Hedges, with their timeless charm and practical advantages, have long been esteemed features in landscape design. These verdant barriers not only delineate boundaries and provide privacy, but also offer additional benefits ranging from reducing noise to providing habitat for wildlife.
Hedges are planted in the ground and span a linear distance of at least 12 to 15 feet or more, and they can be anywhere from two feet tall to 20 feet plus. Use tall evergreen hedges to create privacy and define spaces, and use shorter hedges to hem in planting areas with low evergreen borders. Keep the height of your hedge uniform in each area to create cohesiveness, and be sure to keep in mind mature plant size and the area’s exposure to sun and shade for best success.
Hedges Offer a Range of Benefits & Uses
- Define Space: Hedges act as static, foundational plantings to help define garden beds, separate spaces, and create boundaries in the landscape.
- Create Privacy: Hedges serve as natural barriers, offering privacy and screening from neighbors and passersby—like a lush, living fence!
- Block Unsightly Views: Hedges effectively obscure unsightly views, providing a natural and aesthetically pleasing barrier that enhances the visual appeal of the surrounding landscape.
- Reduce Noise: Hedges can act as effective noise barriers, absorbing and deflecting sound waves to create a quieter and more peaceful environment.
- Protect from the Elements: Hedges offer protection against harsh weather conditions by acting as natural windbreaks and reducing the impact of rain, snow, and hot sun on surrounding areas.
- Serve as Wildlife Habitat: Hedges can provide shelter, food, and nesting sites for various animals, thus fostering biodiversity and ecological balance in their surroundings.
Enhance your hedges by planting flowering shrubs in front of tall hedges and vibrant annuals in front of low hedges to infuse the garden with a tapestry of color and seasonal charm!
8 Popular Tall Hedges for the Landscape
Burkwood Osmanthus (Osmanthus burkwoodii) – A fragrant evergreen shrub with a compact growth habit, dense glossy dark green foliage, and clusters of small white flowers with a delightful apricot-like scent, creating a visually appealing and aromatic boundary for landscapes.
Emerald Green Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) – A superb choice for a hedge due to its dense, columnar growth, vibrant emerald-green foliage, and low maintenance requirements, providing privacy and structure to any landscape.
English Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) – An excellent hedge with its lush, glossy foliage, fast growth rate, and tolerance to a variety of soil and light conditions, providing a dense and attractive screen for privacy and landscaping purposes.
Leyland Cypress (Cupressus × leylandii) – A fast-growing evergreen hedge, prized for its rapid growth, dense foliage, and ability to create a dense, year-round privacy screen; ideal for larger landscapes.
Pacific Wax Myrtle (Myrica californica) – A unique hedge option with its aromatic foliage, drought tolerance, and wildlife-attracting berries, making it an environmentally-friendly choice for hedgerows especially in coastal regions.
Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)- A popular evergreen shrub valued for its dark, glossy foliage, fragrant white flowers, and tolerance to both sun and shade, making it an elegant and versatile choice for hedges in diverse garden settings.
Skip/Schip Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’) – A versatile evergreen shrub renowned for its dense, glossy foliage, fragrant white flowers, and resilience to diverse growing conditions, making it an excellent choice for hedging or screening purposes in a variety of landscapes.
Waxleaf Privet (Ligustrum japonicum) – Prized for its glossy evergreen foliage, fast growth, and adaptability to various soil and light conditions; forms a dense and elegant hedge perfect for providing privacy and structure to gardens and landscapes.
8 Popular Short Hedges for the Landscape
Boxleaf Euonymus (Euonymus japonicus) – A compact evergreen shrub prized for its small, glossy leaves, neat habit, and versatility in sun or shade, making it an excellent choice for low hedges or formal borders in gardens.
Convex Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata ‘Convexa’) – A handsome evergreen shrub distinguished by its glossy, convex-shaped leaves, dense growth habit, and tolerance to pruning, making it an ideal choice for creating formal hedges or topiaries.
Dark Green Spreader Yew (Taxus x media ‘Dark Green Spreader’) – An excellent choice for low-maintenance hedges or ground cover in gardens; prized for its dense, spreading habit, rich green foliage, and adaptability to various soil and light conditions.
English Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) – A classic evergreen shrub celebrated for its dense, fine-textured foliage, slow growth, and ability to be shaped into intricate topiaries or formal hedges, adding timeless elegance to gardens and landscapes.
Fragrant Sweet Box (Sarcococca ruscifolia) – A charming evergreen shrub featuring glossy foliage, delicate white flowers, and sweet fragrance, making it a delightful choice for hedging or ground cover in shaded areas of gardens.
Otto Luyken English Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’) – A compact evergreen shrub admired for its dense, glossy foliage, profuse white flowers, and suitability for low hedges or mass plantings in gardens.
Privet Honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata) – A versatile evergreen shrub with a dense, low-growing habit and fragrant white flowers; suitable for creating informal hedges or ground cover in various garden settings.
Winter Gem Boxwood (Buxus microphylla var. japonica ‘Winter Gem’) – An excellent choice for formal hedges or topiaries in garden landscapes; cherished for its compact form, vibrant green foliage, and tolerance to pruning.
How to Establish Hedges in the Landscape
How to Plant Hedges
Timing: Spring and Fall are great times to plant almost anything, as transplant shock and stress to new plantings is generally less when done during cool, mild conditions. It is best to plant during the cool part of the day (morning). Expect it to take two to three years for your hedge to fill in.
Spacing: It is recommended to leave at least two feet between plants (from center). Fast-growing plants (one foot per year or more) should be planted four or more feet apart.
Planting: Dig your hole twice as wide as the container and just as deep. If it has been hot and dry, fill your planting hole with water and wait for the water to drain. Amend the soil with about one-third compost to two-thirds native soil. Add bone meal and/or starter fertilizer to the soil in the bottom of the hole and mix with planting soil. Make sure plants are straight, firmly pack soil back around root ball, and water in thoroughly.
How to Train & Prune Hedges
Summer pruning is the best time to train your hedge to a desired form—ideal hedge shapes are slightly wider at the base to let sunlight reach the lower leaves. Trim young hedges several times per year to train as necessary; remove one-third to one-half of new shoots at pruning time.
Winter pruning of hedges in November or February should be minimal but can be useful for keeping a tidy appearance. Avoid pruning any hedges from April through June, as birds often nest in hedges and pruning can disturb their eggs or hatchlings.
Depending on the hedge style and type of plant you’re growing, you may have to do a lot of heading back and pinching during the hedge’s formative years. In other cases, very little pruning will be required.
How to Maintain Hedges
Watering: Your newly planted hedge needs to be watered deeply and slowly for about one hour each week (or half hour twice per week for heavy clay soils). This is an important part of the establishment process for a healthy root system and is essential for the first two years after planting, with decreasing frequency as plants become established. As the plants mature, occasional deep watering during the hottest times of the year will be beneficial.
Fertilizing: Fertilizing can help your plants grow faster—we suggest feeding about three times each year with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer. For an organic option, we like G&B Organic Fertilizer or Portland Rose Society Organic Fertilizer, or if you prefer to use synthetic fertilizer, we love the granular Portland Rose Society 15-10-10 Fertilizer.
Bring order and organization to your outdoor areas with the thoughtful design ideas highlighted in our Traditional Landscape Design Guide! Get inspired with garden design tips, plant selection (featuring hedges), color palettes, and more.