Fence hedges are rows of shrubs or small trees that mark the boundary of a yard or garden, creating privacy, protection, and a decorative addition to an outdoor space. Many people prefer to grow a hedge rather than make a wooden or metal fence, because the hedges integrate better into the surrounding landscape. Another advantage is their height, which can reach more than 5 meters. Depending on the width of the hedge you want to achieve, you can use a variety of plants, from small azaleas to the largest Japanese yews. Whatever your choice, this "living" fence will need constant care and attention to keep it dense.
Steps
Step 1. Draw a straight line along which you will grow the hedge
Usually, the hedge runs along the edge of a building or garden. Draw a line along flat ground with equal sun exposure and homogeneous soil - remember that the plants in your hedge must grow evenly
Step 2. Choose your hedge plant and buy several specimens
Ask your local nursery for advice on which plants are best suited to your climate. For a small hedge of no more than one and a half meters, look for azaleas, dwarf oleander or Indian hawthorn. For a hedge 3 meters or more in height, consider Japanese yews, pittosporum, and myrtle
Step 3. Clear the path of the hedge of weeds or other plants
Step 4. Work the soil
Step 5. Incorporate 10cm of fertile soil or compost
Step 6. Transplant the seedlings
The distance between the seedlings should be about 1 meter for most hedge plants. Sink the seedlings into 5 to 10 centimeters of fertile soil or compost
Step 7. Cover the soil with a 5cm layer of mulch along the hedge line
Step 8. Water the hedge so the soil and mulch settle
Step 9. Water the plants a couple of times a week or more often during the summer
Step 10. Use regular plant fertilizer twice a year
Step 11. Prune the plants at least once a year
Pruning involves cutting the leaves and twigs from the top and sides of the hedge with garden shears, removing any particularly long branches or dense leaf clusters. Your goal is to create a uniform, dense look all along the hedge
Step 12. Count 3 to 5 years for the hedge to reach full maturity
Advice
- Given the arrangement of the plants, the best way to water them is to run a drip watering hose along the hedge to water them evenly. Depending on where you live, you may not need to water the hedge in the colder months. To determine how much water to give to plants, look at the intensity of the green in the leaves and make sure that the earth surrounding the roots is not completely dry.
- If you need fence protection before your hedge matures, consider installing a temporary metal fence along the hedge line for a couple of years, but be careful it doesn't interfere with the growth of your plants. and remove it once the hedge is tall enough.
