It would seem that it’s easier than ever to isolate yourself from the outside world with a hedge: plant bushes, trees or liana-like plants around the perimeter of the site - that’s all wisdom. But each hedge, created with your own hands, is a real work of art, which not everyone can do. It requires knowledge, hard work and even design taste. A hedge is planted even inside the site.
Types of hedges and plants for them
Creating a living fence begins with choosing the type, shape, size of plants and the type of fence, because green fences are:
- different in height: low, medium, high;
- multi-row or single-row;
- coniferous, deciduous, mixed;
- soft, prickly;
- evergreen or deciduous;
- formed or free-growing.
Only specific plants are suitable for each item. The length of the hedge and the number of plants required to create it directly depend on the shape of the green fence: the fancier it is, the more seedlings you will have to buy and the longer it will turn out.
Low
A living low hedge is used to highlight, emphasize or focus on any element of the site. The height of low fences is from 0.2 to 1.0 m. Fences measuring 0.2 - 0.5 m are also called borders. Such fences carry out zoning of plantings. A low hedge has a unique function - it increases the decorativeness of the site.
By planting slow-growing, densely branched, small-leaved shrubs from free-growing or formed species, we get borders. Deciduous low living fences are obtained from brilliant cotoneaster, weigela, Japanese spirea. They are made from barberry, Fortune's euonymus, action. Low-growing shrubs - Cossack juniper, boxwood, black spruce, microbiota - these are plants that are used as evergreen low green fences.
Formed borders are made from officinalis rosemary, low sarococcus, variegated resin seed, evergreen boxwood, and honeysuckle. Free-growing borders - from Japanese spirea, Russian broom, shrub cinquefoil. Heather, Erica, Japanese chaenomeles, holly mahonia are suitable for them. Borders are created from low-growing or dwarf plant species, for example, from spherical or heather-shaped western thuja or ordinary nest-shaped spruce. They are planted along paths, paths, in front of the house or outbuildings.
Boxwood is best suited for creating low fences of bizarre shapes - it perfectly tolerates any metamorphoses with branches.
Medium
A hedge with a height of 1.0 - 2.0 m is considered medium. This species includes the largest number of trees and shrubs. Living medium hedges are often used as fences, and they also perform a dividing role on the site or provide zoning. For such a fence, plants are selected that have been tested by the climatic conditions of the area. These are unpretentious, winter-hardy, fast-growing crops that quickly recover from damage or shearing, as well as plants with increased immunity to diseases and pests. They are divided into 2 categories:
- deciduous non-spiny - chokeberry cotoneaster, brilliant cotoneaster, common privet, white and blood-red turf, meadowsweet;
- prickly - common barberry, scarlet pyracantha, narrow-leaved sucker.
Especially for creating medium fences, landscape designers recommend planting hornbeam, thuja, juniper, hawthorn. These species perfectly tolerate shaping with a haircut.
High
These include fences with a height of more than two meters. The main function is the fencing of the site, protection of the territory from noise, dust, wind. A high living fence is often called a wall. Tatar maple, golden honeysuckle, western thuja, small-leaved bush linden are suitable for them. Small-leaved elm, Berlin poplar, Siberian hawthorn are good.
For unformed fences, Hungarian or common lilac, Tatar honeysuckle, common mock orange, spike-flowered shadberry, Siberian apple tree are suitable. To coniferous hedges: spruce - Canadian, prickly, ordinary; juniper - medium, Chinese columnar; cypress - pea-bearing, Lavson.
A coniferous wall is considered unpretentious in care, good for health (coniferous crops emit more phytoncides than hardwoods). The disadvantage of conifers is the accumulation of dust and dirt on the needles, so they need to be cleaned.
To create emerging living walls, common spruce, common hornbeam, white willow, linden, thuja are suitable. Living tall hedges are complex: wooden, stone or metal fences with climbing plants on them. For example, creepers (ivy, hydrangea), or flowering shrubs (rose hips, rose, spirea, lilac).
If the site is small, the territory can be fenced off with fruit or berry crops: cherry plum, shadberry, apple tree, viburnum, buckthorn.
Such a hedge in the country house will perform two functions: it will give a harvest, and also protect the site from winds and unwanted guests.
fast growing plants
To create fast-growing hedges, plants are used that, 1–3 years after planting, will fully correspond to the desired effect. Such crops are called fast growing. Such species are found in shrubs and trees. These include annual liana-like plants.
annual fast growing plants
They have the highest growth rate - they add up to 3 m in length per season. Disadvantages of annuals:
- they will have to be planted every year;
- without support, they will not become a fence.
Positive sides:
- a support serves as a growth limiter for them;
- most of them are flowering herbs;
- do not require pruning and garters.
Annual vines that have reached the top of the support will grow further, but in a different direction.
The best annual fast-growing plants: sweet peas, twisted pans (Ipomoea), ornamental beans, dolichos. Another advantage of flowering annuals is that the fence turns out to be made of flowers, as it were.
fast growing shrubs
This option is suitable for those who want to get at least a low green fence in a couple of years. A fast-growing perennial shrub hedge requires a lot of time, labor, because they need constant pruning. Regular pruning achieves an increase in the density of branches, an increase in green mass. Names of crops for a fast growing fence:
Barberry. The main difference is the high decorativeness of the hedge during flowering and fruiting. Barberry species are used that attract attention with foliage. The aroma of flowers in the plant is pleasant, delicate.
Hawthorn. Tall deciduous shrub with a dense rounded crown and spiky red shoots is often used for hedges. The white or pink flowers of the shrub are large and beautiful.
Rose hip. It has beautiful scarlet or pale scarlet flowers, original, and besides, medicinal fruits. Suitable for outdoor living fences because the plant has thorns.
Turn. A highly branched shrub that grows up to four meters in height. As it grows, the fence becomes impassable. It bears fruit 2-3 years after planting. Suitable for external hedges - it is prickly.
Cotoneaster. Shade-tolerant and unpretentious, up to 5 m tall, with a lush crown and dark shiny leaves. The fruits of the cotoneaster are edible.
Spirea. Two-meter deciduous bushes, suitable for emerging fences. Some species of spirea have unusual foliage that changes color depending on the time of year. Spirea leaves are purple-red, bright orange or yellow. The flowers of the bush are white.
fast growing trees
Fast-growing trees with shrubs require constant pruning and shaping, otherwise the hedge becomes unattractive, neglected, even ugly. There are coniferous and deciduous fast-growing varieties. Conifers include:
- thuja - differs in species diversity, forms, can be cut;
- fir - tolerates drought, low temperatures, has many varieties;
- juniper is a medicinal plant, multi-varietal.
For leafy:
- sea buckthorn - creates an impenetrable, six-meter fence that requires trimming;
- maple - a forty-meter winter-hardy deciduous tree that requires pruning;
- poplar - decorative and deciduous, very tall (up to 60 m) tree;
- mountain ash - unpretentious, winter-hardy, drought-resistant, flowering, fruiting;
- birch - frost-resistant, does not need pruning;
- willow - unpretentious in care, multi-species, requires constant crown formation, moisture-loving.
Deciduous and coniferous fast-growing trees have their own advantages and disadvantages, which must be taken into account based on specific climatic conditions, soil composition, and the desired effect.
Shade Tolerant Bushes
There is no such garden or area in which there are no shaded areas. In these places, even grass does not want to grow, and ornamental crops, not receiving enough heat and light, often suffer from insects, snails, and diseases. In such places, only shade-tolerant or shade-loving bushes are planted under a living fence. The difference between them is obvious: shade-loving bushes prefer to grow away from the sun; shade-tolerant shrubs love the light, but also grow well in the shade.
Of the bushes that prefer shade, they distinguish:
Honeysuckle. This is a tall shrub to match a tree (about 2.5 m), which easily tolerates frosts, and besides, with edible fruits. Advantages of culture: it is little damaged by pests and diseases, it grows rapidly in height and width, it is not cut off until the age of seven.
mexican jasmine. Beautifully flowering, and several times during the growing season, a shrub with a maximum height of 3 meters. Jasmine flowers exude a citrus scent. Disadvantages: requires protection from frost, does not like to be cut, grows slowly.
Hazel. A shrub that needs constant sanitary pruning, top dressing with phosphorus-nitrogen fertilizers. With the growth of a bush in a hedge, the crown is formed from 4–8 thick branches. This is a fruit-bearing shrub, but the abundance of the crop depends on the degree of illumination - the more light hits the bush, the higher the crop will be.
Only young branches bear fruit, so annual pruning (rejuvenation) is recommended, after which three old trunks are left. In a dense shady area, such unpretentious hedge shrubs as brilliant honeysuckle, common privet, holly mahonia, snowberry, St. John's wort do not lose their decorative qualities. They have a simple appearance, a characteristic color of the leaves, there are fruits.
Raspberry bushes grow well in damp shady places. The dignity of the bushes is a beautiful, abundant flowering, tasty fruits. The disadvantage of the shrub is that it grows very quickly. Hydrangeas with willows are suitable for a fence in such places, although varietal hydrangeas bloom poorly in such a place. In densely shady areas, the apical pasihandra (borders) is planted - a slow-growing shrub of the boxwood family. It is not damaged by pests and diseases, does not require shelter, but grows only on dry soil. In semi-shady areas with heavy soils, deren, flowering weigela, spirea, barberry (Ottawa, tunberg) are planted. Potentilla with forsythia looks interesting. Shade-tolerant bushes include: winged euonymus, paniculate or tree-like hydrangea, red viburnum, Tatar honeysuckle, black elderberry.
The general disadvantage of green fence plants planted in shady places is a decrease in decorative qualities, a decrease in the yield of bushes, and an increase in the likelihood of diseases or pests.
decorative bushes
Almost all bushes that are used as hedges are decorative. They are divided into flowering, decorative-deciduous, coniferous. Breeders have created a huge number of varieties, from which it is not easy to choose the necessary plant. To achieve a constantly flowering hedge, crops are selected that bloom alternately. And if they still bear fruit, then such a fence will decorate the site even in late autumn. Flowering bushes for hedges:
- Syrian hibiscus;
- Japanese spirea;
- hydrangea;
- fragrant mock orange;
- multi-flowered rose;
- action;
- barberry Juliana;
- Tatar honeysuckle;
- common rosehip.
Decorative deciduous plants for hedges, in which the main advantage is beautiful foliage:
- yellow-bordered, white, silvery turf;
- Japanese quince;
- holly mahonia;
- viburnum vesicle;
- rowan-leaved fieldfare;
- black (variegated) elder;
- Japanese spirea goldflame;
- purple willow.
Conifers: cypress, cryptomeria, pyracantha, microbiota.
spiny species
Plants with thorns are used in landscape design when forming external living fences. With their help, impenetrable fences are created around the entire perimeter of the site.
The most impenetrable fences are obtained from thorns, yellow acacia, hawthorn, and the highest - from yew, arborvitae, juniper, spruce.
The barbed fence is formed by:
- hawthorns - large-spined, Siberian, blood-red, round-leaved, ordinary, single-pistil;
- barberries - Amur, ordinary, tunberg;
- roses - prickly, cinnamon, wrinkled (rugosa), dog;
- rose hip;
- turn;
- spiny eleutherococcus;
- Manchurian aralia;
- Chinese princepia.
unpretentious plants
All plants require care. This is especially true of the cultures from which green living fences are created, as they must keep their shape. It takes a lot of time, and a lot of skill and dexterity is required.
But there are plants, care (haircut) for which is minimized. Plants for tall hedges: yellow acacia, almost all types of barberries and hawthorns. For medium living fences - a brilliant cotoneaster, spirea - gray, van gutta, oak-leaved, arguta. Suitable for borders or low: Kuril tea (cinquefoil), Japanese spirea, thunberg barberry, bumald spirea, boxwood.
Spirea is an ideal hardy plant for hedges. They are compact, bloom late (second half of summer). There are varieties with decorative leaves ("golden princess"). But the willow hedge is unpretentious to the environmental conditions and to the soil, but needs constant pruning, as it allows a lot of overgrowth.
coniferous hedge
Coniferous living fences have many advantages, although there are also disadvantages. Their main advantage is that they look equally good, green throughout the year. The hedge from coniferous plants is an evergreen live fence for giving.
In addition, conifers are thorny, so they are suitable for creating external fences. Due to the high density of plantings, such crops will be better than others to protect the site from dust, noise, winds, and will also become an excellent backdrop for crops growing inside the site. To create do-it-yourself hedges from coniferous crops, it is recommended to plant:
- thuja smaragd, western or varietal: columna, reingold, fastigiata, brabant;
- juniper, Cossack, virgin, ordinary or its columnar or pyramidal varieties: suetsica, hibernica, buffalo, tamariskifolia;
- spruce - ordinary, gray, prickly, echinoformis, Gregorian;
- yew berry, its decorative varieties: robusta, aurea;
- decorative forms of cypress: ellvodi, alumi, columnaris, goldenwonder;
- Siberian fir;
- common pine, mountain pine.
When buying seedlings, pay attention to the correct spelling of the variety. If the name is misspelled or incorrect, then it is likely that this planting material was not grown in a nursery. As a result, you can buy a completely different plant that you wanted.
The positive qualities of coniferous hedges are uniformity, constancy, rigor, and the ability to withstand shearing. The green hedge has the disadvantages that it grows slowly. If at least one plant falls out of the row, then another in its place will not grow to the desired height soon.
climbing plants
Almost all climbing plants that can be planted in hedges are fast-growing. The main rule, without which the fence will not work, they need support. The height of the support will determine the height of the hedge.
girlish grapes. This is a perennial climbing culture. It is frost-resistant, so it does not require shelter for the winter. Girlish grapes are not attacked by pests, do not get sick, do not require special soil, and grow well in the shade. Positive qualities - decorative foliage (dark crimson), growth rate. Negative - annual pruning of heavily overgrown, broken, old lashes. A dense hedge is formed 3-4 years after planting.
honeysuckle honeysuckle. This is a shade-tolerant, fast-growing, flowering vine. To make the fence original, several varieties of honeysuckle are used at once. Due to the different flowering periods, the fence will bloom throughout the growing season. Moreover, with timely pruning of wilted buds, honeysuckle blooms again. Honeysuckle is not a capricious culture; it only requires shaping with watering.
Ivy. The liana grows best in areas with a mild, temperate climate. The disadvantage of the plant is that it does not tolerate hot sunlight and sultry air. Prefers moist soil, coolness.
Hop. This is an aggressive vine. She loves the sun, unpretentious, quickly covers the support. The culture is valued for its decorative qualities: beautiful leaves, fragrant flowers. Hop cones are used for medicinal purposes.
Campsis. The creeper has large tubular flowers that are yellow, orange or red. The decorativeness of culture is emphasized by its unpretentiousness to care, the place of growth. Campsis needs sun, mild winter, support. The plant tolerates drought, frost-resistant, although it needs shelter for the winter. This vine is a fast growing plant that requires annual pruning.
For all climbing crops, there is one prerequisite - regular pruning.
What plants are best not to plant
There are plants that, although they grow well, are not suitable for hedges. For example, varietal lilac species, having a compact crown, bare the lower part with age. But wild lilacs: drooping, gray, Amur, Hungarian are suitable for creating a wall. Wild plants grow quickly, form a voluminous, dense fence, are resistant to pests and diseases, and are unpretentious in care. Red viburnum is also not a suitable plant for hedges, although it has a decorative appearance. Kalina is prone to attacks by pests that can completely devour the bush.
There are plants on which the intermediate phases of diseases "live". Rust spores develop well on juniper, so it is better not to enclose a plot with garden trees with this plant.
Rosehips, fieldfare, shadberry, raspberries - all these are fruit bushes that you won’t get into trouble with. These crops spread very quickly by root offspring, so they can "absorb" the entire area. Lilac also belongs to the "scattering" cultures. Although the growth rate of these plants is easily controllable, they should be planted in areas where they will not interfere with other crops.
You should not plant crops that are afraid of frost or frost, because they will freeze slightly, so you will have to plant new bushes in the hedge. For example, weigela, a varietal crop, is afraid of frost and frost, but its wild-growing species is frost-resistant.
If the hedge has been badly damaged by frost, diseases or pests, you can carry out a radical rejuvenation - cut down all the plants, leaving 20 cm of hemp. A new shoot will come from them, which will eventually turn into a new green fence. Plants that quickly lose their decorative appearance are not suitable. So, jasmine mock orange becomes unsightly after flowering.
These hedge shrubs of a uniform type are best not used, although they will look decent in mixed plantings.
Landing Rules
When planning to make a living fence in the country, they study the rules for planting plants from which it will be created.
The main rule is to adhere to technologies, planting dates. In order for their survival rate to be higher, and the hedge to be denser and more decorative, young plants are planted. For deciduous shrubs and trees, the optimal age of seedlings is 2-3 years, for conifers - 3-5.
Large-sized planting material is used only with a closed root system in special containers. It is suitable for creating free-growing hedges, but for a sheared fence, it is not suitable, since it must be formed by yourself from the first year of life.
Advantage - you get a live fence in one day. But having quickly created a green fence, get ready to deal with its shortcomings - the slow adaptation of plants to new growth conditions and the big waste of money, because adult plants are expensive.
When transporting seedlings, make sure that their roots do not dry out: the root system is placed in plastic bags with wet sawdust.
Step-by-step instructions for planting a hedge are as follows.
Land strip preparation
First, determine the place where the fence will pass. To protect the neighbors, to prevent the roots of plants from the hedges from penetrating into neighboring areas, a barrier is dug in along the border of the future trench - slate or plastic shields. With the help of a stretched rope, a landing site is marked, where they subsequently dig a trench. Take into account the distance from the fence to the nearest objects:
- from a woody live fence to a path - 70 cm or more;
- from the shrub fence to the path - 50 cm or more;
- from the fence to the hedge - from 40 to 100 cm.
trench preparation
The width of the trench depends on the row of the fence:
- with a single row - 0.4 - 0.5 m;
- with a two-row - 0.7 - 1.0 m;
- with multi-row - 0.4 - 0.5 m plus 0.3 - 0.4 m for each subsequent row.
Trench depth - 0.4 - 0.6 m. The distance between rows and in a row depends on:
- from culture;
- type of root system;
- fence height;
- rows;
- crown density of the planted crop;
- characteristics of plant growth;
- the growth rate of each crop if a live fence is planted from different varieties or species;
- fencing type: forming or free-growing.
At the bottom of the excavated trench, the upper (fertile, soddy) layer of soil is laid, and it is compacted. Rotted manure, peat or compost is mixed with soil, the trench is covered with the resulting mixture to half, watered, sprinkled with soil on top.
Manure, peat or compost is not applied when planting fir or spruce.
Choice of crop type, planting size
For undersized, medium-sized, tall fences, the clearance between crops in rows and the distance between rows differ significantly:
- for high free-growing species, the distance between crops is 100-200 cm, between rows - up to 200-300 cm;
- for high-formed species, the distance between crops is 80-120 cm, between rows - up to 100 cm;
- for medium free-growing species, the distance between crops is 80-100 cm, between rows - 100-150 cm;
- for medium formed, the distance between crops is 20-30 cm, in rows - 30-40 cm;
- for low single-row distance between crops - 20-25 cm (4-5 plants per 1 p. m);
- for low two-row, multi-row distance between crops - 30-35 cm, rows - 30-60 cm (the second row is shifted half a step relative to the first, adhering to a checkerboard pattern).
Single-row hedges are created from densely branching crops or forming a lot of shoots, double-row hedges are created from plants that have loose branching. A mixed hedge is planted according to the same rules, but taking into account the characteristics of the species.
Seedling preparation
Saplings are culled - their roots, stems, crown are examined. Roots - for damaged, dried, sick roots. If any are found, they are carefully trimmed. The stem should be even, smooth, without damage, the crown should be uniform in density, not one-sided.
Immediately before planting, the root system of seedlings is dipped in a "talker" (soft clay mixed with mullein). It will increase the survival rate of plants, accelerate their acclimatization. If hardwood seedlings are used for the hedge, then before planting they are first kept in water for 2-4 hours, and then dipped in a “talker”.
When buying a seedling, pay attention to the roots. If they are cut or short, then it was either dug up in the forest or in a nursery, they did not adhere to the technology of growing planting material.
Planting a hedge
The roots of each seedling are carefully straightened at the bottom of the trench, sprinkled with earth, lightly tamping the soil above them. Air "pockets" at the roots should not be.
The root neck of the seedlings is left at the level of the soil surface or buried in it by 10-20 mm. After tamping, the soil is watered in two steps - this will allow the earth to lie tightly against the roots. If after the first watering the soil sank heavily, pour the earth, and then water it again. It is necessary to provide air access to the roots, so the topsoil is slightly loosened and mulched.
If required, then at a height of 30–40 cm from the soil surface, supports are made to support the stems that have not yet grown stronger. It is necessary to plant hedges from plants with open roots in April-May. Cultures with a lump or from containers are planted until the second decade of June. Autumn planting: coniferous crops - in August, deciduous - from August to October.
Subtleties of care
To grow a hedge, you need to know the intricacies of caring for it. Care consists in loosening, weeding, top dressing, disease and pest control, pruning.
loosening. It must be carried out, since the topsoil quickly hardens through a high density of plantings, preventing air and moisture from penetrating to the roots. Loosen the soil at a distance of 60 cm from the fence. If the root system of crops is pivotal, then this distance can be dug up with a bayonet shovel.
Weeding. This process is carried out constantly, as the row grows. Weeding is especially important in the first years after planting. As the plants mature, the need for this procedure will disappear on its own - few weeds can grow in the shade of bushes or dense plantings.
Mulching. It is carried out after the landing of the green fence. Mulch helps retain moisture in the soil and prevents weeds from sprouting. In subsequent years, mulching is not necessary.
watering. They are needed in the first year of life, especially if crops are planted in the spring. Autumn planting will receive enough moisture from the melted snow. In especially dry times during the growing season of plants, up to 25 liters of water are poured per 1 running meter of hedges.
Young plantings can be sprayed in the early morning or at sunset. Spraying is especially important for conifers, trees with "suede" leaves (catalpa) - they accumulate a lot of dust and dirt. Older hedges are sprayed or watered as needed, taking into account the characteristics of the variety.
So that the water after irrigation does not “run away” from the fence, earthen rollers or grooves are made on the sides where it will linger.
top dressing. Green hedges are dense plantings, so the soil loses nutrients at an accelerated pace. To improve the decorative appearance of crops, it is necessary to regularly, as needed, taking into account the needs of plants, apply mineral, organic or complex fertilizers. Poor soils are fertilized once every two years, rich soils once every 3-4 years. Experts recommend the following fertilization rates for hedges, kg / m²:
- rotted manure (2-4);
- compost (2-4);
- peat (4-6);
- potassium salt (0.03 - 0.04);
- ammonium sulfate (0.06 - 0.08);
- superphosphate (0.06 - 0.08).
Fertilizers can be applied by spraying or as a root top dressing.
Pruning, haircut. The survival rate of seedlings increases if they are pruned immediately after planting. Pruning is carried out at the same height from ground level and on the sides, removing ⅓ or ½ of the length of the shoot. If the crops are dug out in the forest, they are cut at a level of 0.2 - 0.3 m from the ground level. The crown of living fence plants is formed during the first four years. But for some shrubs, climbing plants, pruning is not carried out in the first two years.
Coniferous crops need a pyramidal haircut - it will prevent the needles from shedding from the lower branches. In the first two years, the plants grow intensively (bushes), so they are cut three times during the growing season.
The first time in early spring, before budding, or at the end of winter, the second haircut is carried out in summer (July), the third - before wintering. First of all, damaged, diseased branches are removed, and then already out of shape.
In fast-growing varieties, shearing is also carried out inside the crown in order to maintain the overall neatness of the bush or the entire hedge. In the future, crops are sheared as needed, it depends on the growth rate of plants, the speed of shoot formation, the type of hedge (free-growing or formed), and the desired effect.
Pruning is not carried out in winter, this will lead to frosting of the branches, their damage by diseases and pests. Waste from the procedure is collected and incinerated. If large branches are removed, the cut is smeared with garden pitch.
There are four types of pruning:
- Formative. They are used only for young plantings in order to form the correct crown, to create a shape for the plantation.
- Anti-aging. Old branches are pruned, sometimes all the way to the trunk, to form a new crown or shape.
- Regulatory. Performs continuously during ongoing rounds. They cut off old, damaged, dry branches in the crown and outside the crown that interfere with others in order to provide the culture with the necessary density of branches, to give the plant the required parameters.
- Sanitary. It is carried out as needed, in autumn or spring. This process can be called the “treatment” of crops, as branches and leaves damaged by diseases or pests, as well as broken and even frozen specimens, are removed.
Advantages and disadvantages of hedges
Hedges have their pros and cons. Advantages:
- they create a favorable microclimate on the site, comfortable conditions for recreation;
- retain moisture in the soil;
- attract birds that eat pests;
- mask unsuccessful buildings or decorate unattractive areas;
In the country is a good alternative to the usual fence. In addition to the fact that the green screen perfectly protects the site from uninvited guests, it simply attracts admiring glances with its lively beauty, enriching everything around it not only with natural aesthetics, but also with fresh air. How beautiful and durable a living fence will be directly depends on the correct choice of plants for it.
What plants are suitable for hedges
When choosing plants for planting on your site as a green fence, it is best to rely not only on taste preferences or a comparison of the whimsicality of individual species. The correct guideline in this matter is the degree of resistance of the selected plant to the climatic conditions of your area. Let's consider three main regions of Russia, which include key natural factors influencing the growth of "street" plants.
Living fence in the Moscow region
There are many types of plants for planting in the Moscow region, it remains to decide what height you prefer the fence.
green walls
For those who have decided to literally isolate themselves from the outside world and surround themselves with an impregnable fence more than 2 meters high, you need to pay attention to the plant species described below.
Spruce Serbian is an excellent evergreen tree for making tall hedges. It can reach a height of up to 5 m. The crown diameter of an adult tree is about 8 m. This type of spruce is completely unpretentious and does not need a haircut. The needles have a rich, shiny dark green color. The variety endures winter frosts and grows well in urban conditions.
Serbian spruce is a whole group of spruce varieties with a radically different appearance. The photo shows a miniature variety of Serbian spruce - Karel.
Fruit trees, namely the Nedzvedsky Apple Tree looks good on any site due to its peculiar crown, the color of which is rich green on top and purple below. The apple tree is especially beautiful during flowering. It has lush purple flowers. This variety bears fruit abundantly with small red apples. The tree is low, rare specimens reach a height of 8 m. But it is distinguished by a high growth rate, life expectancy, unpretentiousness and good resistance to diseases, pests and frost.
It is a cone tree, reaching a height in the fence of 4 m, and in free planting up to 20 m. With sufficient watering per year, the thuja crown grows no more than 10 cm wide, and an average of 30 cm in height. This is a tree with a cone-shaped crown is widespread in landscape design because of its rich bright green color and unpretentiousness. If you want to grow a branchy coniferous plant, then regular pruning will contribute to this.
Thuja western "Brabant" lends itself well to a haircut. The photo shows a fairly free version of the hedge from this thuja, but it allows you to set even clearer forms.
Hornbeam has a lot of species that are successfully used in landscape design. But the most popular and more suitable for the Moscow region is the common hornbeam. It not only creates an impenetrable hedge, but also perfectly protects the site from noise and dust. It is this variety that is unpretentious, easy to mold and resistant to winter conditions. In addition, the common hornbeam is not susceptible to disease and is resistant to the vital activity of pests.
An example of a creative green hornbeam sculpture.
Hawthorn- This is a traditional plant in Russia, used as a hedge. The most commonly used species is Prickly, which has powerful spikes and an oval crown. The plant reaches a height of 5 meters. The variety blooms in May with five-petalled white or pink flowers, while the fruits ripen in late September and have a purple color with yellow flesh.
An example of a tall hawthorn hedge.
hawthorn. This variety is very much appreciated in landscape design for its dark dense greenery, delicate white inflorescences and long spines (up to 1.5 cm). It can grow up to 8 m. It got its unusual name due to dark fruits with green flesh. Begins to bear fruit at the age of 9 years.
low hedges
Suitable for creating a small green fence any varieties. They are equally unpretentious and resistant to any climatic conditions. With its decorative qualities stands out barberry Thunberg. Its small leaves can have a different color: yellow, red, pink and even brown. Another feature is not susceptibility to fungal diseases. But this variety belongs to slow-growing shrubs with inedible fruits, reaching a maximum height of 1.5 m.
Thunberg barberry hedge
It is an unpretentious shrub growing from 2 to 4 m. Its leaves are distinguished by an oblong shape, a brilliant dark green color. Flowering begins in early July with small creamy flowers with a pleasant aroma. The fruits ripen at the end of September and acquire a small size and a glossy black color. In the common people they are called as wolfberry. Privet is easy to mold, but also looks good when grown wild.
A living fence made of common privet.
Thuja Western, one of the varieties of which is described above, has high decorative qualities. For hedges, you can use not only the type of Brabant. But also, for example, Smaragd. Reaches a height of no more than 2 meters and is well processed. This variety of thuja belongs to evergreens with a neat bright green crown. It perfectly tolerates winter and many plant diseases.
Decorative living borders
To create a small hedge up to 1 meter high, perfect Alpine currant. It tolerates cold and wind well, but does not like high temperatures. If you are looking for what is better to make garden figurines of varying complexity, then this particular variety of currant is perfect for this. You can find subspecies with small green or large yellowish serrated foliage.
Attention! Alpine currants are susceptible to aphids, rust, and spider mites, so they must be sprayed with a fungicide and insecticide. This shrub should also be systematically fertilized in spring and autumn, and the affected branches should also be carefully removed.
It is a beautiful shrub with a lush crown and delicate flowers of various colors. The most common are white and pink. This is a very heat-loving plant, so it should be planted in areas well lit by the sun and protected from the wind at a distance of about 2 m from each other. She also does not like waterlogging, so in September they stop watering her altogether. Deutia loves fertilized soil, but it is best to feed it during the flowering period.
In the photo - graceful action ‘Nikko’
Spirea Japanese is a slow-growing shrub, no more than 60 cm high. But it is distinguished by a lush dark green crown 1.5 meters in diameter and lush red-pink flowering, which occurs in July for no more than 45 days. The shrub is quite resistant to frost and tolerant of growing in the shade.
Japanese Spiraea Double Pink
Known for its beautiful flowering of lush inflorescences of soft cream color. It has been going on for over two months. The height of the hydrangea is not more than 1 m, but it has a very lush crown and large leaves of rich green color. Quite unpretentious and winter-hardy. However, it is susceptible to disease.
Living fence in central Russia
Central Russia has a very harsh climate, so it is better to choose plants for hedges that are unpretentious and resistant to harsh weather conditions.
High fences
In addition to Western thuja, this area grows well Spruce Plain and Blue. Both of these species are highly resistant to frost and winds. The first species is distinguished by a cone-shaped crown, reaching a height of more than 5 m and sickle-shaped needles. Prickly or Blue spruce is known for the interesting color of the needles: from bright blue to bluish-green. Does not tolerate too fertile soil and a large layer of snow on the branches.
blue spruce hedge
Red cedar very similar to a coniferous tree, but differs in small needles - no more than 2 mm. It has a pyramidal and dense crown, which thins out over time in a solid planting. But you can fix this by planting shade-loving herbs.
medium height hedge
In such a climatic region, they take root perfectly. any kind of barberry, blackberry, raspberry, hawthorn and spirea. Growing especially well juniper Cossack, which is a shrub, the height of which reaches no more than 1.5 meters. It is usually used in solitary plantings.
A "wild style" bramble hedge, but the bushes can look pretty neat.
Or as it is often erroneously called jasmine, it is a lush, deciduous shrub with delicate white, cream or pale pink flowers with aromas of varying intensity. Leaves are small and light green in color. This is a fairly winter-hardy shrub with a powerful root system, although it loves sunny places for planting.
"Curly" hedge
Grapes Maiden presents with lush, densely green foliage of a bizarre shape, turning from bright red to lemon yellow in autumn. It is very unpretentious, but is able to fill a huge area with its sprouts. For those who do not know how to make a hedge with their own hands or create it for the first time, then parthenocissus is a great solution.
Five-leafed parthenocissus ‘Veitch Boskoop’
Creates a beautiful decorative vine ivy. He is able to decorate any fence and structure. It belongs to slow-growing and shade-tolerant plants, requiring fertile soils. There are many species that are equally resistant to harsh weather conditions, but differ in the shape and color of foliage and inflorescences.
hedgerow in siberia
Siberia is rich in all sorts of vegetation, but not much of it is suitable for hedges.
Medium and high railings
Apart from barberry, hawthorn and all kinds of conifers thrives in harsh terrain chokeberry, characterized by high resistance to winds and frosts. The dense crown consists of small glossy dense green leaves, turning crimson in autumn. The height of the tree can exceed two meters.
Derain white very unpretentious and tall plant. Its leaves are light green with a white edge. Due to its simplicity and susceptibility to light shearing, it is widely distributed in the northern part of Russia.
climbing plants
Parthenocissus is well known in the northern area. But its popularity does not overshadow such a plant as. They are lush with beautiful flowers of various colors. This is a fast-growing and very unpretentious bindweed that gets along with any plants.
It is a great interior decoration. Its shoots die off in the cold period, but grow back very quickly in the spring. The plant is distinguished by large and dark green leaves, densely covering any structure.
Actinidia kolomikta stands out for its high density of vegetation. Its shade may vary depending on age. In the warm period, it blooms with small white flowers for about three weeks. In winter, the shoots die off, so actinidia must be cut off in the spring.
Actinidia kolomikta
The choice of seedlings for planting hedges is huge, the main thing is to determine which plants are suitable for your climate zone.
About suitable plants in the video
A detailed story about the crops from which you can make a hedge, in the program "TeleDom".
A fast-growing, perennial, evergreen hedge is a good option to replace a conventional fence in your own suburban area.
Such a fence will appeal to people living in their home all year round.
In order for her to please the owners, it is necessary to choose and plant the plants correctly, so that after that she does not have to suffer to give her beauty.
Pros and cons of hedges
An evergreen hedge will help give the site an attractive look and save the family budget on building a fence and caring for it (painting, applying an anti-corrosion agent). Live fencing has the following advantages:
- good protection of the site from curious passers-by;
- saving money;
- continuous production of oxygen;
- positive impact on the mental state of a person;
- protection of the site from dirt, noise, dust, wind;
- the ability to divide the site into zones (summer kitchen, beds, sauna, etc.);
- a barrier to the entry of unauthorized people and animals into the site;
- improvement of the microclimate;
- giving the site an attractive appearance.
In addition to the advantages, the live fence also has disadvantages:
- requires constant care;
- it will take time for the plants to grow.
You can buy already grown plants for a live fence, but in this case you will have to pay more for them.
Hedge Vegetation Requirements
In modern landscape design, vegetable fencing is widely used in the design of sites. With its help, zonal separation is made, used as an element of decoration around some buildings, framing paths and paths on the site. Recently, such a fence has been used as an alternative to the usual concrete, metal or wooden fence.
When evergreen hedges are used at work, it is possible to experiment and grow a tall, compact, or low hedge.
You can create a high, living fence of plants with thorns, then no hooligans will definitely be able to get into someone else's plot. When choosing a height, the owner of the site has no restrictions, as for the width, it should not exceed 0.8 m.
A dense high hedge can become a full-fledged fence
When choosing vegetation, it is necessary to take into account some parameters: with a large perimeter of the fence, you need to make sure that the selected plant is not whimsical and does not need constant care. It will be very difficult for the owner to care for each planted plant if there are 100 of them, and sometimes much more.
With the wrong choice, you will have to spend all your free time on caring for the hedge, and not on rest or beds and fruit trees.
People living in cold climates need to choose not only unpretentious plants, but also frost-resistant ones, so that in the future they do not have to dig up frozen plants and plant new ones instead. In this case, the owner will have to constantly spend money on buying bushes.
In addition to the above parameters, you need to pay attention to the following:
- how long the selected plant will grow;
- can it be shaped;
- whether there are fruits or flowers on it;
- number of growing seasons;
- and it is desirable that they be constantly looked after.
You can choose plants that curl or weave for fencing. Tapestries are built for them or simply left to curl along the fence present, thanks to these bindweeds, a beautiful green fence will turn out. About which fence is better to choose, see in this video:
Curly fencing will take up a small amount of space in width. This plant also does not need much time to grow, in about a year it will grow and completely hide the site from curious neighbors. Deciduous, climbing and coniferous plants are very popular in creating hedges.
climbing plants
Bindweeds are the fastest growing plants that can grow more than 1 m per season and form a dense fence. For people living in harsh climatic conditions, the choice of climbing vegetation is quite small, because most vines are not able to tolerate frost.
In cold latitudes, it is better not to use loaches for a fence.
Euonymus has a large number of varieties of varieties, among them there is also a climbing plant. You can pick up and varieties with the original color of the leaves. This plant needs loose soil and sufficient watering. This plant does not tolerate overflow and stagnant water. When choosing a non-monochrome variety with variegated shades, you should choose a sunny place to plant. If you plant a plant in the shade, it will not acquire variegated shades, but will be green.
If the choice fell on a variety with yellow or white leaves, they must be planted in the penumbra side so that the leaves do not burn out in the sun.
You do not need to choose this perennial if there are children in the family because of its toxicity.
When landing, you must wear gloves to protect your hands. Before planting the euonymus stalk in the soil, it must be rooted (about 2 months) under a film cover and only after this procedure should be placed in a prepared place. When planting, it is necessary to maintain a distance between plants of about 0.2 m and install supports along which the euonymus will curl. In the summer, bindweed must be fed once every 2 weeks with fertilizers of mineral origin. Plant pruning should be done in early spring. In winter, a covering material is applied to the euonymus, in the first few years this is a must.
For a periwinkle hedge, trellises are a must
Periwinkle is a climbing shrub that is widely used to create high hedges (1.5 m). This is a frost-resistant plant that always looks great. Periwinkle usually blooms with large, light blue or blue flowers, but other colors can also be found. The plant feels great in any soil, can tolerate dry weather. When cutting the stems, they can be planted in moist soil, they will take root and grow.
The best time for planting is the beginning of September.
To create a hedge, it is imperative to build trellises of the required height so that the periwinkle does not creep along the ground. In order for the plant to have an attractive appearance, the soil must be loosened during planting and fertilized with fertilizers of organic origin. Between seedlings, you need to leave a distance of 0.2 - 0.3 m. You need to cover the bindweed only in the first winter season, in subsequent winters, shelter is not required. Top dressing is recommended to be done every few years. The plant tolerates pruning well, but it is better to pinch it. 
Ivy. This bindweed grows up to 3 m in height, has many varieties, with a variety of shapes and shades. To maintain beauty, ivy needs regular watering and top dressing. He does not tolerate overflow and drought, and you cannot overfeed him, otherwise the vine will not look attractive. Pruning and cleaning of plants from old, damaged leaves and shoots is carried out in the autumn.
Some varieties are not able to tolerate cold weather, they are suitable for warm climates.
For propagation of ivy, cuttings are used, which must be rooted before planting. Rooted cuttings are planted at a distance of 0.3 to 0.5 m. Ivy is poisonous and can cause itching, redness and swelling of the skin. When working with bindweed, it is necessary to observe skin protection measures and, at the end of work, be sure to wash those clothes that have come into contact with ivy.
coniferous vegetation
Conifers do not grow as fast as bindweeds, but they have their own advantages. Such plants are frost-resistant, lend themselves well to shearing and are not very demanding on the soil. These hedges look good in all seasons and go well with all kinds of plants and styles in which the yard is decorated. Before purchasing a conifer, you need to decide where it will be planted. Green plants love partial shade, and conifers with a variety of shades on needles prefer a sunny area. How to make a hedge from conifers, see this video:
This vegetation should not be planted in places where water stagnation occurs. The best soil for them is a mixture of sand, peat and turf in equal quantities. The landing is carried out very carefully, it is impossible to disturb the earthen clod in which the rhizome of the plant is located. In case of violation of the earthy coma or root, the conifer will take root for quite a long time, it may even disappear altogether.
The distance between seedlings ranges from 0.2 to 0.7 m, everything will depend on the intended type of hedge and conifer variety.
Conifer fences are built in 1 row. This is necessary so that each plant has enough light, otherwise the branches below will be exposed. Landing is carried out in August and September, these months are the most optimal for conifers. Healthy and strengthened seedlings can be planted in the summer, but only during cloudy weather.
After planting in the summer, seedlings should be hidden from direct sunlight, these measures will help the plant take root faster. As soon as young shoots begin to appear in the conifers, they must be watered regularly and the crown sprayed from time to time. These procedures will help strengthen the plant and increase frost resistance.
Deciduous perennials
In a large variety of deciduous plants, evergreen varieties can be found that can grow very quickly. Due to the fact that they are easy enough to cut, a neat and attractive hedge will appear on the site in a short period of time. 
Barberry is a fairly strong bush, with the right formation, it can be used to create an impenetrable fence. Among the varieties you can find not only evergreen, but also fast-growing. Barberry can be combined with other artisanal perennials. Evergreen barberry should be planted in a semi-shaded place.
To make the bush look good, you need to fertilize the soil before planting.
Barberry is planted in spring and autumn, it is necessary that the root be with a clod of earth. During the acquisition of seedlings, you need to carefully examine the rhizome: if the seedling has poor, bare and small roots, then it is better not to buy it. A good plant will not grow from such seedlings. During disembarkation, an earthen clod with a root should be located at ground level. Whom is missed in the hole and sprinkled, the soil around the bush must be tightly tamped and watered.
In places with harsh climatic conditions, the bushes must be covered after the first frost. Pruning of bushes to remove old leaves and branches is carried out in early spring, and this should be done regularly. To shape the bush, pruning is done in the summer 3 times per season. This video will help you decide on the choice of perennial:
Boxwood is the most suitable option for creating a living fence. This plant is absolutely not whimsical, it does not require constant fertilization of the soil and watering. Almost all varieties of boxwood grow very slowly, especially dwarf species. If you do not want to wait a long time, then you need to choose tall varieties. During planting, seedlings should be arranged in 1 row at a distance of 0.15 m from each other.
Boxwood after planting must be immediately carefully watered and cut off the shoots by 2/3 of their length.
The most favorable time for planting a plant is the spring period. In the middle of 1 month of summer, 1 bushes are fed with fertilizer of mineral origin. You can cut boxwood a year after planting. Mature bushes need to be trimmed every month from mid-spring to early autumn. After shearing, boxwood should be thoroughly watered and fertilized. 
To choose the right hedge plant, you need to know how the climatic conditions will be tolerated, where it is best to plant, and what needs to be done to preserve an attractive appearance. Before purchasing any seedling, you must first pay attention to the condition of its roots. With the right approach to planting and caring for a plant, a living fence will delight the owner with its appearance for quite a long period of time.
Living fences are conditionally divided into high and low. They are created from coniferous or deciduous varieties of shrubs. "Build" single-row or multi-row fences. All varieties to a single perform a decorative function.
Evergreen varieties in the hedge are the most effective solution. They do not lose their bright colors all year round and easily tolerate a haircut.
Bushes are selected for a living fence in accordance with the future purpose. Tall bushes are suitable for outdoor options, undersized - for indoor decoration. There are also mixed options, but they take up a lot of space and are therefore used less often.
evergreen shrubs
A green hedge all year round is what every gardener dreams of. The environmental friendliness that these shrubs create is already recognizable in the coniferous aroma.
Popular in our conditions are such non-deciduous:
- Coniferous. For example, thuja and juniper.
- Fast growing. For example, turn and cotoneaster.
- Undersized. For example, cypress and hydrangea.
thuja- This is the most popular coniferous tree. The evergreen plant perfectly takes root in the Russian climate. In nature, it can reach huge sizes, but in fences they maintain a height of up to three meters.
Pyramidal and columnar crown patterns plus bluish-green to dark green coloration in a living fence give a huge decorative effect. Thuja is regularly sheared, creating various forms.
juniper hedge formed in the form of impenetrable thickets. Bushes, depending on the variety, grow from one and a half to two meters. Juniper loves moist soil and sunlight. It is durable - can live for more than 200 years.
The color of the shrub is blue, yellow, yellow-green and green. Often juniper is planted in company with thuja.
Cotoneaster is an evergreen fast growing variety, it has many varieties and all of them are grown in our climate.
Shiny, dense. Belongs to the number of fast-growing shrubs up to two meters high.
chokeberry dogwood matures only at the age of five.
Whole-edged dogwood. The shape of its crown is rounded, the leaves are wide, large.
Multi-flowered (semi-evergreen) cotoneaster reaches three meters. Its leaves are larger than other species and are able to change color with the change of season: from gray in spring to burgundy and red in autumn. They are green in summer.
creeping view- These are undersized bushes up to half a meter from the ground, it has horizontal branches with dense leaves and small fruits.
Pressed. Its open crown, as it were, is pressed to the ground, and its height is only half a meter.
cypress perennial has many varieties. In the natural environment, it grows up to 60 meters, and in our conditions for a green coniferous hedge, Lawson and pea-like are more often used.
Bushes grow up to two meters. The crowns are cone-shaped, spherical and ordinary. They are planted both one by one and in a company, creating reliable fences. Grows well in shade and sun.
Yew in a hedge characterizes its owner with excellent taste. At the stage of formation of such a fence, yew requires special attention. Bushes are planted at a distance of more than 20 cm from each other.
Yew grows quickly, beauty is maintained by regular haircuts. The natural protection of the territory can have a color from blue to dark green. Berries add contrast to the color.
Euonymus applies to both evergreen and deciduous. Bright fruits against the background of green foliage create a real spectacle. Following the berries, the foliage begins to “burn” in red and this makes the hedge more colorful.
boxwood more often they are used to create low independent fences up to one and a half meters in height or to decorate a site in tandem with another species planted with it in adjacent rows.
With the help of haircuts, boxwood hedges are given various unique geometric shapes and forms.
Deciduous trees and shrubs
Willow. An excellent option for creating a hedge is holly willow, belotal, blackthal and purple. Willow is unpretentious in the choice of soil - it grows equally quickly in dry and moist soil.
Weeping willow varieties: goat, purple and holly willow have elastic soft branches that are easy to intertwine. Even before complete landscaping, the fence will be decorated with an ornament of the weaving itself.
Barberry- This is the fastest growing plant, has tall and short varieties. Barberry makes an impassable hedge
Such a living fence is replenished with the function of fruiting. The decorative effect is expressed first in flowers, then in fruits. Jams and conserves are made from edible berries. There are many varieties, the main ones for this purpose: Golden, Ordinary, Ottawa.
The plant is prickly, but it is easy to cut it to any style. For lovers of bright colors, the deciduous Thunberg variety is suitable: shades of flowers from pink to red and brown. The fruits of this shrub are inedible.
Derain white. The main advantage of this deciduous shrub is the speed of its growth in any climate and with any soil moisture. Bushes can grow up to three meters. Basically, its height is maintained at the level of 120 centimeters.
Some gardeners create picturesque fences in several levels. A hedge of white deren indicates the status of the owner. Arbors are created from this shrub inside the yard. The color of the foliage is green and silver.
Vesicle viburnum perennial. He earned popularity among gardeners due to the ease of cultivation and the fact that he is not picky about care. It is equally adaptable to drought and frost. Bright multi-colored leaves and flowers in such a fence create a beautiful design.
Lilac also grows rapidly in width and reaches two to three meters in height, tolerates a haircut well. Trimming its branches is not difficult even for an inexperienced gardener.
It is perfect for any climate. She freezes for the winter, but the entire flowering period of the lilac will not leave indifferent any look. The color scheme of the shrub has more than 20 shades, from which, when alternating, beautiful decorations are created.
forsythia has long been loved by our gardeners. It blooms before the leaves appear. At first it looks golden, then green leaves come to replace the flowers. The shrub reproduces easily in both heat and cold.
Alpine currant allows you to create a beautiful curly fence of two meters in height. The color of the fence is green due to the leaves and light green flowers. Tasteless fruits are red in color when ripe.
The shrub perfectly tolerates any climatic conditions: frosts, winds and heat. Dense foliage creates reliable protection for the garden. For the fence, variegated, glossy and marbled currants are used.
thorny bushes
Blackthorn- This is a densely branched, prickly shrub, reaching a height of four meters. It does not need careful pruning. A powerful and impenetrable fence made of thorns will protect from wind, dust, from prying eyes and even from thieves.
It can be compared to a real building structure, so such bushes are used instead of an external fence. Growing such a fence is easy. It is absolutely undemanding neither to the ground nor to weather conditions.
The leaves of the shrub are dense. Ripe fruits have a beautiful blue color. They are edible and have many health benefits. They need to be harvested after the first frost.
Rosehip and tea rose. A hedge from this pair is often called healing-colorful. Shrubs are unpretentious to climatic conditions. Such a fence grows up to two meters.
It is attractive with a variety of colors. Initially, these are double flowers from white to all shades of crimson and yellow. Then - bright red and brown-black fruits. Such a contrasting combination with green foliage creates a unique scenery. Fruits from such a fragrant fence are used to make delicious and healthy drinks.
The following species are planted for fencing: ordinary, Resonance, brown, Mont Blanc and wrinkled.
Sea buckthorn- prickly shrub with bright orange fruits in autumn. The leaves are small gray-green. The branches are tough. The fence of berry bushes turns out to be impenetrable and gives a large crop of sour, healthy fruits.
Caring for sea buckthorn is easy - it is unpretentious. With the help of a haircut, they give the fence a neat appearance.
mixed hedge- this invention is increasingly used by gardeners to give the fence originality. In this solution, all the original functions of a hedge are fulfilled, but due to the play of colors, an unsurpassed decorative effect is created.
Thuja, gooseberries, barberries, wild roses and other shrubs can participate in this design.
How to care for a hedge
As all living things need care, so for the longevity of such a hedge, care is indispensable. Every gardener cannot just plant a green fence and forget about it. In order for the fence to develop properly and become thicker, it must be cut regularly.
Pruning can be curly - new shoots are cut by 10-15 centimeters. Such a procedure for evergreen bushes is done once a year. The rest are pruned twice, and sometimes thrice a year when new shoots ripen.
The first years it is necessary to carry out pruning in the dry season of spring or autumn. With age, pruning to give shape is done monthly. Sections should be carried out between the shoots and performed obliquely. The more often pruning is done, the more often shrubs are fed.
A living fence is a multifunctional solution. A high and dense wall of shrubs, created by man together with nature, brings to the site not only a beautiful design, but also a favorable microclimate. It protects it from gusts of wind, noise and dirt.
Solid green fencing is a great alternative to a traditional fence. If you use fast-growing varieties for this purpose, the names and descriptions of which have long been known to gardeners, then the result is obtained in a shorter time. And you can confirm your preferences by the photo.
The Slavic soul is so complicated that in order to create our own cozy territory, we definitely need to isolate ourselves from external fuss, noisy neighbors and prying eyes. But the prospect of constantly catching your eye on a two-meter monolithic fence can hardly be called rosy.
A do-it-yourself hedge in the country house is a creative process with a practical result that anyone who loves plants can do.
The first climbing hedge was grown in the 18th century. Since then, breeders have been working to create more and more new varieties of plants that can bear the heavy burden of responsibility for the peace and privacy of their owners.
Types of hedges
Depending on the height, the fences are divided into three categories:
- Low curbs have a height of up to 1 m. They will look most organically as a frame for flower beds, lawns and paths.
- If the plants you have chosen reach 1-2 meters, they will do an excellent job of dividing the summer cottage into functional zones.
- Reliable protection around the entire perimeter of the site is provided by tall species with a height of more than 2 m.
Of no small importance is the intensity of the haircut, depending on this point, the hedges are:
- Free growing.
- Molded.
Molded plant compositions require constant shearing, as they are based on a clear geometric shape. For molded hedges, it is better to plant representatives of the plant world with small foliage, which ensures the density of the fence.
Free-growing ones are less picky and grow in the form that Mother Nature has endowed them with.
Classification depending on the number of rows
Single-row live fences are formed in one line, planting plants at an equal distance. If the basis of your landscape creation will be shrubs, choose a step within 35–50 cm, for trees the distance increases to 70–150 cm.
Multi-row hedges are created in several tier lines, seating the participants in the composition in a checkerboard pattern. For a multi-tiered design, a variety of plants is not necessary; combinations of different varieties of the same plant, which differ in the color of needles or foliage, give excellent results with skillful use. Take a closer look at the tandems of green and purple beech, variegated and green privet.
Choosing the Right
When choosing plants, give preference to those specimens that grow in your climate zone and have been tested for strength and durability. Your attention will be worthy of unpretentious, frost-resistant species with a dense crown, which have a high ability to form shoots and recover as soon as possible after cutting.
No less spectacular is the hedge in the summer cottage of sea buckthorn, jasmine, rhododendron, wrinkled rose, barberry, lilac, honeysuckle, shadberry.
Disembarkation order
- When selecting applicants for the purchase, pay attention to the roots and crown. The root system should not be overdried, and the crown should maintain uniformity on all sides. Suitable young seedlings under the age of 6 years.
- The laying of the future fence is carried out in autumn or spring. The first option is suitable for winter-hardy plants that are adapted to low temperatures. The place of direct landing should be located at a distance of more than 2 m from the house and 50-150 cm from the monolithic fence.
- Before you begin to dig a trench, mark out with a cord and two pegs. The depth of the trench should be 50 cm, the width is determined by the type of fence: for a single row - 50 cm, for a multi-tiered one - plus 0.5 m for each next tier.
Planting density (1 running meter):
- low shrubs (spirea, magnolia) - 5-7 seedlings;
- medium shrubs (cotoneaster, snowberry) - 4–5;
- tall shrubs and trees (hawthorn, vesicle) - 1-2
