Get In Shape—With The Perfect Hedge. That Is!

You have decided to take the jump and plant hedges to increase the beauty of your lawn. You've chosen the plants, trees, and shrubs that grow well in your zone and you have followed all planting instructions. So how do you train them into the perfect hedge? That's what we're going to look at in this article. Some of the shrubs and plants you have chosen are barberries, boxwoods, and yew. Deciduous shrubs can also be pruned and trained to become perfect hedges. Formal hedges are clipped and formed into shapes that enclose spaces, and define garden rooms.

Barberries are a popular choice for hedges and here are a few tips to their care. Pruning should be kept to a minimum. Recommendation is two times a year. They grow best in partial sun and prefer poor soil. They will bear more fruit if they are grown in poor soil. They can be easily trimmed and shaped into a lovely hedge. Barberries are sensitive to salt and solid fertilizers can kill the plant.

Pruning is started immediately after planting and recommended you prune the plant by at least one third and it can be trimmed to half its planting size. This will help new growth from the base of the plant. Once your plant has grown to the height you want it, then pruning is only necessary to keep it looking neat. Use sharp hedging shears, or electric hedge trimmers. It's also helpful to use a string line to help you keep your hedge even.

Training a hedge begins early. Some people allow the hedge to grow too tall before they start pruning. Every time your plant has a new growth of 12 inches, you should prune it back about six inches. The sides of the hedges should also be trimmed. Never let the top of the hedge to become wider than the base. If tops are left wide, they shade out the lower branches and they can become weak. Snow buildups are also less of a problem when the tops are narrower. Hedges can be trimmed either straight across, or softly rounded.

Narrow-leaved evergreens need slightly less pruning. Fine twigged plants such as arborvitae, hemlock, and yews need to be trimmed heavily. Pines, spruces, and firs should have their buds or new shoots at the tip of the branch broken off each year. Then they can be shamed into their formal shape with a pair of pruning shears.

Cutting your hedge plants back when your first plant them will encourage branching and denser growth. This will make for a beautiful full hedge. As the hedges age, they can be cut back by smaller amounts each year. When they have reached the height you want them to be, you only need to keep trimmed to look neat. Don't forget to use a plum line so you can keep your hedge straight.

What happens when you move into a new home and the hedges have not been properly cared for? There are ways to rejuvenate hedges. If they aren't badly overgrown, you can cut back the sides and tops to six inches below the height you want your hedge to be. This minor cutback lets a new growth begin, which can then be pruned and trimmed into the shape you want.

If the hedge is overgrown, you can cut back some plants to within 6-12 inches of the ground. Don't just assume that you can do this to all shrubs. Ripping out the entire hedge and planting new plants can only repair some shrubs.

Two of the more popular types of plants for forming formal hedges are the Boxwood and the Privet. Both are excellent choices for the straight lines that are needed in a formal hedge.

Privet hedges grow quickly and are more easily shaped than boxwood shrubs. Privet hedges will tolerate the heavy pruning that is needed to shape the shrubs into formal hedges. Privet shrubs will reach a height of 4 to 15 feet. In late spring and early summer, they produce white flowers, when the flowers are done blooming then berries appear. Privet hedges prefer partial shade and a moist soil. They are not troubled by smog and pollution that can hurt plants in urban settings.