SolveYourProblem
Hedges Article Series
I
Want To Create
The Perfect Hedge
Hedges:
A Natural Property Line
Sometimes we need a little something that
shows us exactly what we have. This can especially be true
with property lines. With houses being sold and resold, it
can be difficult to know exactly what is yours and what is
not. Using something lovely like a hedge is a great way to
naturally enhance your property line. Before planting however,
there are a few steps you should take. If you are going to
enhance your property line, be sure you are being completely
fair and legal about it. Talking to your neighbor is a good
way to begin. Letting them know what you are planning will
allow them to take no offense to your gesture.
Figuring Out Your Boundaries
The first thing you will need to do after deciding to add
hedges to your property line is figure out exactly where your
lines run. You can do this in several ways. Many people just
assume that their lines end at their driveways or where their
fences end. The fact is that most property lines are not as
simple as that. Many of them are very crooked. Even though
your fence ends at a specific point in your back yard, it may
slant to the boundary area in the front yard. The best way
to be sure you are legally adding to your property is to measure
the lines of your property using a plot guide.
If you are completely confused about this issue or would rather
not deal with it yourself, you can hire a professional to plot
your yard for you. Basically these professionals measure out
your property lines and will either flag them or paint your
lines on the ground for you. If you think you can handle this
job yourself and would rather not spend the extra money to
hire someone to do it, you can always visit your city building
code office. These offices have copies of all property diagrams.
You can obtain a copy of yours, which will include exact measurements
from your house. Then taking a tape measure, you can measure
and mark the lines yourself.
Choosing a Size
After you know exactly where your property begins and ends,
you will need to figure out exactly what sized hedges you want
to use. If you want complete privacy from your neighbor, you
may want to consider a tall hedge that stays green all year
long. A large box hedge is great for this task. This is perfect
if you want to keep people from walking through your yard as
well.
If you are simply looking for a small way to block off your
yard, consider using a shorter hedge. This will still look
adorable and keep kids from running through your yard, but
you will still be able to see your neighborhood well. This
is probably the best option for those simply wanting to add
beauty with hedges in their yards.
Planting
After deciding exactly where you want your hedge to go, be
sure to plant it a little in front of your boundary lines.
Consider how thick and long your specific species of hedge
will get when planting. You don’t want it to go too much over
your property line, especially if you haven’t discussed it
with your neighbor. Never put it directly on the property line.
If you do, and your neighbor complains, you will have to remove
the hedge and replant it. This can cause stress to the plant
and require unnecessary labor as well.
Maintenance
After planting, when your hedges begin to thrive, be sure
to maintain them properly. Chances are that your neighbor will
not mind the hedges as long as they are properly taken care
of. This may mean that you need to prune them regularly so
that they don’t spill over into the neighboring property. Be
sure to take care and avoid this happening to maintain a positive
relationship with your neighbors. Keep in mind however that
as long as every part of your hedge stays within your property
line, your neighbors can complain all they want. Most cities
will allow you to maintain your hedge as you wish, as long
as it is on your land.
