Posted on April 12, 2018 in Gardening
A fast growing hedge will increase privacy, while also adding texture and interest to your landscaping. Looking to turn your garden into a secluded oasis, or just block out your view of passing traffic? A fence or brick wall might offer an instant solution, but a lush green hedge will act as a natural and attractive screen.
Page Contents
CHERRY LAUREL
One of the most popular choices for privacy hedging, the cherry laurel is extremely fast growing hedge plant. Also known as common laurel, this evergreen species thrives in shadier conditions as well as in direct sunlight. Growth wise, you can expect about 60cm per year in average conditions. However, the cherry laurel can also be very toxic.
BAY LAUREL
Valued among the Ancient Greeks, the bay laurel had strong associations with the god Apollo – and its leaves were even fashioned into wreaths for the victors of an early incarnation of the Olympic Games. Attractive and aromatic, today laurus nobilis is prized as a fast growing privacy hedge.
While the bay generally won’t grow as quickly as the cherry laurel – about 40cms a year is average – this can be a plus point once your hedge is fully established. If you’re able to be slightly more patient now, you may well be glad you did a few years down the line.
PRIVET
Once ubiquitous, privet has somewhat waned in popularity in recent years . However, if you’re seeking a more formal edge to your landscaping, it might well be what you’re looking for. Its dense growth will ensure privacy, and is ideal for shaping.
It’s also very fast growing – 30 to 60cm per year is to be expected, particularly if you use a plant feed – which means that it will need pruning several times a year to keep it under control and looking its best.
LEYLANDII
Almost as popular as the laurel, leylandii is a fast growing hedge species that, with a little maintenance, will soon give you a dense protective screen to lend your garden the privacy you’re seeking. One of the fastest growing hedge plants, leylandii can grow up to 90cm in a year – so have those pruning shears at the ready!
BAMBOO
If you’re looking for a hedging plant that will create a visual screen without taking up too much space, bamboo can be a surprisingly viable alternative. Golden bamboo or fountain bamboo will create a screening effect while also adding a lush and informal ambience to your landscaping. You can also purchase bamboo that has been formed into rolled screening ready for you to attach to posts.
PRIVACY HEDGE PLANTING TIPS FOR FAST GROWTH
Autumn to early spring is the ideal time to plant your new laurel or leylandii hedge, although your task will be easier if you avoid periods of ground frost. Planting outside of this optimum time is still an option, although it will mean that you need to pay a little more attention to ensuring the roots don’t dry out.
It’s imperative to prepare the ground first. Ensure the area you’ll be planting in is thoroughly weeded six weeks earlier, then give the area another once over for new weed growth before you start. Finally, add some plant food at the same time as your new plants.
For speed, opt for more mature plants to start with. Hedge plants are usually sold as either bare root, root-balled or container/pot grown. While neither option is definitively superior, if you want to increase privacy in your garden quickly, container grown is the strongest option.
For Laurel and Leylandii, spacing plants at a distance of no less than 60cm is ideal. If you’re not so concerned about achieving a screening effect quickly, you can even afford to space out a little further up to 1 metre apart. Bamboo should be spaced according to the size of the particular species, but as a guide you’ll usually be aiming for 1 plant per 100-150cms. Privet should be planted closer together – 4 plants per metre is perfect. How deep you need to plant will depend on the size of the plants you’ve purchased – your supplier should be able to advise you on this.
COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY
Finally, if you’re planting a privacy hedge along a shared border, considering having a friendly chat with your neighbour before you begin. Tall, dense hedges can block out natural light, so your neighbours may be concerned about this. Make a point of reassuring them that you’ll be keeping your new hedge maintained to a reasonable height over the years to come.
For information on our garden services please visit Protech Garden Solutions or call one of our friendly team on 0845 604 1288.
Categories
- Building Maintenance
- Cleaning
- Electrical
- Gardening
- General Info
- Our Service
- Pest
- Security
- Uncategorized
- Waste Solutions
Archive
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- August 2023
- April 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- October 2014
- May 2013
- April 2013
- November 2011
- September 2011
- June 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010