How to Grow Hedges
If you're looking to add some privacy to your yard or just want some added greenery, planting a hedge will give you both. Planting a hedge is also cheaper than putting up fencing. You might have some maintenance with trimming and fertilizing the hedge, but you won't have the cost of replacing it because it's fallen down or rotted with age. Hedges will not only beautify your yard, but you'll also be giving the local wildlife a place for shelter. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Tips for Growing Hedges
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1
Measure the area where you'd like to plant your hedge. You'll need this information to figure out how many plants you'll need for the hedge. Most bushes need to be planted with 2 feet allowed on each side. This will allow for the plants to fill in and form a dense barrier.
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2
Choose the plants you'd like your hedge to be made up of. When selecting a plant, be sure to consider how tall its maximum height and width are. This will give you a better idea of how close you should plant them. If you desire a hedge that is tall, you don't want to choose a plant that will grow to a maximum height of only 3 to 4 feet.
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Consider whether your plant is deciduous or not. If you want leaves on your hedge all year long, you don't want a deciduous species that will lose all its leaves come fall.
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Consider the maintenance that will be involved in maintaining your hedge. If you're looking for something that won't need a lot of tending to, you don't want to choose a plant that will need constant pruning. Talk to your local garden center employee to help you choose a species that will be right for your location and needs.
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Plant your bushes in a zig-zag formation for maximum fullness. Space every other plant in its appropriate spot approximately 3 feet behind the one before it. When the hedge starts to grow, the open-spaced areas will fill in, and the hedge will be fuller than if you planted all your plants in one long row.
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Plant your bushes in the ground at the same height they were in the container. You'll want to dig a hole that is twice as big as the container holding your bush. If your soil is not rich, you may want to add some manure in with the existing soil. By digging a hole that's bigger than the container, you'll be loosening the soil that is around the plant. This will allow the roots to extend and establish themselves in the ground. Place your bush in the hole, and fill it up with dirt, making sure the bush is planted no deeper that it was in its original container. Planting your bush too deep will cause stress upon the plant.
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Prune your hedge's new growth about every 4 weeks during the growing season, which will help your bushes fill in. This way, you won't have a hedge full of long branches, and the coverage isn't as dense. Pruning will make the plant branch out into several branches on each limb, making it lush.
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Water your new hedge regularly so the roots will be able to establish themselves in the new area in which they are planted. Fertilize your hedge with a fertilizer specific to it, approximately every 4 months.
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References
- Photo Credit picture taken by author
