SolveYourProblem
Hedges Article Series
I
Want To Create
The Perfect Hedge
Training
Your Hedges
You have decided to take the jump and plant
hedges to increase the beauty of your lawn. You’ve chosen the
plants, trees, and shrubs that grow well in your zone and you
have followed all planting instructions. So how do
you train them into the perfect hedge? That’s what we’re going to look
at in this article. Some of the shrubs and plants you have
chosen are barberries, boxwoods, and yew. Deciduous shrubs
can also be pruned and trained to become perfect hedges. Formal
hedges are clipped and formed into shapes that enclose spaces,
and define garden rooms.
Barberries are a popular choice for hedges and here are a
few tips to their care. Pruning should be kept to a minimum.
Recommendation is two times a year. They grow best in partial
sun and prefer poor soil. They will bear more fruit if they
are grown in poor soil. They can be easily trimmed and shaped
into a lovely hedge. Barberries are sensitive to salt and solid
fertilizers can kill the plant.
Pruning is started immediately after planting and recommended
you prune the plant by at least one third and it can be trimmed
to half its planting size. This will help new growth from the
base of the plant. Once your plant has grown to the height
you want it, then pruning is only necessary to keep it looking
neat. Use sharp hedging shears, or electric hedge trimmers.
It’s also helpful to use a string line to help you keep your
hedge even.
Training
a hedge begins early. Some people allow the hedge
to grow too tall before they start pruning. Every time your
plant has a new growth of 12 inches, you should prune it back
about six inches. The sides of the hedges should also be trimmed.
Never let the top of the hedge to become wider than the base.
If tops are left wide, they shade out the lower branches and
they can become weak. Snow buildups are also less of a problem
when the tops are narrower. Hedges can be trimmed either straight
across, or softly rounded.
Narrow-leaved
evergreens need slightly less pruning. Fine
twigged plants such as arborvitae, hemlock, and yews need to
be trimmed heavily. Pines, spruces, and firs should have their
buds or new shoots at the tip of the branch broken off each
year. Then they can be shamed into their formal shape with
a pair of pruning shears.
Cutting your hedge plants back when your first plant them
will encourage branching and denser growth. This will make
for a beautiful full hedge. As the hedges age, they can be
cut back by smaller amounts each year. When they have reached
the height you want them to be, you only need to keep trimmed
to look neat. Don’t forget to use a plum line so you can keep
your hedge straight.
What happens when you move into a new home and the hedges
have not been properly cared for? There are ways to rejuvenate
hedges. If they aren’t badly overgrown, you can cut back the
sides and tops to six inches below the height you want your
hedge to be. This minor cutback lets a new growth begin, which
can then be pruned and trimmed into the shape you want.
If the hedge is overgrown, you can cut back some plants to
within 6-12 inches of the ground. Don’t just assume that you
can do this to all shrubs. Ripping out the entire hedge and
planting new plants can only repair some shrubs.
Two of the more popular types of plants for forming formal
hedges are the Boxwood and the Privet. Both are excellent choices
for the straight lines that are needed in a formal hedge.
Privet hedges grow quickly and are more easily shaped than
boxwood shrubs. Privet hedges will tolerate the heavy pruning
that is needed to shape the shrubs into formal hedges. Privet
shrubs will reach a height of 4 to 15 feet. In late spring
and early summer, they produce white flowers, when the flowers
are done blooming then berries appear. Privet hedges prefer
partial shade and a moist soil. They are not troubled by smog
and pollution that can hurt plants in urban settings.
