The sheds and tall hedges of trees and shrubs (both coniferous and deciduous) can fulfill many functions in the garden. The basic ones include: isolating from unattractive places, creating intimate nooks, inhibiting wind gusts, improving the microclimate, protection against dust and dirt, especially in highly urbanized places.They are also an effective decoration
and background for other garden plants.
Molded hedges are most often used and trimmed at least once a year. Usually they have a geometric form, resembling a trapezoid, triangle or rectangle in cross-section.Columnar and narrow-conical varieties of thuja and cypress trees are suitable for this type of hedges, common hornbeam, field maple, single-necked and double-necked hawthorn, cherry plum, common beech, dogwood, maple tartar, European and Japanese larch, white mulberry and very popular privet.
The second group consists of hedges and semi-formed rows, where pruning is limited to shortening the shoots growing, e.g. outside the fence.There are also unformed hedges, i.e. free-growing hedges in which plants take the form typical for a given species and varieties.They are decorative especially during flowering (Styriaca miraculous shrub, fragrant jasmine, van Houtte's tavern, middle forsythia, dusky rose, dry tartar, pink varicose veins, rough and slender lilac).
These shrubs can be shaped, but because of the flowers, they are rarely pruned. Shrubs with ornamental fruit, such as sea buckthorn, and other species, mainly with ornamental leaves (glossy cotoneaster, white dogwood and its varieties: 'Spa Elegantissima', 'Spa Elegantethii', and its varieties: 'Dart's Gold') can also be used for unformed hedges. ',' Diabolo ').
Hedges made of trees and shrubs that are always green are attractive all year round.Lines and tall hedges made of deciduous species will look beautiful, e.g. scarlet fire with numerous varieties with colorful fruits, evergreen boxwood, and in the warmest regions of Poland - eastern laurel or prickly holly and Meserva's holly 'Blue Princess' .
Evergreen shrubs for a hedge
Among the conifers, the most decorative are hedges formed from different varieties of the common yew, which is long-lived and grows excellently in both full sun and shade.Has many varieties, such as' Erecta ',' Fastigiata ',' Fastigiata Robusta ',' Hessei 'with a columnar shape. The valuable varieties recommended for hedges are also found in the intermediate yew, which grows faster than the common yew. 'Hatfieldii', 'Hicksii', 'Hillii', 'Wojtek' with a dense habit and erect shoots are irreplaceable.
Spruce trees will also be excellent for hedges: common, prickly and Serbian, as well as Canadian pine, which grows very slowly at the beginning, but is suitable for shady locations.In mountain and foothill gardens we can set up a line Firs: common, Korean or single-coloredWe cannot fail to mention the Western thuja and varieties with green scaly leaves, such as 'Brabant', 'Columna', 'Spiralis' and 'Smaragd'. High rows and hedges of varieties of this species with yellow color of scaly leaves also look nice: 'Aurescens', 'Europe Gold', 'Sunkist'.
It is also worth remembering about the pea cypress, which has color varieties: 'Plumosa' and 'Plumosa Aurea', tolerates partial shade, prefers fresh and moist soils. In Western Poland, the varieties of Lawson's cypress with multicolored leaves, especially 'Alumia' and 'Columnaris', and their yellow coloration:' Stewartii ',' Stardust ',' Ivonne, 'Alumigold', will work very well. It is best to use these shrubs for a row in a quiet garden surrounded by dense buildings, because they can freeze in severe winters.
Planting and soil preparation
Preparation of the soil is a very important procedure for later acceptance and good plant growth. It is important to dig it deeply and remove weeds, especially perennial weeds. Before spring planting, it is good to mix the soil with a compound fertilizer at a dose of 1 kg per 100 m².Instead of mineral fertilizers, you can use well-decomposed compost or manure.Bushes planted in autumn should not be fertilized, you can only add phosphorus fertilizers while digging the ground.
Before planting, mark out the future axis of the hedge with stakes, between which a string is attached, then mark out the holes for the plants. For coniferous trees and shrubs, single-row planting into previously dug holes is practiced. Double-row planting is used for deciduous shrubs and trees, e.g. privet, hornbeam, common beech, field maple.
The size and habit of the purchased plants determine the planting density of coniferous hedges. It is recommended to plant 3 or 4 plants of thuja, cypress and yew per meter of a single-row formed hedge. Spruce and larch trees can be planted less frequently - 2 plants per meter.For unformed and semi-formed rows, the distances may be larger, adapted to the natural habit of plants. After planting, the plants must be watered.
A very important care procedure is the correct pruning of plants, which causes them to thicken and also gives the hedge the right form. Annual regular cutting is a prerequisite for a dense cover. In the first year, we do not prune conifers because they should take root well and adapt to new conditions.
Hedge planting date
Evergreen trees and shrubs - both deciduous and coniferous, with a bare root system or muddy - best planted in spring or August (until the beginning of September), and deciduous from the end of September to the end of October, because their roots then show the greatest activity.Plants produced in containers can be planted throughout the growing season, not later than the end of October (they should take root before the fall-winter cold).
