Hedges: Not Just a Boundary

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Jared Francis
6 years ago
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1 A spiral-shaped hedge maze is striking viewed from above. (Photo by Elena Bowell) There are many reasons to plant a hedge beyond just the practical. A hedge can add a sense of formality, maturity and order to the garden. It can also serve a transitional function, connecting the residential architecture with the surrounding landscape. Planted along a border pathway or entrance walkway, a hedge helps direct movement through the garden and reinforces perspective. Design Functions A hedge can be planted to create distinct geometric patterns on the ground, which adds strong form, interest and even whimsy to the garden. In a city yard, a boxwood-edged parterre containing a topiary or clipped tree makes a striking focal point. For added interest and imagery, the parterre s shape can mimic the outline of the house, or the pattern of a stained-glass window or even a Persian rug. An evergreen hedge of cedar, spruce, hemlock or holly makes a good backdrop for a colorful perennial border. Its uniform greenery intensifies the vibrant colors of the border plants. The hedge also acts as a useful windbreak. Leave a buffer strip to allow for maintenance access and to enable the roots of the hedge plants to thrive without invading the border. Combine a hedge with a fence or garden wall as a way to soften it. In such a case, it s usually planted on the garden side. (Check building codes and bylaws regarding such enclosures.) When planting a hedge with an ornate iron fence, leave space between the two, so that you can appreciate the fine ironwork. This also facilitates pruning. 1/5

2 A hedge can be used to define garden rooms and to frame views. To create pleasing proportions, use taller plants to delineate a larger garden room and low plants for a smaller room. Consider mounting a recycled window or door on a frame hidden in the hedge to add mystery and surprise. Such viewing portals allow glimpses into other garden rooms or the neighbor s inspiring garden. Plant Material Options Hedges can be much more than simple green walls. The many new cultivars and hybrids of hedge plants allow for a great variety in height, width, shape and color. Here are a few techniques I like to use when selecting the plant material. For interesting color combinations, try mixing green and yellow foliage to add a sunny color to a dark background. Situate the lighter foliage throughout the hedge or place it only at strategic points such as openings. I like Hill s yew (Taxus x media Hillii ) with sunburst yew (Taxus x media Sunburst ); emerald cedar (Thuja occidentalis Emerald ) with yellow ribbon cedar (Thuja occidentalis Yellow Ribbon ); or amur privet (Ligustrum amurense) with vicary golden privet (Ligustrum x vicaryi). Gold foliage combined with purple foliage is also eye-pleasing. For a tall hedge, try Dawyck golden beech (Fagus sylvatica Dawyck Gold ) with Dawyck purple beech (Fagus sylvatica Dawyck Purple ). For lower edging, concord Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii Concorde ) works nicely with golden Japanese barberry. Other striking combinations include variegated hollies with green hollies, and gold-foliage elder with black-foliage elder (Sambucus spp.). Another technique is to mix flowering shrubs with non-flowering ones. Purple leaf sand cherry (Prunus x cistena) is lovely against a dark-green yew hedge. I also like to plant clematis under a yew hedge. The roots of the clematis love the shade provided by the yew, while the flowers of the clematis appreciate the sunny perch of the yew top. The function the hedge serves determines the type of plant material to use. A tall pine, spruce, fir or hemlock hedge creates a sturdy evergreen windbreak. Pyramidal oaks, pyramidal European hornbeams (Carpinus betulus Fastigiata ) or columnar beech make attractive border plantings along country lanes and driveways. Yews, cedars, burning bush or even rhododendrons make a great mid-height hedge. Lower plants that take well to clipping, such as boxwoods, barberries, alpine currant (Ribes alpinum) and lavender (Lavandula spp.), are commonly used to define walkways, herb beds and parterres. Alternatively, you can create a two-tier effect by planting a low, mounding boxwood hedge in front of a taller upright yew hedge. 2/5

An ornamental grass hedge makes a bit impact in the garden. Ornamental grasses, such as the taller maiden grasses (Miscanthus spp.) and reed grasses (Calamagrostis spp.

3 An ornamental grass hedge makes a bit impact in the garden. Ornamental grasses, such as the taller maiden grasses (Miscanthus spp.) and reed grasses (Calamagrostis spp.), make good screens and dividers, even into the winter months. Fruit trees can also be trained and pruned in espalier and cordon styles on wires and stakes to create a hedge-like appearance, somewhat akin to grape vines in a vineyard. Finally, creative pruning adds a little fun and frivolity to an all-green hedge. There are many examples of hedges sculpted into wave-like shapes, topiary animals and ornate finials. Planting Proper planting encourages rooting and quick establishment. I prefer the staggered-row method of planting (think of a zigzag pattern) for a mid-height cedar, yew or spruce hedge. Although this technique requires more plants and consumes more space, nutrients and water, it produces a dense hedge quickly. Lower hedges used to define a walkway or an herb bed are usually planted as a single row. In either case, ensure you make the planting holes or trench at least twice as wide and deep as the plants root balls so that you can incorporate lots of compost, manure and topsoil. If your hedge surrounds a vegetable garden, conceal a chicken wire barrier within it to keep out rabbits. 3/5

A hedge planted using the staggered-row method. Maintenance In northern climates, ice, snow and road-salt spray can cause considerable damage to a hedge.

4 A hedge planted using the staggered-row method. Maintenance In northern climates, ice, snow and road-salt spray can cause considerable damage to a hedge. Avoid foliar burn due to salt-water road spray by wrapping the plants in burlap. In the spring, wash any affected foliage and water the soil thoroughly to reduce its salinity. Branch breakage due to snow and ice loading is exacerbated when hedges are improperly pruned to have a wide, flat top and narrow bottom. This shape holds snow, whereas a narrower, gently curved top and wider bottom sheds the snow. The narrower top also allows sunlight to get to the lower parts of the hedge, thereby promoting basal buds and thicker bottom growth. The amount of necessary pruning depends on the shape, height and look you want, and the ability of the hedge material to take repeated clippings. For formal hedges, start pruning not long after planting to train and shape the plants. Low hedges of privet, alpine current and barberry likely need pruning a number of times throughout the growing season. Informal deciduous hedges of forsythia, viburnums, mock orange, and spireas are usually lightly pruned just once a year to keep them in bounds. Know your hedge material s blooming time so you don t prune away flowers. Finally, confirm whether the plants can be hard pruned into old wood. A hedge can fulfill many functions in your garden beyond just the practical ones. With so many options available, there s no need to stay within the boundaries when selecting the plant material. Be creative and have fun. 4/5

5 Text by Frank Kershaw Photos by Marnie Wright Frank Kershaw is an award-winning horticulturist with thirty-five years experience. He teaches garden design and horticultural courses at George Brown College in Toronto, Ontario, and at the Toronto Botanical Garden. Frank is also a presenter at the Lee Valley Tool Ltd. seminars at the Toronto stores. Marnie Wright (gardenwright@muskoka.com) is a lifelong gardener, writer and passionate garden photographer. Her Rocksborough Garden, developed over thirty years, is located in Bracebridge, Ontario. 5/5

Overhead Garden Structures

Overhead Garden Structures Overhead structures in the winter garden (Photo by Elena Bowell) Of all features, overhead structures stand out to me for adding significant impact to the garden. Whether you buy them or build them yourself,