Hedges, tall & low, garden hedges & screen plants

Various hedge plants for your garden !. These pages describe, and provide photos of different large and small hedges that may be suitable for your garden.   Hedges are not only an attractive addition to your garden,  they also provide some very useful functions.   Take screening for example.   Hedges make great screen plants.   They also help designate your property boundaries and act like growing fences.    If you can create a thick hedge it acts like a fence, keeping things in and keeping others out.   Hedges are also great to look at, particularly flowering hedges, or hedges with changing foliage.   If you have a boundary that has an unsightly view then growing the right hedge will help improve the look and atmosphere of your property.  

When you are choosing plants for your hedge you should have a think about a number of factors.   A most important issue is how tall you want the hedge to grow.   Many times people pick a hedge because it is quick growing, but it may also have the added disadvantage of needing regular pruning.   You should also look into your soil type and climate, will the hedge plant grow in your area and how long with it live ?.  Also, most importantly, is the area in sun or shade ?.    We have listed a number of hedges that are suitable for sun and other that are suitable for shade, or semi-shade.  Have a scroll through the pages and you may find a hedge plant that is suitable for your garden.

Hedge care, pruning, planting, fertilising, hedge selection

Orange Jessamine -Murraya paniculata hedge

As a shrub, Murraya generally grows from 2m to 3m.   As a hedge it can be grown from 1m to 3m tall.   It has lush green, thick foliage and masses of white flowers in Spring, although it can flower throughout the year in warmer climates.   The flowers have a beautiful jasmine scent. One of the most loved garden shrubs in Australia.    Murraya can be grown into an excellent hedge or screen plant, from 1m up to 3m.    Once established it is surprisingly hardy for a subtropical plant.   Murraya will grow well in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Darwin and most sub-tropical and temperate regions.    An organically rich, well drained soil is required for Murraya to look it's best.   Frosts will knock them back, somewhat, but they do recover well.   Fertilise with a general purpose garden fertiliser in spring and autumn. 

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Cape Plumbago hedge - Plumbago capensis

Plumbago is a fast growing shrub that can grow to a height of 2 to 3 m.   When used as a hedge it can be kept quite low to around 1m tall.    Flowering occurs most of the year, with very colourful white and blue flowering varieties.   One very popular variety is "Royal Cape" which has a darker blue flower.   As a hedge it can be grown from 1 m up to 2.5m.  One of the fastest growing hedges,  it has the drawback of requiring lots of pruning to keep it neat, some gardeners prefer to let it grow a bit, and prune only once or twice a year.   It is quite a lush looking hedge.    It is however very tough and waterwise once established.   Pests, are also no problem.    Fertilise only when really required, once or twice a year.    Fertilising can speed up growth substantially with this plant.    Plumbago makes a good screen plant, but also has a tendency to grow fairly wide and bushy.    Best climates for plumbago are temperate, cool temperate and warm temperate regions.   Avoid areas with heavy frosts.   Plumbago will grow in most soils,  but heavy clay soils will slow growth somewhat. 

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Bush Christmas hedge (pbr) - Syzygium. var

Bush Christmas is a variety of Lilly Pilly available as a hedging plant.    It has been around for a few years now and is one of the better varities available.   It can grow into a shrub to 3m, but makes a great hedge from 40cm up to 2m+.    It can be a bit slow growing to create a tall hedge, but for lower hedges is excellent.  The new foliage in winter and spring/early summer, is a rich red colour.   Best to grow in full sun but will take some shade.  Lilly Pilly Psyllid can affect them but this is rare.   Organically rich, well drained soil is best.  Fertilise in spring and autumn for more vigourous growth, or use a liquid fertiliser once a month or so.   Suited to temperate, cool temperate and warm temperate climates.   Bush Christmas will grow in most soils.  

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