Growing tips for growing garden hedges

Hedges can be attractive and functional parts of a home garden.   The process of developing a good hedge is pretty straightforward.   However, there are a few things you can do to make sure you get the best hedge for your garden.   First of all have a good think about the following:  A) Size of hedge you want;     pick a hedge plant which is appropriate for your needs.  B) Growing conditions;    is the hedge plant you pick correct for your soil and climate  C) Life span;    most people who plant a hedge expect it to grow for many years, will the plant you choose last ?  D) Speed of growth;     hedge plants grow at all different rates, fast hedges need more pruning & and slower hedges less pruning.   E) Sun or shade;     this is an important factor, if you want a nice consistent looking hedge it needs to be able to grow in the light conditions which are prevailing, in some situations you need a hedge that can take both light and shade for part of the day.  F) Pest problems;     does the hedge you have chosen have pest problems in your area ?.   We have listed a number of different tips for you in the following pages.   Have a scan through these articles, you may find some useful ideas to help you create the best hedge for your garden. 

Various hedges & hedge plants that may be suitable for your garden

Planting, creating hedges & hedge plants

One of the secrets of growing a good hedge is the initial set-up of your hedge.    Many people take a "try and see approach" when planting a hedge.    However, we have found this to be the major error people make when planting a hedge.    Have a good think about all the factors that may impact of the growth of your hedge, before you plant.    Hedges generally last many years and it is difficult to dig out your hedge, if it is not doing what you had imagined.    One of the tricks to choosing your hedge is to see what hedges are growing in your local area.   This will give you a pretty good starting point.    At least you know that the plant will grow in your region.     Do some research, particularly on pests and soil conditions.    Another tip to growing a good hedge is to do with the size of your hedge. Pick a hedge which will grow to around the height you want.    It will cut down on hassles later if you do this and reduce maintenance.   Many times even experienced gardeners will choose plants for hedges which do grow much taller than the required height, this is generally because they are quick growing or suited to the soil conditions.    The drawback to this is that the hedge in questions may need more and regular maintenance to keep in under control. 

We find that when planting a new hedge, it is best to place one plant after another, in a straight line.    Some gardeners stagger their hedge plants, in a zig-zag layout.   We find that this has many drawbacks particularly to do with the final look and shape of the hedge.   Doing a shape like this tends to make the hedge very broad and leaves gaps in the hedge.   Spacing of hedge plants is of primary importance.   When deciding how to space your hedge investigate two major issues :  1. How tall you want the hedge to grow 2. How tall will the plant you have chosen grow.    Basically, when working out spacing the trick is "the lower you want the hedge to grow, the closer you plant it,  the taller you want the hedge to grow the further you space the plants apart"    This is particularly true of tall hedges, if you place them too close together, plants may be stunted and produce weak growth.    Generally it is worth talking to your local nurseryman regards the layout of your hedge for your area.    It could save you a lot of time and effort and make the job look more attractive in the end. 

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How to create a straight/level hedge

When you are planting out your hedge we find it is best to prepare your garden bed first, then position all your plants in a line,  before you plant.    Place them on the ground in the exact place where they are going to be planted,  you can then move them around till you get the right positioning.   Some landscape gardeners use a string line to position their hedge.    The string line is placed over the garden and then a line is draw on the ground or stakes are place in position along the line to mark the point plants are going to be positioned. This ensures that the hedge will be straight.     When it comes to keeping your hedge level this is more of a pruning issue, you can maintain the levels easily if you prune your hedge regularly.  Once you have a good shape it is then a simple task of trimming off the small developing stems, back to the bulk of the hedge. 

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Tricks & tips for pruning hedges & hedge plants

Many people find it hard to keep the hedge shaped nicely.    But, as we have said in the last article, one of the tricks to keep your hedge in shape is to prune it regularly.   Once you have established the initial shape of your hedge, then just regularly prune off the excess growth that has developed.   How often should you prune your hedge ?   This depends on the variety of plant you are using.   However during the growing season you may have to prune your hedge anything from once a month to once every three months depending on the variety of plant you are using.   If you have a large hedge or one which is difficult to prune it may be worth having a professional prune it into shape for you.    Once this has been done then maintain this shape. 

To create a nice level cut on your hedge it can be a bit tricky but there are a few things you can do to create a straight, level hedge.    A good hedge pruning person can prune a hedge with his or her eye,  sighting the line to cut and then shaping.   However, you can do this yourself by using a string line.     Place a stake at each end of the hedge, run a string line from one stake to the other at the height you want.   If the distance is long then you may like to place some extra stakes along the length of the hedge (once you have the line).    You can then also prune off the side of your hedge at the same time, as the stakes on the side of the hedge will also act as a guide for your pruning.  

There are a number of different types of tools suitable for pruning hedges.   1. The old hedge manual hedge trimmers; although this is labour intensive, many professionals still like to use manual pruners.   Manual hedge trimmers tend to take a small amount of trimming each time. This allows the user to chip away at the hedge, till the right shape is acquired.   2. Petrol power hedge trimmers; in recent years these machines have become more available.   They are a must have tool if you have a large, fast growing hedge with big stems.   These machines are fantastic, however they can be heavy and you need some experience to use them as they can cut foliage very quickly.    3. Plug in electric hedge trimmers; these are also very good although not as powerful as the Petrol trimmers.   They have the advantage of being light to use, but not suited to cutting through heavy stems.   One disadvantage of using a plug in type trimmer is the power cord, many people have cut through the cord when working, which is a major problem (especially around pool areas).    4. Rechargeable hedge trimmers; these have been around a few years and are improving, but not suited to large hedges.   They are however excellent for small hedges, especially if you can get one with a long charge.     The more expensive ones do seem to work better, the cheaper ones do not seem to keep their charge for long, generally. 

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