Hedges – The Natural Property Dividing Line

Sometimes we need a little something that shows us exactly what we have. This can especially be true with property lines. With houses being sold and resold, it can be difficult to know exactly what is yours and what is not. Using something lovely like a hedge is a great way to naturally enhance your property line. Before planting however, there are a few steps you should take. If you are going to enhance your property line, be sure you are being completely fair and legal about it. Talking to your neighbor is a good way to begin. Letting them know what you are planning will allow them to take no offense to your gesture.

Figuring Out Your Boundaries

The first thing you will need to do after deciding to add hedges to your property line is figure out exactly where your lines run. You can do this in several ways. Many people just assume that their lines end at their driveways or where their fences end. The fact is that most property lines are not as simple as that. Many of them are very crooked. Even though your fence ends at a specific point in your back yard, it may slant to the boundary area in the front yard. The best way to be sure you are legally adding to your property is to measure the lines of your property using a plot guide.

If you are completely confused about this issue or would rather not deal with it yourself, you can hire a professional to plot your yard for you. Basically these professionals measure out your property lines and will either flag them or paint your lines on the ground for you. If you think you can handle this job yourself and would rather not spend the extra money to hire someone to do it, you can always visit your city building code office. These offices have copies of all property diagrams. You can obtain a copy of yours, which will include exact measurements from your house. Then taking a tape measure, you can measure and mark the lines yourself.

Choosing a Size

After you know exactly where your property begins and ends, you will need to figure out exactly what sized hedges you want to use. If you want complete privacy from your neighbor, you may want to consider a tall hedge that stays green all year long. A large box hedge is great for this task. This is perfect if you want to keep people from walking through your yard as well.

If you are simply looking for a small way to block off your yard, consider using a shorter hedge. This will still look adorable and keep kids from running through your yard, but you will still be able to see your neighborhood well. This is probably the best option for those simply wanting to add beauty with hedges in their yards.

Planting

After deciding exactly where you want your hedge to go, be sure to plant it a little in front of your boundary lines. Consider how thick and long your specific species of hedge will get when planting. You don't want it to go too much over your property line, especially if you haven't discussed it with your neighbor. Never put it directly on the property line. If you do, and your neighbor complains, you will have to remove the hedge and replant it. This can cause stress to the plant and require unnecessary labor as well.

Maintenance

After planting, when your hedges begin to thrive, be sure to maintain them properly. Chances are that your neighbor will not mind the hedges as long as they are properly taken care of. This may mean that you need to prune them regularly so that they don't spill over into the neighboring property. Be sure to take care and avoid this happening to maintain a positive relationship with your neighbors. Keep in mind however that as long as every part of your hedge stays within your property line, your neighbors can complain all they want. Most cities will allow you to maintain your hedge as you wish, as long as it is on your land.