SolveYourProblem
Hedges Article Series
I
Want To Create
The Perfect Hedge
How
To Grow a Healthy Hedge
There is really nothing to growing a healthy
hedge. A hedge is one of the easiest plants to attempt to grow
on your property. They really require no more attention than
most trees. This is in general of course. There are a select
few hedge varieties that are a bit picky and require a little
more attention and love than others. Overall however, a hedge
is the best thing you can do for your yard, even when you have
no or very little time to dedicate to its growth. If you are
thinking of planting a hedge on your property, be sure to check
out these secrets to growing a healthy hedge before you begin.
Property Location
When choosing a hedge species, be sure the first thing you
note is what areas the hedge grows best within. Most plants
will have the areas marked off by “zone”. Located your zone
and see which species to begin with. Most hedges are very hardy
and will thrive in almost any location, even during the winter
months. If you live in a location that experiences harsh and
extreme winters or summers however, you may want to take care
in choosing an appropriate species for your property. Choosing
the right species of hedge for your property location is a
key to growing a healthy hedge. If you choose an inappropriate
species, it could be more difficult to deal with or even die
after the first year.
Planting Area
The next secret to growing a healthy hedge involves picking
a great planting area. There may be an area you have in mind
before you even choose a species. This is fine but you should
note the amount of sun the spot gets before choosing a species.
If you have already chosen your hedge plant but are unsure
of where it should go, consider a few things. First, be sure
that the area you choose is large enough to handle the hedge
once it reaches maturity. You will not want to plant a really
tall hedge beneath an electrical line for instance. You will
also want to make sure other plants that may be around the
hedge will have plenty of room to continuing their growth as
well. Hedges can quickly take over other plants around them.
How to Plant
Once you have the perfect plant and the most appropriate spot,
you are ready to plant your hedge. One secret, that few planters
know, is that a hedge should only be planted a few inches underground.
You should always allow a sufficient amount of room on each
side of the plant, but the depth of your hold should only be
a few inches deep. Make sure it is deep enough to house the
entire root system however. Hedges grow best when they get
more air from above the ground. Again, the most important thing
to remember is to give the plant as much room as needed for
the root system to expand.
Aftercare
After planting your hedge, give it a little drink of water.
After this initial water, you really don’t need to do much
to maintain your new plant. If you are planting in a dry season,
you may want to water it a bit for the first week or so. Once
the season stabilizes however your plant will be able to thrive
on rainwater alone. As far as pruning goes, it is really up
to you with most species. If you want a more formal hedge,
you can prune it accordingly. If you like a more natural look,
leave your hedge to grow as it wishes. Remember however that
some species require more pruning than others. So take note
when purchasing your plant.
Choosing
and planting a hedge is really a very simple task. You cannot go wrong with hedges on your property. They add
beauty, protection, and are perfect for attracting local wildlife
to your yard. They are much more attractive than fences and
can work in the same manner. The benefits are numerous and
you will see them almost immediately. Just use these secrets
when completing your task and you will have a healthy and lovely
hedge that all of your neighbors will admire.