What is a green fence made of? Fast growing evergreen hedge - shrubs and trees. Woody hedges: how do they differ

In most of Russia, the climatic conditions for gardening are not the best. Nature brings many unexpected surprises.

Therefore, gardeners who decide to make a hedge with their own hands should carefully select plants. They must be unpretentious, cold-resistant.

There are many such plants. These are different varieties of trees, shrubs and climbing plants. You just need to competently approach their choice, given what kind of green hedge is to be done.

If you live in central Russia, you should not rely on plants such as thuja orientalis and cypresses, Korean and balsam fir. In this region, they do not take root well: they can winter only under a thick snow cushion. It is better to use evergreens adapted to the local climate for hedges. They not only decorate the site, purify the air, but also hold back snow and wind.

Spruce

It can be a dwarf Canadian spruce or gray spruce, a tall or dwarf species of prickly spruce. As well as an ordinary spruce of different heights or a one and a half meter Serbian spruce, the needles of which are distinguished by shiny dark green needles with two bluish stripes.

Juniper

This is one of the most popular and numerous representatives of conifers. The most unpretentious types of juniper will look very good in a hedge: virgin, horizontal, Chinese, Cossack and ordinary.

Fir

Fir is not a city dweller; smoke harms its development. Only outside the city, it takes root well and pleases with its noble beauty. For the middle band, such types as whole-leaved, monochrome, balsamic are suitable.

Pine

In horticulture, cold-resistant and unpretentious species of this plant are most often used. Truly decorative ordinary, mountain and Weymouth pine.

Cypress pea

An evergreen plant that comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Handles winter hardships well. From the genus of cypress stands out unpretentiousness.

Yew

Champion among evergreens in frost resistance and endurance. It will feel good in a living fence located in a shady corner. Such species as berry and Canadian yew have proven themselves especially well in central Russia.

thuja

From the numerous family of this culture, it is worth paying attention to the thuja western. Will withstand any whims of the Russian winter. This species is rich in forms and varieties. You can choose a dwarf western thuja, which will grow to only 60 cm (variety Danica) or its opposite - a 15 meter giantess with a spiral crown (Spiralis).

Plants for deciduous hedges

They differ from evergreens in that their decorative effect is not year-round, but only while the foliage is alive. Many deciduous plants bloom beautifully, are honey plants, are used in folk medicine, and bear fruit.

These are the most famous shrubs and trees: acacias, chokeberry, euonymus, elderberry, hawthorn, cherry, elm, hydrangea, deren, honeysuckle, willow, viburnum, cotoneaster, maple, lilac, currant, mock orange jasmine.

fast growing shrubs

Of these crops, the most impatient create hedges. Although it cannot be said that they are losing in some way, because many plants grow quickly - both evergreen and deciduous. In addition, each of them is beautiful in its own way and can withstand negative atmospheric effects.

1. Thunberg's deciduous barberry is a plant whose shoots - purple-red, yellow - stand out in bright spots against a green background. One of the most favorite plants for garden construction outside the city.
2. Euonymus. Both in summer and autumn, it amazes with the multicolored foliage: from white to purple. The leaves will fly around - the bush, hung with bright berries, is still beautiful.
3. Privet. Cutting this bush is a real pleasure, any fantasy can be realized, you can get either a smooth green wall, or any figure. The only drawback: it is afraid of frost, so shelter is required in the middle lane for the winter.
4. Cotoneaster. Flowers have a modest appearance, but they are not its main decoration. Decorative shrub gives a lush crown of shiny dark leaves, which gradually acquire a crimson color by autumn. Red spots of berries are added to this splendor, which stay on the branches until severe frosts. It is easy to cut the cotoneaster into any shape that does not lose its shape for a long time.
5. Hawthorn. It attracts attention both during spring flowering and in summer, when the ripening fruits turn yellow, orange, red. In autumn, bright foliage shows itself in all its glory. An indispensable plant for a fast-growing hedge in the Moscow region and other regions of the middle lane.
6. Forsythia. Also very decorative. Usually it is planted when creating dense green fences. Its flowers look beautiful against the background of dense juicy foliage.
7. Boxwood. Not afraid of moderate frosts, but can die from the winter wind or spring sunshine. With a caring attitude towards him, it grows quite quickly, a bright green outfit - all year round. Can also be used in sheared hedges.
8. Yew. This evergreen shrub has dense but not prickly needles. Depending on the species or variety, it can grow in the form of a regular bush or ball, candle, cone or be creeping. Very handy for cutting.
9. Thuya. Evergreen fast growing shrub. Gardeners love it for its dense crown, clear forms and pleasant aroma. For hedges, you should choose the western one, which does not need special care and endures cold weather.

Plants for a living fence of different heights

The single-tiered height of a hedge is usually dictated by space savings on the site. This means that it will require trees in which branches grow from the very base of the trunk. These are poplars, lindens, maples.

If the gardener does not have such a problem, it is better to create a multi-tiered green fence that will cover the site well from the windy side. It will turn out that, selected in height, trees and shrubs will not close each other, but will be beautifully combined in color and alternately bloom and bear fruit.

1. The highest row can be occupied by linden, elm, poplar, ash, maple, buckthorn, willow, mountain ash.

Trees such as white or blood-red turf, common and Amur barberry, buckthorn-shaped sea buckthorn, narrow-leaved and silver sucker, spiked and smooth shadberry, chokeberry, hazel, Tatar honeysuckle, mock orange, chokeberry, Hungarian and common lilac, maple will grow up to three meters Ginnala and Tatar.

2. For hedges with a height of 1.2 to 2 meters, gray and wrinkled roses, brilliant cotoneaster, Russian broom, willow spirea, Thunberg barberry, alpine and golden currants, coverlet and alpine honeysuckle are well suited.

Plants of this height, well adapted to the local climate, can mark the border with neighbors and divide your site into separate zones.

3. Even lower fences - from one meter to 1.2 m, will create such shrubs: undersized species of Thunberg barberry and mock orange, Bessey's cherry and glandular, steppe almond, Japanese and three-lobed spirea.

4. If a half-meter-high fence-curb is planned, you need to plant a dwarf caragana (Pygmaea and Nana varieties), Thunberg barberry (Aurea, Atropurpurea Nana, Green Carpet), Japanese spirea (Golden Princess and Little Princess), mock orange (Gnome and Dwarf) , as well as lingonberries.

Formed stands

Sheared landings look especially impressive. They differ in compactness, accuracy, long keep the given form. And after a few years, an impenetrable hedge is formed. To get this result, you need to choose the right landings that will retain their shape and easily recover after a haircut.

Linden, brilliant cotoneaster, hawthorn have all these qualities,

honeysuckle varieties Alberta, alpine, Tatar, covering. They are also possessed by honeysuckle, white sod, alpine and golden currant, barberry, maple - Tatar and Ginnala, poplar - Canadian and Berlin, purple-leaved willow.

Coniferous trees can also be formed. For clipped hedges, common spruce, European larch and thuja of two types - Smaragd and Brabant will be a good choice. Larch is especially effective after shearing - it is good both in a green state and after the needles fall off.

plants for thorny hedges

A hedge of plants with thorns is a real "border on the castle." Dense thickets are difficult to overcome not only for humans, but even for domestic animals.

mixed hedges

It is preferable to arrange such types of combined green fences in spacious areas. Plants with different periods of flowering, fruiting, with different leaf colors will coexist here.

It looks interesting hedge, composed of two species with different heights. A low-growing shrub in this case will cover the bare branches of tall plants with its foliage.

In mixed plantings, lilac varieties such as Amur, Hungarian and drooping are successfully combined with tall species of jasmine-mock orange, viburnum (Gordovina and Boule de Nezhe), forsythia.

Weaving (climbing) plants

Perhaps the most decorative. "Bindweeds" have long shoots, beautiful leaves and luxurious flowers. The tendrils and hooks help them to rise quite high, while forming a continuous carpet of greenery and flowers. The flowering of many climbing plants is long and abundant.

It is especially valuable that the full decorative effect is achieved much faster than with other garden crops. In addition, they facilitate the gardener's work without the need for special preparation for winter.

perennial climbing plants

They are the best material for a living fence.

1. Climbing rose. For a green fence, you should choose only winter-hardy varieties that do not need shelter, otherwise the owners will have to deal with the annual chores of preparing the bushes for winter.

These plants are good because they bloom for a long time, and some varieties - repeatedly. The color is white, red, yellow, pink and maroon.

2. Honeysuckle honeysuckle. A plant famous for its wonderful aroma. Able to endure severe cold without shelter, so that for the winter it can not be removed from the supports. It grows well in elevated places, on moderately moist soil.

3. Clematis. Belongs to the buttercup family. The most popular purple clematis. Its creepers reach two meters in length, the flowers are large, up to 6 cm in diameter.

4. Campsis. A beautiful deciduous vine with aerial sucker roots and bright scarlet or orange tubular flowers.

5. Wisteria. A rather capricious climbing plant comes from the southern regions. White, pink or blue flowers are collected in hanging clusters.

6. Calistegia. It looks like a wild bindweed Birch, but her flowers are larger.

7. Common ivy. The plant, although it belongs to the evergreen, but in the middle lane does not always survive the winter safely, it needs shelter or a thick snow cushion.

8. Maiden (wild) grapes. Excellent climbing plant for building hedges. Grows wherever planted, on any soil. It is especially beautiful in autumn, when the leaves turn purple, and inedible fruits turn dark blue. Does not require shelter for the winter.

flowering plants

The spectacle of a flowering hedge is a charm itself. Tall shrubs, showered with flowers, emitting a fragrance - is this not the dream of any amateur gardener.

For the formation of a picturesque fence, such plants are suitable:

• Syrian hibiscus. A two-meter shrub that blooms from July to September. Flowers come in a variety of colors.
• Hydrangea. Shrub up to one and a half meters high, continuous flowering lasts for several months. Basically, the flowers are white, but if you plant a large-leaved hydrangea, it will give flowers of amazing colors - pink, blue, red or lilac.
• Japanese spirea. Reaches a height of one and a half meters. It is in bloom all summer. Looks great framed in pink or purple flowers.
• Fragrant chubushnik. Three-meter bushes bloom from late spring to early summer. Flowers are white, with a strong spicy aroma.
• Multi-flowered rose. Can grow up to 4 meters. It blooms in early June and blooms until mid-summer. An interesting property: the flowers change color: at first they are white-pink, then pure white.
• Action. The height of the shrub is from two to five meters. Blooms with the onset of summer heat. The flowers are white, do not exude a smell.
• Honeysuckle Tatar. Also blooms in early summer. Flower color - white or pink. Forms inedible orange or red fruits.
• Common rosehip. Height - up to one and a half meters. Flowering continues all summer. The fruits ripen by mid-autumn.
• Barberry Juliana. Height - up to 2.5 meters, covered with yellow flowers in the first summer month. Forms black or red fruits.

We hope that our article helped to deal with popular plants for creating hedges.

Hedges never lose popularity, despite the variety of modern fences. Thanks to green spaces, the site acquires a very cozy look and a special atmosphere. In such a dacha, one even breathes differently, and all negative emotions disappear without a trace. Making a hedge in the country on your own is not at all difficult, the main thing is to choose the right plants and get acquainted with their agricultural technology.

A wide variety of plants are used as green fences, differing in height, bush shape, color scheme, density and other criteria. Depending on the height of the plantations, there are three types of hedges:

The shape of the bushes, and hence the entire range of plantings, directly depends on pruning. Here, too, two types of hedges are distinguished - freely growing and molded. The first type does not require special care and shape correction, the bushes grow arbitrarily. This option is optimal for those summer residents who prefer natural landscapes. The second type of plantings needs obligatory regular pruning, with the help of which geometric shapes are given to the bushes. Such hedges look very neat, give an original look to the entire territory.

Another parameter for classification is the number of rows of plantings. The simplest type of hedge is single-row, when all plants are planted in a row at equal intervals from each other. For small bushes, this interval is 30-40 cm, for bushes with a wide crown - from 50 to 75 cm, for trees - up to 1.5 m, depending on the species.

In double-row hedges, plants are planted in a checkerboard pattern, taking into account the growth factor. All other multi-row plantings are formed according to the same principle, but with one difference: each subsequent row must be higher than the previous one. With such a stepped arrangement, the plants do not block each other, and the whole composition is perfectly visible.

Multi-row hedges require a lot of free space, so they are not suitable for small areas. Also, they should not be dealt with by beginners, since a lot of experience and skill will be required here. It is very important to choose the right plants according to the color scheme and density of the bushes so that the overall composition is as harmonious as possible. In addition, all species should have similar requirements for growing conditions and get along well with each other.

Hedge plant combination

By type of plants, hedges are divided into coniferous, deciduous and climbing, and each of these types has its own characteristics.

Conifers

Coniferous fences remain decorative all year round. They are unpretentious in care, easy to form, saturate the air with a pleasant and healing aroma. Due to the diversity of species, conifers can be used both as borders and as living fences along the boundaries of the site. They have only one drawback - they grow slowly. Although there are certain types of conifers that can grow much faster than their relatives, for example, thuja and juniper.

Features of plants suitable for creating hedges
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Deciduous

Deciduous crops are deciduous and evergreen. They are characterized by rapid growth, a variety of colors and shapes. Many plants bloom beautifully, filling everything around with a pleasant aroma and bright colors. Such plants tolerate pruning well, are easily restored after shearing, form a dense screen that reliably hides the area from prying eyes. These species are quite demanding on the composition of the soil and moisture, they react poorly to the lack of sun. With dense plantings, the decorative effect decreases, individual plants can be drowned out by neighboring ones and dry out.

curly

For climbing hedges, strong supports are needed, the functions of which can also be performed by an ordinary fence. Climbing plants grow very quickly and gradually completely hide the support under them, creating a thick screen of the required height. If you choose flowering varieties, the hedge will look just magical, especially when you combine varieties of different flowering periods.

Hedge planting rules

In order for the hedge to have a neat appearance, it is necessary to properly prepare the site. A place for planting should be chosen taking into account the growth of bushes, especially if it is planned to plant along the border of a summer cottage with a neighboring one. Many plants put out root shoots, and neighbors are unlikely to like to clean it up annually on their side. Slate dug into the ground or plastic shields will help to avoid this.

Step 1. Determine the location of the fence and pull the twine or rope along this line. They retreat 50 cm on both sides of the rope and dig a trench with a depth of 30 to 60 cm, depending on the size of the root system of the seedlings. The topsoil, along with the grass, is set aside.

Step 2. At the bottom of the trench, first, a layer of turf is laid, which was on top, and lightly rammed it. The earth taken out of the trench is mixed with organic fertilizers and backfilled, well leveling the surface. Having filled the trench to half, the soil is watered abundantly, after which the remaining soil is filled up.

Step 3 In soft and moist prepared soil, recesses are prepared for seedlings. With a single row planting, the pits are arranged in a straight line with a step of 30 to 70 cm, depending on the type of plant. If the landing is multi-row, the holes are made in a checkerboard pattern with appropriate intervals.

Step 4 Water is poured into the pits, allowed to soak, then the seedlings are carefully transferred from the pots into the holes, leveled and sprinkled with earth. Carefully monitor the density of the backfill - there should be no voids at the roots. It is also not necessary to tamp strongly, as this can damage still weak roots.

Immediately after planting, it is recommended to mulch the soil, and cut the seedlings themselves a little to facilitate rooting. Then it remains only to periodically water the plants and remove the weeds in a timely manner. The best time for planting is the second half of September: the root system has time to take root quite well, less moisture is required. Formative pruning is recommended after a year or two, when the bush begins to branch well. The first pruning in early spring, then in the middle of summer, and again before wintering.

First of all, damaged branches are removed, and then all those that are knocked out of the general shape. A simple pruner is suitable for cutting small hedges, but if the plantings are large, it is more convenient to purchase a special electric pruner, which will save time and provide a better result.

Video - Do-it-yourself hedge in the country: what plants

Video - DIY hedge

Types of the best shrubs for hedges

A living shrub fence is most often used for landscaping a territory in landscape design, as a delimitation of various zones on a site or to protect the territory from prying eyes. Such plants have different lengths and heights, which allows you to build a beautiful green fence that is impenetrable to outsiders.

In this article we will analyze the main types of bushes suitable for these purposes.

Why is it better to choose bushes for a living fence?

The hedge can be formed in the form of a low-growing border, as well as a dense fence 2-3 meters high, wild-growing or of a certain shape. Bushes are ideal for:

• the formation of various zones on the site, for example, areas for privacy and recreation;
• curbs along the tracks;
• external and internal delimitation of the territory;
• protect the site from prying eyes, dust and noise;
• focusing on certain areas of the garden.

A living shrub fence can be given any shape: elliptical, rounded, pyramidal, etc. by cutting. Such a fence is decorative, it is suitable for drapery of an old picket fence. Shrubs grow quickly, you can pick up plants of different heights and pomp with different periods of flowering, plant them in one, two or more rows. The result is a lush, green, flowering fence throughout the warm period.

Types of shrubs for a living fence

For hedges, plants are selected that are unpretentious and shade-tolerant. This is especially true for dense multi-row fences. For fences of a certain shape, bushes are selected that easily tolerate a haircut. When selecting, take into account the growth rate of the variety and the shape of the crown. Plant height ranges from 10 cm to 6 m.

evergreen options

Evergreen bushes in winter are covered with the same elegant foliage as in warm weather. Some of them bloom beautifully. Some types of evergreens need shelter for the winter in the absence of snow, for example, boxwood or cherry laurel. Shrubs of European varieties do not require shelter. They go well with conifers and deciduous plants.

• Rhododendron well suited for forming a fence on the north side of the site or in the northeast. It is recommended to combine with plants that have a tap root system. Some varieties in open areas are prone to burning in the spring sun, so they need to be shaded or hedge in shady places. The first year after planting, the plants must be thoroughly watered. Further care for them is minimal. Feed with fertilizer for rhododendrons.
• mahonia attracts with evergreen glossy leaves, fragrant flowers. The aroma of flowers resembles the smell of flowering lilies of the valley. The berries are dark purple with a bluish bloom, suitable for food, used in winemaking and cooking. Blooms in November-March, depending on the variety and region. Easily tolerates frosts even during flowering. Suitable for hedges: Oregon grapes, Japanese mahonia, Wagner and creeping.
• Heather decorative during the flowering period, especially when the snow crushes the inflorescences. The height of the bush is about 1 m and above. Color variations are different: yellow, white, lilac. Unpretentious, does not need systematic top dressing. Tall branches can bend on their own, rooting in the ground. Only dense hedges need moderate pruning until buds appear. For the winter, the roots are covered with sawdust, dry leaves or peat.

The following video details how to create a hedge from evergreens:

thorny bushes

Thorny shrubs are ideal for forming an external impenetrable hedge. Most of them tolerate shearing well, but look spectacular in the wild. Some species grow wide and require careful pruning and overgrowth control.

• Blackthorn- strongly branching winter-hardy plant up to 4 m high. Undemanding in care. Forms dense impenetrable hedges that protect the site from gusts of wind. Suitable for outdoor fencing. Blossoms before the appearance of leaves, abundantly white flowers, bears fruit in August. The fruits are edible.
• Sea ​​buckthorn- undemanding shrub in the care. Well propagated by seeds. Looks beautiful as a hedge planted in two rows. Fruits in combination with leaves are very decorative. They are edible and have medicinal properties. Needs systematic pruning to form the boundaries of the fence, while reducing yield.
• Roses- thorny shrubs of various heights. Under this name, many undersized, standard and climbing varieties are combined. A wide range allows you to create both an impenetrable living fence and a beautiful border. Some varieties need to be covered for the winter. They tolerate pruning well. Decorative during flowering.

Roses as a hedge

tall shrubs

High options allow you to form hedges 3-5 m high. Such plants grow quickly, which allows you to form a fence within 2-3 years. To form a uniform hedge, it is recommended to combine them with plants of various sizes. The fence needs height control.

• Lilac tall varieties attracts landscapers with a captivating aroma and decorative qualities during the flowering period. It is unpretentious in leaving, grows on any soils. Needs sanitary pruning, winter-hardy. A high hedge can be formed from bushes with different shapes and colors of buds.
• Aronia chokeberry grows 2.5-3 m high, forming dense hedges. Blooms in June-July with white or pink flowers. The fruits are edible, but in limited quantities due to the large amount of ascorbic acid in them, they have healing properties, suitable for harvesting. Winter-hardy and unpretentious. Very decorative, especially when the fruits ripen. Suitable for wild growing hedges, does not need frequent pruning.
• Elder- shrub up to 4 m. Blooms in May-June. Many white inflorescences create a powerful heady aroma. The fruits have medicinal properties. Red and black varieties are suitable for high hedges. Mice can't stand it. There are several forms of elderberry bushes, for example, weeping and pyramidal. Unpretentious and winter-hardy.

high lilac

Shade-loving bushes

Shade-loving options are most often used to form arbors and hedges in combination with tall plants. It's nice to relax in such a corner in hot weather. Shade-loving bushes also need sunlight, but differ in the degree of shade tolerance. They are divided into shade-loving and shade-tolerant. The difference is that shade-loving shrubs prefer shady places, while shade-tolerant shrubs put up with little shading.

• Honeysuckle- frost-resistant shrub up to 2.5 meters high. Easily grows in width and height over the age of 4 years, so this fact must be taken into account when laying a fence. Flowering plant tolerates early frosts. The fruits are edible, ripen at different times. Until the age of seven, it does not need pruning. Virtually unaffected by pests and diseases.
• Hazel- shade-tolerant, suitable for places with little shading, while the amount of crop depends on the degree of illumination of the planting. Needs top dressing with nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, as well as sanitary pruning. For hedges form a crown of 4-8 branches. Only annual branches bear fruit, this must be taken into account during the haircut. It is recommended to rejuvenate annually by cutting up to 3 old trunks.
• mexican jasmine attracts landscapers with a citrus aroma during flowering, in addition, it blooms several times a season. Poorly tolerates a strong haircut. Can grow in full shade. Needs frost protection. It grows slowly, reaches a height of up to 3 m.

Jasmine fence

undersized options

Low-growing shrubs grow in height from 0.5 m to 1 m. They are optimally suited for delimiting zones on the site and forming borders along the paths. Their crown shape is varied. Many people tolerate haircuts very well. The border can be formed uncut, freely growing in one or two rows without losing its aesthetic appearance.

• Quince Japanese low- a small shrub with arched branches covered with thorns. When planting in two rows, it will protect the site from the penetration of animals. Winter-hardy. It is very decorative during the flowering period and when the fruits ripen with a golden color. Fruits are fragrant, hang on branches until late autumn. Unpretentious, the crown can be given any shape by cutting.
• Action graceful grows no more than 80 cm high. It retains its decorative effect in the wild due to falling branches blooming with white small flowers. Depending on the species, the leaves have different colors: variegated, green and golden. The bush is not damaged by pests.
• Potentilla shrub- versatile long-flowering shrub. Yellow, yellow-orange or white flowers stay on the branches for about 100 days. Unpretentious. Multiple fruits resemble buttons covered with fine hairs. Winter-hardy and drought-resistant. Spraying is recommended on hot days.

undersized fence

decorative bushes

Decorative options differ from other species in a wide variety of leaf shapes and colors. They look beautiful throughout the warm period. In various combinations, plants allow you to emphasize the features of the landscape. This category includes evergreen and deciduous plants. They are divided into ornamental and decorative flowering. The distance between specimens should be equal to twice the height of adult bushes. With this planting, many varieties do not need care and will be attractive in the wild.

• Weigela attracts attention with dark green saturated foliage. Blooms in May-June. Unpretentious and frost-resistant. Not damaged by pests. In autumn, it is decorative due to bright red berries that remain on the branches for most of the winter.
• Hydrangea attracts landscapers with a wide variety of color shades. Perfectly coexists in full shade and in partial shade, combined with trees. Inflorescences are large with a diameter of up to 25 cm. Likes loose soil, needs shelter for the winter. Handles shearing well. The bush is very sprawling, with a dome diameter of up to 1.5 m.
• Barberry Tumberga attracts blue-gray foliage. It cuts perfectly, allowing you to create hedges of an unusual shape. Can be grown wild without loss of aesthetic qualities. Blooms up to 20 days. Winter-hardy and unpretentious. The crown has a spherical shape. Bush height up to 70 cm.

hydrangea hedge

Fast growing species

Fast-growing plants allow you to form a beautiful fence in 2-3 years. Most often, vines and other climbing plants are used for this purpose. They are decorative throughout the warm period, do not need frequent pruning. By interweaving plants, you can create an impenetrable hedge of any height from them. It will perfectly hide the area from prying eyes. Annuals are planted to decorate the finished fence.

• Clematis- look spectacular during the flowering period. The color scheme is varied. They love sunny places. Ideal for fast growing hedges. For the winter, the root neck is covered, but sawdust cannot be used for this. A chic fence is formed in 2-3 years. Growth can be controlled by pinching the shoots. Pinching inhibits growth for 2-3 months.
• Common hop especially beautiful with knobs on the branches. It grows to a height of up to 7 m, attaches to the surface on its own with the help of spikes on the stem. Does not require pruning. Unpretentious and frost-resistant. Used in medicine. Needs root control and regular watering.
• Highlander Aubert- the fastest growing variety, needs constant pruning. Unpretentious, but can freeze slightly in cold weather. Easily restored after freezing. It blooms in June-July with small whitish-greenish flowers. Suitable for hedges in partial shade, grows well in full sun. It is valued by landscapers because of the dense, bright green foliage.

Fast growing live fence

unpretentious shrubs

Unpretentious bushes not only grow well on any soil, but also easily recover after heavy cutting and freezing. Many of them easily take root in shady places. They tolerate heat and city conditions well.

• Currant Schmidt ideal for medium hedges. Has a curly crown. It tolerates a haircut, allows you to create three-dimensional sculptures. Suitable for laying a fence in the shade, frost-resistant. It produces small fruits that are not used for food due to poor taste.
• Snowberry allows you to form a fence 1.5-2 m high. Thin curved shoots look spectacular during the fruiting period. The fruits are small, white, remain on the plant until frost. Unpretentious to the soil and planting site, grows well in deep shade. It tolerates a haircut well, but it does not bloom and does not bear fruit.
• Chubushnik attracts with beauty during the flowering period and a chic aroma. Flowers and leaves of various sizes and textures. There are terry forms that are less fragrant. Suitable for hedges up to 2 m high. Suitable for sunny areas and partial shade. Unpretentious and frost-resistant.

Chubush fence

Planting and cutting basics

Before laying a hedge, determine for what purpose it is needed. Based on this, they decide what height the green fence will be formed. For borders and low fences, undersized and medium-sized plants are selected. Coniferous bushes, creepers and thorny plants are suitable for external fences. Annuals are only suitable for decorating an existing fence.

When choosing bushes, pay attention to compatibility of varieties. Not all shrubs can get along with each other. A hedge can be formed both from a variety of varieties of one plant, and various combinations of different bushes. Most often they combine shrubs of different heights. The result is a homogeneous hedge that protects the territory from prying eyes and visitors.

Different flowering periods allow you to create a fence that will bloom throughout the warm period.

The distance between the bushes depends on the diameter of the crown of adult plants and ranges from 0.5-1.5 m. Ornamental plants are planted at a distance equal to twice the height of an adult bush. Dense impenetrable hedges are formed in 2-3 rows, planting bushes in a checkerboard pattern. The distance between the rows is about 0.5 m. The size of the hole under the bush should be about 20-50 cm larger than the roots. You can plant in a trench 60 cm wide for a single-row hedge, plus 40-50 cm for each subsequent row.


When planting bushes, humus and fertilizers are added to the pit in accordance with the type of plant. In this case, young plants do not fertilize for the first 1-2 years. During this period, shrubs are systematically watered, some plants need spraying in hot weather. The formation of the fence is carried out in the second or third year after planting, when the plants grow.

Some shrubs need width control, such as hops and raspberries. Such species are not planted on the boundary with someone else's site.

Curly varieties intertwine as they grow. Sanitary cutting of bushes is carried out either in the spring before the growing season, or in the fall, cutting out shoots older than 4-5 years for rejuvenation. When forming the shape of the hedge, it is taken into account on which shoots and in what place the flower buds are laid. In some plants, they are formed on the apical shoots, in others - only on annual branches. Incorrect pruning will lead to a lack of flowering and fruiting. Some varieties, such as hydrangea, need to be removed as they dry. Some bushes need shelter for the winter, for example, boxwood and clematis.

Photo gallery of living fences from shrubs

The photo below shows various bushes from which living fences are formed in summer cottages and suburban areas.

A hedge of shrubs is the very highlight, thanks to which the landscape of a private territory is being transformed. Its purpose is to shelter the yard from prying eyes and zoning the site. A beautiful impenetrable fence is obtained from plants with different lengths and heights.

What is the reason for the popularity of bushes as a material for a living fence? The designers claim that the bush fence can be formed in the form of a low curb or a long dense fence up to 3 m high. Its shape is arbitrary or obtained by correcting the vegetation.

Bushes are a great way to achieve various economic goals, for example:

1. Land zoning.
2. Arrangement of a curb at garden paths.
3. Emphasis on certain areas of the territory.
4. The division of the courtyard is internal and external.
5. Protection of the yard from street noise, dust and curious passers-by.

There is no limit to design fantasies when creating a living fence. With the help of a haircut, bushes can be given any shape. The vegetation stretches up and out and hides an old picket fence under it. And if it is planted in different variations of height, splendor and flowering period, the owner will be able to enjoy the renewed landscape from spring to the first frost. To do this, it is necessary to plant shrubs in one or two or more rows.

What plants can you make a hedge with your own hands

For independent planting of a beautiful hedge, it is recommended to use unpretentious and shade-tolerant shrubs. This rule must be observed when organizing multi-row hedges. To create a fence of a specific shape, it is important to find bushes that "love" a haircut. Also, when choosing vegetation, it is necessary to pay attention to the shape of the crown and the growth rate of the representative of the flora. Up the bushes stretch 10 cm - 6 m.

Shade Tolerant Bushes

Such specimens are suitable for creating hedges and arbors. They still need the sun's rays, but their difference lies in the ability to tolerate shade. According to this criterion, the bushes are divided into shade-tolerant and shade-loving.

Representatives of shade-tolerant bushes are:

low growing greens

They speak of short stature if the shrubs grow by 0.5 - 1 m. The low flora is suitable for decorating paths with borders and zoning the site.

decorative bushes

The leaves, diverse in color and shape, distinguish decorative bushes against the background of their “brothers”. The foliage retains an attractive appearance throughout the warm months. A combination of evergreen and deciduous plants is possible. Flora is decorative-flowering and decorative-deciduous. The varieties do not need care.

Fast growing species

The main quality of vines is rapid growth, due to which the fence is formed in 2 to 3 years. An impenetrable hedge is created by binding plants. If you want to ennoble a standing fence, annuals are planted along it.

thorny bushes

Vegetation with thorns is suitable for the formation of an impenetrable hedge that is dangerous for intruders. Representatives of this group normally perceive a haircut, but they retain a spectacular appearance in the wild version. Individuals prone to overgrowth need good pruning and overgrowth control.

tall shrubs

From high bushes 3 - 5-meter hedges are formed. Their tendency to rapid vegetation contributes to obtaining a full-fledged fence in 2 to 3 years. A living structure needs height control.

The most unpretentious bushes

Picky representatives of the flora are good for survival on any soil and quick recovery after freezing and shearing. Many specimens grow well in shaded areas and tolerate urbanized and dry conditions.

Evergreen varieties have elegant foliage regardless of the time of year. Boxwood and laurel cherry need protection for the winter. European varieties tolerate cold and the proximity of deciduous and coniferous trees.

How to plant a multi-row hedge

Planting shrubs in one row gives a boring fence, which creative people do not like. Landscapers came up with multi-row hedges for them, a feature of which is planting plants in height.

Consider a simple version of a multi-level green fence.

1. Sheared spirea gray (1 m).
2. Mock oranges "Mont Blanc" (2 m). It can be replaced with different green-leaved mock oranges, the flowering of which falls at different times.
3. Lilac with dark and light purple inflorescences (4 - 5 m).

A marble sheared hedge is obtained by planting multi-colored varieties of barberry, viburnum vesicle or western arborvitae. Multicolor in one row looks beautiful.

The secret of floristry: The best hedges are formed from shrubs with identical biological parameters (soil requirements, moisture and light acceptance, growth rate). Aesthetics takes second place.

Which thuja is best suited for hedges

Russians living in the middle zone of the country can plant spruce, juniper and thuja western pyramidal or columnar varieties instead of a fence. Tui are frost-resistant, germinating on clay, sand and in conditions of high / low humidity. The most beautiful bushes grow on moderately moist garden soil.

Greens grown from seeds are worse than varietal vegetation. Thuja hedge is easy to grow from cuttings. In any case, seedlings are placed at a distance of 0.5 m. They are sheared only for 2-3 years. Tui grow well all season, so cut them 2-3 times. The easy formation of a hedge is provided by thuja crowns - dense and dense by nature. They cut them closer to July. The shape is trapezoidal.

In central Russia, a columnar copy of "Smaragd" is also suitable for creating a hedge from thuja bushes. The advantage of the variety is the preservation of the emerald color in any season. But the greens grow slowly and do not tolerate pruning. She is given freedom to grow.

Residents of other regions of Russia can plant thuja Braband. This variety loves to be sheared. But it belongs to the abundant fruit bearing, so at certain periods it looks unpresentable.

What is a hedge and at what distance should it be planted

If for some reason the owner of the estate does not like the thuja, the alternative will be spruces. Needle seedlings 50 cm high are planted at 1 m intervals. Pruning is not performed until next year. Further, the plant is ennobled in May-June, cutting the sides by 2/3 of the length. The upper process is shortened by a third.

To make the spruce fence look beautiful, you need to cut it regularly until the age of 3. It is undesirable to cut off the older needles. Trimming is done to the desired height, obtaining a profile in the form of a trapezoid or rectangle. Subsequently, the profile of the spruce forest is supported by pruning with garden shears. Thanks to care, the young growth will actively branch from bottom to top.

If you don’t like either thuja or spruce, pay attention to juniper. The bush loves the sun and is tolerant of drought and frost. Does not tolerate flooded soils and heavy clay soil. The species material does not take root well, so it is better to spend money on varietal and plant specimens in one row at a distance of 50 - 80 cm.

Shear juniper with scissors for shrubs no more than 2 times a year. They create a juniper hedge for many years, which means that it makes sense to work on it according to all the rules.

What shrubs can be used for hedges

A hardworking gardener can grow a variety of hedges:

• Coniferous.
• Sheared.
• Deciduous.
• Monobreed.
• Combined.
• Soft and prickly.
• Free growing.
• Single or multi-row.

Regardless of the type of material, hedges are made from thick-leaved shrubs that are easy to cut. The main condition for obtaining a high-quality green fence here is the presence of a dense crown and weak growth opportunities.

Free-growing bushes look simpler than cut flora and need more room to grow. They grow up to 3 meters wide.

It is optimal to form hedges from varieties with naturally compact crowns:

• Spirea.
• Lilac.
• Chubushnik.
• Euonymus.
• Rose hip.

In the conditions of central Russia, elderberry, hawthorn and honeysuckle varieties Maaka and Tatarskaya take root well. Some summer residents like deren, viburnum pride, vesicle.

Evergreen sheared hedge

The popularity of clipped evergreen hedges is due to its compact width, which makes it the choice of owners of small gardens. Work on the creation and improvement takes a lot of time, requires physical strength and waste of finances. Do not hope that a one-time planting of shrubs without your participation will give a good hedge. It doesn’t matter if your green fence is sheared or wild, you need to work on it constantly.

Pruning technology is an important point in caring for a living fence. Its non-compliance threatens with an ugly growing flora. Defects in old vegetation cannot be eliminated. In addition, for good growth of the fence, it must be fed with fertilizers and moistened so that it gains strength after pruning.

If free-growing individuals do not require increased attention, then mineral and organic fertilizers should be laid out annually near shearing bushes. Poor soils are fertilized once a year. Top dressing of fertile soils is carried out every 3-4 years.

Measures for additional care for a hedge of shrubs are:

1. Weeding.
2. Mulching.
3. Loosening the earth.
4. Preventive spraying against diseases and pests.

Poor plant care spoils the appearance of the hedge. When growing a live fence, it is important to prevent the soil from being sodden and mulch it on both sides of the fence at a distance of half a meter.

As the shrubs mature, their line becomes impassable and impenetrable. The vegetation turns into a real fence, holding back wind, dust and noise. In landscaping the garden, it performs many functions - from zoning the garden to masking unattractive outbuildings.

In central Russia, a deciduous hedge (shorn) is grown from the following species:

• Ginnal maple.
• Maple Tatar.
• Linden small-leaved.
• Cotoneaster shining.
• Alpine currant.
• Spring flowering spirea.
• Plum-leaved hawthorn, prickly or blood-red variety.

Coniferous hedge

The fence made of needles has a solid appearance. For flowering and decorative hardwoods, it serves as a harmonious background. The coniferous hedge will be evergreen. In winter, behind its wall, the garden will be under reliable cover.

The range of conifers for decorating plots in central Russia is not rich, there are only three items:

1. Thuja western.
2. Juniper ordinary.

Their price is high, and the needles grow slowly.

Unwanted Plants for Perennial Hedges

In harsh winter conditions, plants can freeze. At least one, at least a few plantings will hopelessly spoil the appearance of the hedge. Therefore, Russians should not use boxwood, yew and privet. These variations are good for southern Europe. It should also be remembered that in some shrubs the bottom is exposed over time. Such an unpleasant surprise can be expected from a varietal lilac.

The "bald spot" should be masked with other plantations planted in front of a flawed bush. But it is best to initially use wild-growing Amur or Hungarian lilacs. These species quickly form a dense green wall and are immune to pests.

If you want to plant viburnum along the fence line, it will give a beautiful fence. However, if the flora is attacked by pests, and it is prone to this, until July the fence will be eaten by insects. Instead of the usual viburnum, experienced gardeners recommend planting viburnum pride.

Three more species are highly undesirable shrubs for arranging hedges:

1. Loch silver.
2. Fieldfare rowan-leaved variety.
3. Mapinucleen (beautiful decorative blooming specimen).

Agronomists consider their shortcomings to be a strong creep, which is why the garden can be spoiled by root branches. If desired, the process can be controlled. But still, it is better to plant a hedge from more favorable types of shrubs.

A hedge is a spectacular decoration of any site, widely used in decorative gardening. The plants that form it have special requirements. It is desirable that they be fast-growing and perennial. The evergreen hedge will continue to decorate the garden or yard in the off-season. Let's discuss which shrubs are best suited for the formation of this element of landscape design. What needs to be done to make the green wall dense and beautiful.

This element of landscape design is used very widely: it can play the role of a separator within the site, frame paths, surround various objects, and complement architectural forms. Often a hedge serves as an alternative to a conventional fence. When working with living, growing material, there are ample opportunities for experimentation. You can grow a compact, low and dense hedge. Having opted for a high wall and choosing plants with thorns for it, you can get a completely impregnable fence.

Advice. If the height of the hedge can be selected based on individual preferences, then the width traditionally does not exceed 80 cm. This is important from the point of view of decorativeness and the appropriateness of using the area of ​​​​the site.

The requirements for the selection of plants for linear plantings include a number of important parameters. If its length is large, the unpretentiousness of shrubs comes to the fore. Painstaking care of each bush, when there are several hundred of them, can forever discourage the desire to decorate your site with a hedge. In the conditions of the middle zone, one should not forget about the frost resistance of perennials.

Planting new plants every spring to replace the frozen ones is not only expensive and difficult, but can also deprive the entire hedge of attractiveness as a whole. Along with these important characteristics, you should also pay attention to the following indicators:

1. The rate of growth and development.
2. The presence of flowers, fruits.
3. Possibility of cutting, shaping.
4. Duration of decorative season.
5. No uncontrolled growth.

There is a special type of hedge using climbing or weaving plants. For them, you can arrange trellises or leave them to curl along the fence. This type of vertical gardening, located along the perimeter of the site, forms the most beautiful cascades of greenery, creating a kind of hedge.

You can plant clematis or cultivated loaches, which bloom for a long time, large corollas are very attractive. Such a flowering vertical hedge has every chance of becoming the main decoration of the garden. The advantage of climbing plants is their rapid development, in the second year a rather large curtain is formed, almost completely hiding the site from prying eyes. In addition, a vertical hedge takes up little space in width, which can be important for narrow areas.

Fast growing hedge crops

Barberry is very often used to create hedges. This perennial is very plastic, from it you can form a low, trimmed along one line, neat border fence. Or place the plants in a more spacious planting pattern, giving them the opportunity to develop into tall, thorny, impenetrable hedges. Barberry has earned its popularity due to the following qualities:

• unpretentiousness;
• frost resistance;
• rapid formation of green mass;
• responsiveness to a haircut;
• the presence of spines;
• high decorativeness.

Hawthorn is no less often used by landscapers to create hedges. In addition to the decorative qualities that this plant boasts, its edible fruits are healing for the heart and blood vessels. The plant is characterized by the following qualities important for phytodesign:

• high decorative effect;
• undemanding care;
• easy to form;
• unpretentiousness to growing conditions.

Mature hawthorn plants are hardy, but young, immature bushes may need light shelter, especially in the first year of life.

The following types of shrubs, which are excellent for creating linear plantations of various configurations, also deserve close attention:

1. Snowberry.
2. Honeysuckle (different types).
3. Forsythia.

Evergreens for hedges

The climate of the vast majority of the territories of our country suggests the use of only conifers as evergreens. The advantages of such plants are quite obvious, they are attractive all year round, their lush branches are well suited for linear plantings. The aroma of their resins has beneficial properties for human health.

Coniferous plants are durable, if you plan to create a green hedge once for many years, then this choice will be the best. However, most coniferous crops grow quite slowly and require a special approach when planting. There is no seasonal change in the color of the foliage that colors the landscape, and there will be no flowering. This fact must be taken into account. Consider those conifers that are best suited for hedges.

Breeders have bred many ornamental varieties of spruce. They differ in the shade of the needles, the speed and strength of growth, the shape of the crown. The choice is quite wide, using various varietal forms of common spruce, you can get a low hedge, consisting of beautiful spruce paws. Or grow a powerful, human-height, prickly barrier, distinguished by its decorative effect. Alternatively, you can plant at some distance from each other plants of the Little Jam or Echiniformis variety, which have crowns in the form of a hemisphere or pillow. Spruce, planted in the form of a hedge, meets a number of requirements for this element of garden design:

• unpretentiousness in care;
• frost resistance;
• undemanding to fertility and soil composition;
• pleasant spruce aroma;
• the ability to create a prickly barrier;
• amenable to formation.

Thuja is rightfully popular among landscape designers and site owners. Its naturally even crowns often do not need to be artificially formed. Even planted in the form of a simple single-row hedge, thuja beautifully decorates the space. However, this southern plant is vulnerable to severe frosts. Depending on the region of cultivation, it may require shelter.

Juniper is represented by many varieties and varieties. From creeping plants to fairly tall representatives. Its branches are able to create dense weaves, well suited for living fences.

Planting a hedge and caring for it

Particular attention should be paid to the purchase of seedlings of coniferous plants. It is recommended to purchase planting material from a nursery rather than taking young plants from their natural habitat.

Since conifers are characterized by a very close symbiosis with other organisms, they do not take root well in a new place. It is highly desirable to purchase seedlings with a closed root system, with a clod of earth. So at least part of the soil community will be preserved and survival will be much faster. Coniferous seedlings are usually selected at least 4 years old. Whereas deciduous shrubs can be planted already in the 2-3rd year of their life.

Preparation for planting plants in a hedge differs little from work with other types of shrub plantings. Throughout the future green wall, a landing trench is dug with an average depth of 50 cm. For a single-row hedge, the width is approximately equal to the depth. The planting scheme differs significantly depending on the specific plant species. Most shrubs widely used for hedges are placed 25 cm apart.

Advice. When planting an evergreen hedge of coniferous plants, manure should not be added to the planting trench.

Plant care is standard for shrubs. It must be remembered that the roots of crops growing in hedges consume a significant amount of nutrients from the soil. Because they are planted quite tightly. This fact must be taken into account when calculating the consumption of fertilizers for other plants growing on the site.

The main difficulty in caring for a hedge is its regular haircut. After all, a free-growing hedge does not always meet aesthetic and design needs. Plants should be sheared at least once per season, but this is usually done more often. Properly formed plants form a well leafy curtain, never bare at the bottom.

Important! To reduce the frequency of cutting hedges and reduce labor costs, you can use special chemicals that inhibit plant growth - retardants.

Planting a hedge is not difficult at all. Having picked up fast-growing crops for its formation, you can get a wonderful fence in the shortest possible time. A hedge is superior to conventional fences in many ways. After all, it traps dust, muffles sounds, saturates the air with oxygen, and creates a pleasant shade. Among other things, such a fence is very aesthetic and attractive in appearance.