aren't careful, these plants can spread out of control and quickly kill off other plants around them. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), many people end up removing a privet hedge because the plant is so invasive. The most effective way to remove a privet hedge is to spray it with a herbicide, cut the branches off and dig up the roots. The best time to tackle this job is in the summer or early fall.
A hedge apple, also spelled hedgeapple or hedge-apple, may be the name of a tree (Maclura pomifera) or its green, inedible fruit. The tree is also known as osage orange, bois d'arc, bodark and hedge; osage orange is one of the more well-known names. The tree provides high-quality, durable wood, and the fruit may have pest repellent properties.
Hedges and bushes can expand quickly, causing a lawn to look like the unkempt lawn of a haunted house. Gas hedge trimmers cut bushes and hedges down to a manageable size, making the lawn manageable. As long as there is gas in the machine, it can be used anywhere. After trimming thick bushes, the blades will become dull. Sharpening them at home cane be done with just a few tools and will be as sharp as they were when they were new.
Box hedges are a natural part of the landscape and are often forgotten. They require very little care, because they get their nutrients from mother nature and they do not require trimming to survive. But, their look can be improved and their life increased by regular maintenance and care such as water, fertilizer, shearing and pest control.
Chances are that every person in North America will come in contact with a ficus plant at some point in their lives. This is because ficus plants make up the majority of all indoor plants. It is also commonly planted as a hedge. Ficus plants come in many varieties, and also attract a variety of insect pests.
If your landscaping work is made to look less neat due to a next-door neighbor's overgrown hedges hanging into your yard, you may have some recourse. You may be able to neaten parts of the hedge yourself without asking permission. State and local laws vary, however, so be sure to research whether trimming overhanging tree limbs and hedges is allowable by law in your area or whether you need to give your neighbor a chance to do it himself first.
With homes getting larger and lot sizes shrinking, finding a quiet place to relax in your yard without intrusions is increasingly difficult. Creating an area for privacy can become an overwhelming task if you are unfamiliar with the right plants to choose as well. By deciding to seal off your backyard with a natural hedge, you have chosen a wonderful way to be eco-friendly and nature-conscious in your soon-to-be private landscape.
Evergreen hedges provide year-round borders or dividers for gardens. They provide privacy screens and protection from the elements. Once established, most evergreen hedges require less pruning and maintenance than deciduous varieties but are more susceptible to winter elements than their deciduous counterparts. Popular types of evergreen hedges include conifers, mountain laurels and wintergreen boxwoods.
The carburetor on most small engine hedge trimmers has a butterfly valve with an internal diaphragm. These carburetors have three basic sections: the mixing section, the metering section and inlet/outlet valves. These carburetors can get dirty and gummed up quickly if the trimmer is used improperly. They should be cleaned and serviced on a regular basis, as they get older. Take extreme care when disassembling and reassembling the carburetor, as they can be ruined very easily.
Privet is a common term used to describe evergreen shrubs within the Ligustrum genus. These attractive and vigorous shrubs are often pruned and shaped into hedges or natural privacy screens for home landscapes. With the proper care, a privet shrub can add a touch of elegant natural beauty to your home landscape for many decades. Most Ligustrum cultivars grow best in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 8, though select Ligustrum cultivars may be hardy down to zone 3.
Hedges are a great way to block both unattractive views and your neighbors' prying eyes. Consider planting hedges if you want privacy but do not want to install a fence. Use plants for privacy hedges that grow to at least 6 feet tall and have dense foliage. A hedge may be less expensive than a privacy fence, depending on the type you choose, and would likely last longer. Many do require some maintenance, such as pruning.
Boxwood hedges are hardy plants that can be used alone as accent points around the yard, or in a hedgerow to form borders. Boxwood hedges can also be pruned into a variety of shapes to give you several different looks with the same type of plant. Moving a mature boxwood hedge can be done using the proper steps to maintain the health of the plants.
Hedge apples are round, green, bumpy fruit from the Osage orange tree. They aren't poisonous, but they aren't a good food source for humans or wildlife. According to folklore, they can help rid houses of spiders and insects, although their usefulness in this regard hasn't been scientifically proven. Hedge apples often litter the ground under Osage orange trees. You can also get them at farmers markets, at some garden supply centers and on the Internet.
Tall hedges can provide privacy and noise control for your home. A tall hedge can replace a privacy fence. Some hedges may grow higher than 20 feet without proper maintenance. To keep your hedges at a manageable height, trim your hedges at least twice a year. The main cut should be made in the winter when the hedge is not actively growing. A second cut may be done in August. Small trims can be made throughout the summer when the hedge becomes unruly.
Adding ornamental hedges to a landscape creates a pleasing display and an attractive boundary. While hedges require regular maintenance, the time you spend keeping hedges neat and tidy will create payoff in the improvement to your landscape. As a gardener strives to maintain hedges, often the goal is to trim the hedges into a formal shape (with squared or rounded edges). Trim hedges evenly, using basic tools to keep your hedges attractive and healthy.
The common box shrub, also known as Buxus sempervirens, is an evergreen plant that produces dense green foliage. Because of the thickness of the leaves, it is often used to create shrubs and privacy screens. The shrub is easy to trim into shapes, and is often used for topiaries in addition to a traditional square box shape. The plant is extremely hardy and requires very little care other than frequent pruning to maintain the desired shape.
Privet (Ligustrum), comes in many varieties: Japanese, Chinese, common, California Privet (Ligutrum vulgare) or Golden (Ligustrum ovafolium "Aureum") are the most common. All are deciduous shrubs, losing their leaves in winter. Privet grows 4 to 15 feet tall with a spread of 4 to 8 feet if left uncut, or it can be shaped into a formal hedge of whatever size you desire. It's a versatile, fast-growing shrub that will produce small white flowers in late spring, when planted in full sun or partial shade.
The privet hedge is a hearty plant that is often used as a barrier on property. Privet hedges also act as a sound barrier, wind barrier, and can even provide much needed shade during the summer. The plant has a tendency to spread quickly. The berries on the hedge are eaten by local bird life, which in turn spread the seeds of the berry around the same area. You can have privet hedges growing in multiple areas in a short period of time. To kill an unwanted privet hedge, you will need several gardening tools and some old-fashioned elbow grease.
Successful hedges or pruned shrubs begin with plant selection. For informal hedges or ornamental shrubs, choose species that already have the overall desired shape for your landscape purposes. This will minimize the need to prune the shrubs. Formal, professional-looking hedges or heavily shaped shrubs require a plant with dense foliage copious branching. Pruning should be scheduled according to the plant you chose. The Texas A&M System AgriLife Extension warns against pruning while the plant creates new growth in spring.
Hedges and shrubs are attractive additions to landscapes, as well as providing boundary markers and privacy screens. Although the goal of growing hedges is often to allow them to get as tall as possible, they still require pruning on a regular basis. Older hedges are usually neglected, which results in tall growth that is sparse in the center and top heavy. Trimming older hedges back into shape requires hand pruning to retrain the growth patterns.
Privet is a vigorous, fast-growing shrub that regenerates by means of seeds, cuttings or root extensions. An overgrown, sparse privet will fill out with regular aggressive pruning. Mature privets are hard to kill and can be forced to regenerate by cutting them back to six inches from the ground.
Hedge shrubs can be used for privacy as windbreaks and border decorations, or as complements to flower beds. Whether the hedge is flowering, variegated or evergreen, these versatile landscaping perennials will thrive in most weather or soil conditions.
Most people want to be good and friendly neighbors, but you might not like the feeling that the neighborhood can see all of your comings and goings and recreational activities. You may not want to have to wave hello to neighbors every time you walk out onto your patio. Many yards have fences that border them, preventing this from happening. But if you're looking for privacy without a hard fence, an evergreen privacy hedge could be a suitable alternative.
Unkempt hedges can be an eyesore. A number of people plant hedges only to realize a few years down the road that they don't want the responsibility and the work that hedges require. Sometimes your landscaping plans just don't include hedge care, and you want them gone. You don't have to hire expensive landscape contractors to remove the hedges for you. Although it can be a bit time consuming, you can easily remove hedges and kill the roots yourself.
You can prune beech hedge trees while they are still young. Each time that you prune them, you encourage the hedge tree to grow and become bushier. During the first year of growth, the beech tree may have two trimmings. As you begin to prune a second time, you will see the beech tree beginning to bush out. When you prune the beech hedge, you are forcing the stems to become multi-branched. The more stems the beech hedge has, the more leaves it will have and the leaves will last longer into the winter.
Growing hedges that are "deer proof" is as much art as science, given that no plants---and therefore no hedge---can be guaranteed to deter deer. That said, a good number of strongly deer-resistant plants could be developed into attractive and useful hedges. Evergreen plants---plants that never lose their leaves---are effective for hedges intended as year-round fences or privacy screens, but you can also grow deciduous hedges.
Folklore often provides traditional wisdom that is just as sound today as it was hundreds of years ago. That is the case of the Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera). The name of the tree is derived from the Osage Indian tribe which used the fine grain wood of the tree to craft bows used as weapons. The tree produces an inedible fruit called "mock orange" or hedge apple, which as it ripens, secretes a scent that drives away spiders, ants, bed bugs, mice and other unwelcome pests. The hedge apples are often used in ornamental arrangements, garlands and wreathes.
Growing a hedge can serve many purposes in the home and garden landscape. The hedge can block ugly views, as well as preventing others from seeing your own property. A dense hedge can be just as effective as a fence, but also more affordable. A hedge can also help separate different areas of a garden or yard while creating a sense of order and balance. Ideally, a screening hedge should be evergreen so that it serves its purpose year-round.
Evergreen hedges are an attractive addition to any landscape. Many are made up of perennial plants that are slow-growing. Evergreen hedges can form the basic structure of many landscape designs. In addition, the evergreen plants respond well to pruning and trimming, making them easy to shape into different hedge forms.
Ficus hedges are popular among gardeners and homeowners because they offer a thick, compact privacy fence around the patio. Tall trees like ficus with their deep green foliage are perfect for enveloping a patio or backyard space.
The ancient Romans created hedges of laurel, box and myrtle in their gardens, while the French introduced hedges in a tall scale, trimming large trees such as elm, linden, and beech to vertical form. In England, one purpose of hedges for centuries has been to create Knott gardens in geometric patterns. Today, hedges vary in size from small edging plants to towering trees, and in form from trimmed and straight edges to natural shapes with a tousled appearance. They provide privacy, windbreaks, backdrops, enclosures and fences in beautiful evergreen or flowering choices.
A plant for all seasons, viburnums have colorful foliage and bear beautiful flowers and fruits. A low-maintenance plant, they grow mainly as shrubs and small trees and make ideal flowering hedges.
The ficus is a common landscaping plants which can be easily cultivated. They are prolific growers that are often plant to form a hedge.
Any home owner whose yard contains hedges or overgrown bushes knows about the time-consuming process of manual hedge or bush trimming. Gas-powered hedge trimmers power through the task of hedge trimming. In just a few swipes, you can even out the tops, sides and bottoms. You can sculpt a hedge or bush to just about any shape you want, quickly and efficiently. If you have hedges, your new best friend consists of a gas-powered hedge trimmer.
Shrubs are easy to grow and maintain. Informal shrub hedges offer privacy, shade and beauty, but don't require constant shaping. All these shrubs need is an occasional pruning. For a hedge, plant one variety of shrub; consider evergreens for year-round beauty. Some shrubs need a lot of sun, others prefer shade. Most shrubs need little fertilizer or water once they are established and are long-lived.
Shrubs and hedges are often used as landscaping materials for homes of all styles. The natural look of shrubs and hedges helps them blend in with the environment and adds a lush look to the landscape design. They also provide benefits to the home and landscape. When planted near the home, shrubs can block sunlight and wind, which can help your home's energy efficiency. They also offer privacy in addition to beautifying the landscape.
The United States Department of Agriculture ranks zones from 1 to 11 based on minimum average temperatures, and tropical planting zones in the U.S. typically are considered the USDA hardiness zones 9, 10 and 11. The tropical zones are primarily located in southern Florida, California and the southwestern deserts. A wide variety of tropical hedges are available, many of which flower during certain parts of the year. Given the inherent dryness of these areas, most tropical hedges tolerate dry to drought conditions, as well as salt spray near the coast.
Cutting with dull electric hedge trimmers is hard on the hedges you are trimming because it does not provide a clean cut. After repeated usage, the blades become dull and the job takes even longer to accomplish. You can sharpen your own hedge trimmers at home with just a few basic tools. You will be saving money and time by learning the skills needed to sharpen the blades. Whether you have only a few trees making up your hedge or many, having a sharp blade will make the job more enjoyable.
Box hedges can create the perfect privacy fence around a backyard or front lawn. They require relatively low maintenance besides occasional trimming and stay green all year round. Box hedges enjoy a light top trimming in mid-summer and a more thorough shaping in August or September. This allows the hedges to produce new growth before the growing season is over. The safest way to ensure an even trim for box hedges is to employ a simple technique using household items.
Bamboo, one of the fastest growing plants in the world, is beautiful evergreen foliage to use for a hedge. It varies in height, density and leaf size, and is an inexpensive option for creating privacy.
Bamboo is a fast-growing plant with several species. The bamboo typically grown as a hedge is Bambusa multiplex, a clumping bamboo. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), it spreads more slowly and is easier to contain than other types of bamboo.
You may want to shorten hedges to change their look or to rein them in after years of neglect. Careful pruning at the right time of year will result in shorter hedges with minimal trauma, and often a benefit, to the health of the hedge. Annual pruning will maintain the desired height and keep hedges healthy.
A privet hedge is an effective and aesthetically pleasing way to create privacy in your yard. However, if not properly trimmed, a privet hedge suggests to onlookers that the property it's hiding is just as untidy as it is. But it doesn't take a lot of work to return a privet hedge to its former glory. You simply need a sharp pair of pruning shears and an eye for symmetry.
Arborvitae, or thuja as the species is known botanically, makes an ideal hedging plant because of its dense but fine-textured evergreen foliage, low need for maintenance and rapid columnar growth. Arborvitae shrubs can be planted shoulder to shoulder and left to develop their natural form as a hedge, or they can be sheared and shaped to create more formal hedging shapes with a fixed height.
Wintergreen boxwood (Buxus microphylla var. koreana "Wintergreen") is a hybrid of the Korean boxwood. These shrubs grow 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide in a rounded shape. The wintergreen boxwood has bright green foliage that tends to stay green during the winter. It is often used as a low-growing hedge.
Established hedges occasionally need to be removed for a bevy of reasons. They can be in poor condition from long periods of neglect, at the end of their lifespan or simply because they no longer mesh with the landscaping plan at the site. A combination of aggressive pruning and excavation can make quick work of most hedging plants. For very large and mature hedging plants or long expanses of hedging, mechanical excavation equipment will make the job much easier and faster.
Privet hedges are easily grown and popular as landscaping, particularly in cities, but they will grow anywhere. This plant is poisonous, so its location and use should be carefully thought out.
Hedge apples or osage oranges are related to the mulberry bush. They have glossy, lance-shaped leaves with a smooth edge and tapered tip. The leaves grow up to 8 inches and produce short thorns where the leaf attaches to the branches. These thorns are sharp enough to flatten a heavy-duty tractor tire. Only the female trees bear the fruit, which is a large green and wrinkled ball that is 6 inches in diameter.
The privet is a semi-evergreen shrub used in landscaping in most parts of the US. It produces small flowers followed by berries that are quickly eaten by birds. A privet is often pruned drastically to create a dense hedge; left unpruned, a privet can become very large and difficult to control. A privet thrives in sun or shade and tolerates dry as well as moist soil.
Hedges can serve a dual purpose, they can add a decorative touch to your lawn or serve as a way to screen the yard from people going by. To keep your hedges looking their best, you need to choose the right hedge trimmer. Factors to consider in choosing a trimmer include the size and amount of hedges to trim, cost of the trimmer and benefits and drawbacks of the different models. After weighing all the options, you will end up with the right trimmer for the job.
The cherry hedge, or Surinam Cherry, is native to Surinam, Guyana and French Guiana. In the United States it is a common hedge with edible fruit grown in central and Southern Florida and the Florida Keys.
Japanese holly is a perennial bush or small tree that is popular for hedges because of its year-round, dense green foliage and slow growth. It needs little pruning, and its evergreen leaves are a nice splash of color in the wintertime. Individual plants are either male or female, and female plants produce a shiny black berry that is about ¼ inch in diameter. With very little fuss, a Japanese holly hedge can make a lovely addition to your landscaping.
Privet hedges are extremely hardy and can thrive in almost any soil condition or location. However, that doesn't mean privet hedges are immune to disease.
Alpine currant is a hardy shrub that tolerates harsh conditions, including moderately poor soil or shade. It can also survive average winter low temperatures as cold as -40 degrees F. Whether or when to prune this shrub is largely a matter of preference. While it will mound naturally if pruning is limited to removing dead wood, it is also possible to trim Alpine currant into a tight and attractively sculpted hedge. The choice is important because trimmed hedges require much more frequent tending. Once established, untended hedges do not easily or quickly return to natural form since the tight outer…
Fertilizer is necessary to help your hedges grow, so once a year they will need to be fertilized to ensure they retain their vigor. Hedges can be used in many ways to spice up your landscape and add greenery. Sometimes they are used as a fence to protect your privacy, and sometimes as a backdrop for flowers. Fertilizing your hedges will not require much of your time. Creating beautiful, green hedges is important and fertilizing them will aid them in becoming just that.
A privet hedge is a perennial, deciduous shrub that can thrive in virtually any soil or location. Privet hedges fill in quickly and form a dense, thick covering.
Holly bushes are well-known for their dangling berries and lush, dark green foliage. The bush reaches its peak of popularity in the winter, when many people choose to use the bush for decoration during Christmas. Caring for a holly requires proper sunlight and water distribution; both determined by the quality of pruning performed. Pruning a holly is necessary to remove damage limbs, and give an attractive appearance to your landscape.
Evergreen hedges keep their foliage year-round, so they are a good choice for ensuring privacy all year. Hedges can also provide floral interest for your landscape, especially if you use flowering evergreen hedges such as holly and azalea. Hedges can be trimmed for a formal or informal look. Evergreen hedges look their best and stay healthier when you trim them at the proper time and use the right tools.
Hedge clippers have to cut through tough, knotty bits of green wood as well as leaves, and that kind of work demands sharp blades. A dull pair of hedge clippers will result in using more force to do the same job, which will wear out the clippers' pivot joint over time. Sharpening your hedge clippers is an easy task that will require less than 15 minutes and should be done every time you use them.
Shrubs require consistent and routine trimming to maintain a healthy and well-manicured hedge. Occasionally a hedge is neglected and becomes overgrown. With the proper pruning technique, an overgrown hedge can be restored. Depending on how out of control your hedge is, it may take a few years of trimming to completely train it. With patience you can turn your overgrown shrub into a beautiful and shapely hedge. Deciduous hedges should be trimmed in winter, and evergreen hedges should be trimmed in spring.
Hedges are more friendly to look at than a fence if you want to establish some privacy between your property and your neighbor's. But hedges require more maintenance, including regular pruning, as well as caring for the plants themselves. Make sure you plan for the time it takes to maintain your hedge before you decide to plant one.
Privet hedge is a very versatile plant. It can be grown as a shrub, trained as a living fence or grown as a beautiful purple-berry-covered tree. The berries hang down in clusters like tiny grapes. They add depth to a white winter landscape and offer dense shade in the summer. Their fast growth makes them especially useful as a hedge or specimen tree. When trained as topiaries they're unmatched for their ability to fill in fully in as little as a season.
Viburnum is a family of hearty shrubs that grow just about anywhere in the United States. Some varieties of viburnum have flowers and berries, others can easily be tree formed. There are varieties that grow in a rounded form, while others are tall and narrow. Overall, they are generally taller than they are wide and grow best in partial to full sun conditions in moist soil. Their glossy leaves lend most varieties to serve as terrific natural hedges. As with any hedge, the trick in keeping viburnum hedges healthy and easy to maintain lines in proper uniform spacing.
Stihl makes great landscaping tools and its hedge trimmers are no exception. Before attempting to start the hedge trimmer, be sure the fuel tank is filled with fresh, stabilized gasoline. Also be certain the spark plug wire is firmly connected to the spark plug.
Privet is one of the most versatile and easiest plants to grow. It can be used as a shrub that is meticulously maintained and eventually turned into topiary, grown as a privacy hedge or natural boundary in the landscape, or even as a tree. Nature provides a privet hedge the necessary conditions it requires to thrive in the form of sunlight and occasional rain, encouraging it to grow thick and dense. However, trimming it to maintain its appearance and shape and to encourage new growth is a task left to gardeners.
The Western red cedar (Thuja plicata), when pruned correctly, provides a thick and full privacy hedge while adding decorative value to your landscaping. Western red cedar hedges require detailed pruning the first three years after planting, but once established, minimal pruning effort is needed. But do have patience: Western red cedar hedges develop slowly.
Hedge apples are the fruit of the Osage orange tree. This hardwood tree produces the oddly shaped fruit during the late summer and early fall months. Hedge apples are great centerpieces for harvest and Thanksgiving displays and will keep their color for months if properly preserved. Hedge apple displays make wonderful gifts for visiting friends and families over the American holiday season and can brighten a dining or living room as the days become shorter.
A hedge trimmer is an outdoor tool, usually hand-held, used to cut branches on shrubs and bushes. Powered or manual, it is typically viewed as an essential piece of landscaping equipment.
Spiders are helpful in controlling other pests in and around homes. That being said, many people still want these creepy crawlers out of their houses. Hedge apples, which are the harmless yet extremely unpleasant-tasting fruit of the Osage-orange tree, may provide a natural way to control these critters. While there is no scientific proof to support the claim, many homeowners have reported success using the green, brain-like fruit to repel spiders and other pests.
Protecting shrubs and hedges from overgrowth, pests and becoming damaged from the weather must be done every year. You must know how to cut shrubs and hedges to keep them healthy and attractive in the yard. Hedges and shrubs that are pruned properly will grow healthier and last for many years to come. You need to know what time of the year to prune and what type of cutting to do.
Japanese holly (Ilex crenata) is a popular shrub used in hedges, foundation plantings and ornamental mass plantings. It grows so densely that older hedges in Japan can be walked upon without falling through the branches. Japanese holly has a much softer leaf edge than the American holly; it more closely resembles a boxwood in its size and appearance. Japanese holly is a perennial that will keep its color year-round. Although pruning is not generally required for Japanese holly, if planted as a hedge it may need pruning to maintain its shape.
White cedar hedges are beautiful, dense evergreen hedges that can grow quickly to almost any height. Their density can help cool your garden or yard and help reduce environmental noise levels. Because they grow quickly, an overgrown white cedar hedge is both unsightly and can reduce the usable space of your yard or crowd a nearby sidewalk or driveway. Prune your hedge back to more acceptable dimensions. With care and the right tool, you can easily turn an overgrown hedge in to a beautifully manicured asset at your home.
Any yard can be beautified with a nice hedge or well trimmed shrubs. Hedge trimmers make that job a lot easier, saving hours of hard work when you need to trim hedges or shrubs in your landscaping. The Stihl HS 80 is a professional quality hedge trimmer that can deliver many work hours, if maintained. Sometimes however, your hedge trimmer may not run properly. Although the problem may require professional care, in most cases some simple troubleshooting techniques can solve the problem and get you back to work.
Hedge apples are a green fruit grown in various parts of the United States. The wood of their trees is more commonly used than the fruit.
Hedges are a common means of separating sections of a lawn or outlining properties. Many hedges are evergreens, but some are also flowering shrubs that die back in the winter and bloom again in the spring. The majority of hedges are hardy, fast-growing plants that can withstand the changing seasons and lots of pruning. Landscaping can be a big job, especially if you have an established hedge that needs to be moved. The best things to do are to prepare the new planting site ahead of time and recruit help to move the plants.
Hedges are common landscaping features. They are popular among gardeners and homeowners who want a plant-based privacy screen, property marker or garden divider. Hedges on older properties or ill-maintained gardens can quickly turn wild, overgrowing their boundaries and forming an eyesore. Kill wild hedges to restore your property's beauty and tame the encroaching forces of nature.
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Privet hedge is a green, dense hedge most notably used as a natural fence or to mark the boundaries of the yard. Privet hedge is one of the easiest hedges to grow because it survives in all kinds of soil, with or without sunlight. Even if you plant it and forget it, your privet hedge will grow. However, consider keeping your privet hedge pruned since it can grow up to 20 feet high. The privet hedge is great for privacy but it will also keep out sunlight and wind. If these are not your goals, prune your privet hedge regularly.
Hedges can provide privacy and will add an attractive appeal to a yard. However, if a hedge is not trimmed, it can be an eyesore. Trim a cedar hedge in the fall, just before they become dormant.
Landscapers and homeowners use hedges to delineate edges of a yard with a natural fence instead of a wooden one. Hedges can also be placed along a front walk or to block unattractive views. Regardless of the location of a hedge, planting in front of a hedge requires some planning. Hedge-type shrubs notoriously absorb large amounts of water and nutrients from the soil.
Privets are fast-growing vigorous shrubs that are often planted close together to form a hedge. They are vigorous growers that need to be pruned several times during the growing season. Because their wood stays green longer than most types of bushes, it's easy to prune privet hedges using standard pruning shears. Or you may find it easier to use an electric hedge trimmer to prune your privet hedge into practically any shape you'd like.
If you want privacy but prefer the softer look of greenery rather than a fence, plant a privet hedge. There are varieties that grow well in all climates. They will grow even in partial shade. The only thing they require is moist soil and regular pruning. Privet will grow into a thick, impenetrable hedge in only a few years.
Hedges create a neighborly green fence that helps keep your yard more private, hides a bad view from your backyard and even cuts down on street noise. Boxwood is a broad leaf evergreen plant available in a variety of types. They are ideal for hedges. They can be high to increase the separation or low to simply separate areas within your yard or soften and hide a home's foundation. Boxwood is one of the more popular plants used in hedges, especially for the English garden effect that's popular in Europe.
The main reason that hedges get pruned is to give them a shape and keep them from looking scraggly and ugly. Help hedges look healthier by getting rid of dead branches with tips from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening.
When trimming back hedges, never prune more than one-third of the entire shrub, but cut away any dead or dying branches. Keep hedges trimmed nicely with helpful information from a sustainable gardener in this free video on lawn care.
A boxwood hedge is an evergreen shrub that has tiny green leaves. This hedge grows slowly and typically becomes very thick. These characteristics make it one of the best hedges for designing shapes and animals out of the hedge. Boxwood hedges are very hardy and are easy to take care of. Animal designs are popular for boxwood hedges. Even an inexperienced gardener can shape a boxwood hedge into an interesting design with a small amount of effort and general gardening equipment.
Cedar hedges should be pruned and thinned out in the early spring to encourage new growth for the following season. Prune cedar hedges just before their summer dormant period with help from a sustainable gardener in this free video series on garden and lawn care.
There are essentially four types of pruners available to consumers. There are electric models with short pig tail cords for attaching to longer extension cords. These are most common and are usually the least expensive. There are also rechargeable pruners and gas pruners. Rechargeable pruners are best for small, light-duty jobs as the batteries are easily drained by the cutting process, especially when large jobs are tackled. Gas pruners are used mostly on large jobs and by professionals. These are also the choice for tall pruning jobs. Finally, there is the old fashioned hand-operated pruner which is fine for small…
Springtime brings the garden into growth. Sometimes it's too much growth! To keep those hedges from growing wild and shaggy, you will want to trim them back. So how do you find the best hedge trimmers at the best price to do the job? Here are some ratings for some of the best hedge trimmers currently on the market.
People don't have to erect massive fences to get a lot of privacy. They can turn to privacy hedges instead. Privacy hedges can be created out of an attractive variety of plants and can serve several purposes beyond blocking out the neighbors. Privacy hedges are versatile enough to be easily incorporated into a number of landscaping plans to give folks the seclusion they crave around a pool, patio or entire backyard.
Trimming the hedges is just part of the landscaping chores many people must do during the growing season. Hedge trimmers come in a variety of sizes and types to make that job a little bit easier. The type of trimmer used depends on the job it is used for. There are large yards where the hedges are far away from an electrical source and then there are the hedges close to the house that just need some new growth cut off in the spring and fall. Whatever the job may be, there is a trimmer out there for it. In…
Hedge trimmers are a type of landscaping tool that is used for pruning and shaping bushes and hedges. They are traditionally powered by gasoline or electricity, and are used as a supplement for or in tandem with pruning shears.
Ask a dozen different people about the best time to prune a cedar hedge and you may get more than a few contradictory opinions. That may be because people are looking at things from differing points of view, rather than an uncertainty as to “when” such pruning should actually take place. Perhaps the better question to ask would be when to prune a cedar hedge to achieve a particular outcome.
Most people love to see a well-manicured lawn. The squared-off shrubs, the lined sidewalks and the meticulously trimmed lawn says "my owners care!" Wouldn't you like to know how they get a round shrub into a square form? Perhaps you would love to have an animal trimmed into your shrubs. This article provides the guidelines for this technique, but you will have to develop your own style.
It is tempting to ruthlessly prune an unsightly neglected hedge, but severe cutting can overstress the plants and recovery will be slow. Renovation pruning a particular hedge depends on two things, the type of overall effect you are trying to create and the individual requirements of the neglected plant. An overgrown dense, formal hedge will need a vigorous pruning but an informal flowering or fruiting hedge will need much less attention in order to achieve a desirable look.
If there is an abandoned house next door or you simply have the desire to edge your property; many people choose to plant a hedge rather than build a fence. Comprised of plants, shrubs or even trees, a hedge can provide a decorative definition. It can also provide a level of security. Before you buy a bunch of bushes, though, there are some things you need to consider when laying a hedge.
An evergreen hedge is typically thought of as a uniform row of evergreen plants planted closely together. An evergreen hedge can be used as a privacy screen, windbreak, noise block, natural way to deter trespassers or to hide an ugly wall or fence. An evergreen hedge is very hardy and can be made to look unique by simply mixing species or planting hedge plants in a zigzag or other unusual pattern.
If you've got a favorite hedge or shrub that you'd like to share or just have more of, propagating it by taking a soft wood cutting is a useful and easy skill to learn. Certain hedges and shrubs are more well suited to propagation through cuttings than others, so selecting the right plant is key to success. Favorite hedges and shrubs among gardening enthusiast for easy propagation are azalea (and also rhododendrons), camellia, lilacs and roses.
How to sharpen hedge shears; get professional tips and advice from an expert carpenter on sharpening gardening tools in this free instructional video.
The yew is one of the most popular and elegant of all hedges due to its rich color and its ability to be pruned into a variety of shapes, including topiaries. This plant can be pruned into its traditional column shape or gently tapered to enhance and accelerate the growth of the lower branches.
The laurel is one of the largest and fastest-growing of all hedges, and is often used to mark boundaries and afford privacy to property owners. At the same time, a laurel hedge can easily press beyond property lines if not properly pruned and shaped, annoying your neighbors in the process.
With proper care and pruning techniques, it's quite easy to shape a box hedge into a number of interesting configurations. Whether you're just looking to maintain a perfect edge along the top of your hedge, dabble in the art of Bonsai or even attempt a topiary animal, a level and a pair of pruning shears will take you far.
Hedges are widely used to provide privacy and beauty to landscapes. Informal hedges consist of plants allowed to grow in their natural shape. A formal hedge, however, is trained to grow in a uniform shape, a result of pruning the hedge to the desired size and shape. Pruning a hedge may seem like an easy task at first, but if that were the case, there would be far fewer hedges with thin growth and dying branches. A well-shaped, healthy hedge is the result of several years of careful pruning and shaping. Evergreen and deciduous hedges require different pruning approaches.
Plant a hedge to mark boundaries, form a barrier, create a background or define a planting bed. All hedges will look best if kept trimmed and in good health.
