Green fence. Living fence: photos of beautiful "live" fences and features of their cultivation. Coniferous 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.

plant type	Description
	Evergreen, winter-hardy long-lived plant. It has many varieties of the most diverse forms - spherical, pyramidal, columnar, sprawling and others. The color palette is also quite wide - the bushes are bright green, gray, bluish, yellow, salad. The elegant carved shape of the needles gives a special decorative effect to the thuja. The plant is unpretentious, tolerates pruning, is widely used in garden design.
	Evergreen tree and shrub type. In landscape design, mainly shrubs are used, which grow quickly, are easily restored after pruning, and tolerate shade well. Bushes have a pyramidal, spherical, conical shape of all shades of green
	Hardy evergreen trees that form impenetrable living walls. The first 10 years develop very slowly, but they practically do not require care, they easily tolerate formation. There are also dwarf varieties for planting borders, which are distinguished by a spherical shape. The color of the needles varies from dark green to blue.
	Slow-growing long-lived coniferous plant of a columnar form. Yew is suitable for both borders and living walls, practically does not require shaping pruning, undemanding in care
	Ideal plant for hedges. Differs in a wide variety of crown shapes and shades of needles. It tolerates pruning easily, recovers well, is undemanding to soils. The first 5 years develops slowly, then gives a large number of root shoots, which contributes to rapid reproduction.
	Frost-resistant unpretentious plant for free-growing hedges. Pruning does not contribute to an increase in crown density and is poorly tolerated. It develops very slowly, but it is resistant to drought, pests and diseases. It is most decorative during flowering.

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.

plant type	Description
	Evergreen, very ornamental shrub that lends itself well to shaping. Ideal for creating vibrant borders, it goes great with any garden plant. Boxwood is unpretentious to the soil, but needs regular watering.
	An evergreen flowering shrub up to 1 m high. It can freeze in cold regions. It does not tolerate drought well, it is demanding on moisture, but it can grow both in the sun and in dense shade. The plant has decorative not only flowers, but also leaves
	Very graceful deciduous plant. Valued for long abundant flowering and decorative forms of the bush. Rarely grows up to 2 m, used most often for free-growing hedges
	An ornamental deciduous plant that forms an impenetrable thorny fence. Easily tolerates a shaping haircut, retains its decorative effect throughout the season, emits a very pleasant smell during the flowering period
	Frost-resistant unpretentious shrub. Most varieties of hawthorn have sharp thorns, so a hedge of them is a good protection against uninvited guests. The plant has decorative not only flowers, but also leaves, as well as numerous large fruits.
	Cold-resistant ornamental plant with small white flowers. It tolerates a haircut and keeps its shape for a long time, therefore it is widely used to create hedges of strict geometric shapes. Privet is unpretentious to soils and watering, grows well in partial shade
	A drought tolerant flowering shrub. Ideal for creating living fences, keeps its shape for a long time after cutting, has a dense, neat crown. The plant responds well to transplantation, blooms profusely, undemanding to care for.

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.

plant type	Description
	Differs in prompt growth, forms a dense continuous carpet from leaves. Hop stalks are easy to direct in the right direction, fixing on the trellis. During the flowering period, very decorative salad-colored cones appear. The disadvantage of the plant is the loss of its decorative effect at the end of summer, when the leaves begin to dry and fall off.
	Perennial creepers of amazing beauty with a pleasant aroma. These plants need proper care and well-prepared soil. They grow quickly enough, forming a dense dark green carpet with elegant flowers.
	Unpretentious perennial liana. It tolerates cold well, it is undemanding to soils, it is better to plant in partial shade. The first few years it develops rather slowly, then it forms a dense hedge. Needs regular pruning and shaping
	Garden climbing perennial with decorative leaves of various shapes and colors. It grows well in the sun and in the shade, it is undemanding to the soil, grows quickly and creates a dense carpet. Combines well with other plants, it is an ideal backdrop for flower beds

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

Cypress "Columnaris", thuja (Thuja) and pear

3. "Wavy" fence

After pruning, the plants produce new shoots, which means that you can experiment with the shape of the "wall". For example, instead of the usual rectangle, you can grow ... a green wave!

Wavy fence - quite reliable protection

Quite reliable protection, and you can chat with good neighbors through the green window!

4. Blooming wall

Do you want to surround your garden with floral splendor? Soberly assess whether the game is worth the candle. Most bloom 2-3 weeks. And such plants will need more space, since narrow walls cannot be formed from them. As a compromise, you can choose decorative species that tolerate a haircut, such as spirea or hawthorn.

Blooming wall: hawthorn grows along the perimeter of the site, and its flowers successfully set off the green array

However, ideally, beautifully flowering shrubs are best formed into free-growing hedges, giving the plants enough room to fully develop.

In our market you can pick up planting material for a flowering hedge, take a look at the selection.

A hedge made of beech forest covers the site only in the corners

At what distance from each other to plant bushes depends on the size and type of a particular representative of the flora. If the earthen ball is wrapped with a mesh of synthetic material, it must be removed. If the mesh is made of decaying fabric, it is enough to cut it at the top.

After planting, water the plants well and shorten the shoots strongly so that they branch well.

Ready-made options for site fencing

Do you want to create an elegant and functional protection for your relaxation area? Build a green wall! The cheapest option is to wait a few years until your "fence" grows to the desired height. For the impatient, there is another - on sale you can find ready-made hedges. Such a “wall” is quite expensive, but in this case you won’t have to wait. Planted and done.

As an alternative: on the border of the site, you can put a regular fence and twine it, for example.

On the border of the site, you can put a regular fence and twine it with climbing plants

By the way, these representatives of the flora will help to isolate themselves from curious neighbors on the terrace or balcony: plant a fast-growing one in a large box with a trellis - and in a few months you will have an excellent screen!

What varieties of boxwood are suitable for hedges?

For a low hedge, which plays the role of a frame for or, you can choose 'Faulkner', 'Herrenhausen', 'Rococo', variegated 'Golden Dream' and other varieties small-leaved boxwood. But the popular ‘Suffruticosa’ and ‘Blauer Heinz’ are not the best option, because they are very fond of moths. In addition, these varietal plants often get sick.

Small-leaved boxwood "Rococo"

For high hedge tall hardy new breeds such as 'National' or 'John Baldwin' are great.

How to protect boxwood?
Plants planted in well-ventilated areas are more resistant to attack. Try to avoid, water the "pet" at the very base and cut off the excess once a year.

Did you find moths on the leaves of caterpillars? Process the bush. If there are signs of fungal diseases, cut off the affected parts of the branches to healthy wood, or simply remove the entire plant. It is advisable to use only if you process the bushes every 3 weeks.

How to defeat the boxwood moth?
Are there any types of boxwood that the moth ignores? Most often, this pest suffers boxwood evergreen(Buxus sempervirens) and its hybrids. Oriental views such as boxwood chinese(Buxus sinica) and small-leaved boxwood(Buxus microphylla), are less susceptible to moth attack (Cydalima).

Overview of the most suitable plants

In addition to boxwood, you have a wide range of plants suitable for making hedges.

Advantages: The plant tolerates pruning well, sun and shade tolerant. The tree grows well in almost any soil. Its foliage turns yellow in autumn.

Disadvantages: fast growing, so it should be cut twice a year. Since maple is a deciduous plant, in winter it does not cover the area well from prying eyes, and besides, it is often struck.

General information: annual growth - 30-40 cm, 3-4 plants/p. m, the optimal height of the hedge is 1.5-4 m.

Benefits: thorny branches will not allow people or animals to enter the garden, but they will provide protection to the birds. In full sun, the red-leaved variety ‘Atropurpurea’ (Thunberg’s barberry, #2 in the collage above) takes on a more intense coloration. Even in winter, dropping all the leaves, he covers the site due to the density of the branches.

Disadvantages: planting and cutting shrubs should only be done with gloves.

General information: annual growth -15-25 cm, 3-4 plants/p. m, the optimal height of the hedge is 0.5-1.5 m.

You can read more about barberry and its varieties in articles and.

Advantages: grows well on any soil, both in the sun and in the shade. In autumn, the leaves turn yellow and do not fall off until young shoots appear. Even after heavy pruning, it grows back quickly and is also relatively cheap.

Disadvantages: it is desirable to cut it twice a year. In winter it is not as dense as in the rest of the year. The hornbeam is sometimes damaged by the moth.

General information: annual growth - 20-40 cm, 3-4 plants/p. m, the optimal height of the hedge is 1-4 m.

Benefits: Thanks to its evergreen leaves, it reliably covers the garden even in winter. Plants of such hardy varieties as ‘Herbergii’, ‘Etna’ and ‘Novita’ have proven themselves well. You only need to prune once a year.

Disadvantages: may suffer from winter frosts in sunny and windy weather. The fruits are poisonous and can be prevented by cutting the plant shortly after flowering.

General information: annual growth - 20-40 cm, 2-3 plants/p. m, the optimal height of the hedge is 1-2 m.

Two types of laurel cherries - medicinal and Lusitanian - and their decorative forms are described in the material.

Advantages: evergreen coniferous plant with different needle colors depending on the variety ('Alumii'-blue-green, 'Columnaris' - blue, 'Stardust' - yellow). More shade-tolerant and less prone to fungal diseases than western thuja. Covers the "rear" all year round. In winter, the seeds serve as food for birds.

Disadvantages: does not tolerate pruning to old wood.

General information: annual growth -10-20 cm, 2-3 plants/p. m, the optimal height of the hedge is 1.5-4 m.

Benefits: Both native European larch (L. decidua, pictured) and Kaempfer larch (L. kaempferi) have beautiful young shoots, bright yellow color in autumn, and attractive buds. This hardy conifer prefers full sun. Grows well after pruning.

Disadvantages: larch sheds needles for the winter.

General information: annual growth - 25-50 cm, 2-3 plants/p. m, the optimal height of the hedge is 1.5-4 m.

Read more about the nuances of planting and care in the article.

Advantages: the leaves of both the green-leaved forest beech (F. sylvatica) and its red-leaved variety (F. sylvatica f. purpurea, in the photo) remain on the branches for a long time, so that the hedge from this plant can boast of relative density in winter. It tolerates pruning and shading.

Disadvantages: May suffer from drought in summer. Pruning is shown twice a year. More demanding than a hornbeam.

General information: annual growth - 30-50 cm, 3-4 plants/p. m, the optimal height of the hedge is 1-4 m.

Advantages: shrub in June - July strewn with white inflorescences, and in autumn - with black fruits. Well-branching common privet (L. vulgare) variety ‘Atrovirens’ is excellent for hedges. The privet oval-leaved (L. ovalifolium) ‘Aureum’ has leaves with a yellow border.

Flaws: leaves fall prematurely in severe frost. As a rule, you need to prune 2 times a year.

General information: annual growth - 20-40 cm, 3-4 plants/p. m, the optimal height of the hedge is 1-2 m.

Benefits: The evergreen is increasingly used for hedges. Photinia Fraser (Ph. fraseri) ‘Red Robin’ with bright red young shoots is perfect for this purpose. It tolerates drought and heat well, prefers sunny places and is undemanding to soils.

Disadvantages: insufficiently frost-resistant, therefore it is suitable only for regions with a warm climate.

General information: annual growth - 20-30 cm, 2-3 plants/p. m, the optimal height of the hedge is 1-2 m.

Benefits: A coniferous plant that grows well in both sun and shade. After a strong pruning, it quickly overgrows with young shoots, and is distinguished by its endurance. excellent substitute for boxwood in low hedges. It is enough to trim once a season. Reliably hides the site from prying eyes all year round.

Disadvantages: slow growing. The bark, needles and seeds are very poisonous.

General information: annual growth - 10-20 cm, 3-4 plants/p. m, the optimal height of the hedge is 0.5-2 m.

Pros: An excellent low cost candidate for a yard fence. This coniferous plant is evergreen, so that the hedge from it remains dense in winter. Beautiful varieties are ‘Smaragd’ (slender) and ‘Sunkist’ (yellow). You need to prune once a year.

Disadvantages: does not tolerate heavy pruning, is prone to fungal diseases, the needles turn brown with a lack of moisture. The plant is poisonous.

General information: annual growth - 10-30 cm, 2-3 plants/p. m, the optimal height of the hedge is 1.5-4 m.

Advantages: bamboo of this species grows in a bushy manner, does not need fencing with curb tape. Stems with evergreen leaves look very elegant. An excellent alternative to traditional hedges for sun or partial shade areas.

Disadvantages: due to cold and drought, the leaves curl. It should be cut twice a year - in early spring, before the appearance of young shoots, and in summer.

General information: annual growth - up to 2 m (new stems), 2-3 plants / p. m, optimal height. and. - 1.5-2.5 m.

Of course, the choice of plants is highly dependent on the climate zone. For example, cherry laurel with glossy leaves will provide reliable shelter from prying eyes all year round, as well as photinia, which is gaining more and more popularity among gardeners. The only "but": both of these plants can suffer from frost in severe winters. If you live in a region with a cold climate, it is better to immediately choose hardy breeds such as yew and hornbeam.

If you spend little time on winter and you do not need a dense shelter for all seasons, the best solution would be to plant deciduous species, such as forest beech or field maple. In the spring they will delight you with juicy greenery, in the summer they will cover the “rear” with dense foliage, and in the fall they will turn into bright colors - evergreens certainly cannot boast of this.

If you decide to make such a decoration in your yard, then you need to decide on the goals of the fence, its location relative to the sun and other factors, as well as its shape. After all, it can be free and grow in all directions. And there is one that needs to be formed, cut and adjusted to certain sizes. Therefore, it is important to choose the right type of plant that will perfectly cope with all your requirements.

Kalinolistny vesicle

This bush has excellent characteristics for those who want to green up their site as soon as possible. disease resistant, tolerates freezing winters well and most importantly these hedge plants are fast growing.

European and Giralda are distinguished by the highest resistance to frost;
the greenest has the largest flowers, but does not tolerate winter well and is suitable for the southern regions;
oval-leaved;
drooping;
average hibernates without loss.

Important! Fertilizers are important for forcing: organic fertilizers are applied in the fall, mineral fertilizers in the spring. And also - pruning, which is carried out every year. Without these actions, the bush becomes very weak.

Privet

- This is an evergreen plant that is ideal for landscape design. Its leaves, like those, are glossy, but their shape is slightly elongated. In the spring it is decorated with snow-white flowers, and closer to autumn it is showered with dark blue small berries.
There are varieties whose leaves fall completely or partially in the winter and those that remain green all year round. It is possible to make a shape out of this, but due to its long growth process, the formation will take a long time.
Most Popular varieties:

"Glaucum" - does not grow above one meter;
"Atrovirens" - has beautiful and juicy dark green foliage;
"Aureum" - has leaves of a light green color with gold, survives winters well.

Important! If 'Aureum' is planted in the shade, it will lose its yellow pigment and become dark green.

Yew

It belongs to coniferous and evergreen plants, which differs from them in that it has no smell, since it does not emit resins. it berry variant of needles: instead of cones, red, blue ones grow on this bush. They densely dot the branches and decorate the bush until the autumn cold.

In landscape design, it is especially popular due to the fact that it can withstand frequent and plentiful cutting, allowing these to realize any form. By default, its crown looks like.
This plant is not tall - it rarely grows more than 1 m, but there are varieties that reach 3.5 m. In the first years of life, it develops rather slowly, and only from the age of five begins to grow profusely. Its root system is very powerful and strong. It does not need special care.

Did you know? Yew wood has amazing properties: it does not rot, is resistant to bacteria or other pests, for which it was once massively cut down. Therefore, yew is listed in the Red Book.

It is very convenient to use yew in landscape design, because it grows slowly, which means that the shape that you give it will remain almost unchanged for several years.
When pruning shoots, gardeners may experience headaches or other ailments. This is due to the fact that the yew bark contains a poisonous substance, which, if the structure of the branches is disturbed, begins to evaporate. In a small amount, it does not make a big

Looking at ordinary fences, no matter how beautiful they are, is a dubious pleasure. In order to make them look more attractive, they are decorated in all possible ways. One of the most effective is a hedge. With its help, you can not only close yourself from prying eyes, but also reduce the amount of dust in the area, as well as lower the noise level. But this is possible if the green fence is high enough and dense.

Types of hedges and plants for them

In height, the hedge can be low - up to 50 cm, medium from 60 cm to 150 cm, and high - above 160 cm. According to the composition of plants - coniferous, deciduous, flowering, according to the type of arrangement - single-row or double-row. All of them can be sheared, or they can be free-growing. Only the list of species speaks of great diversity, and a living fence can also be made up of different plants. The type of hedge is selected depending on its purpose.

Low

A low hedge is also called a curb. It can reach a height of half a meter. Most often used as a living green frame for a flower garden or flower bed, to indicate areas on the site, simply for the purpose of decorative design. In this case, choose from shrubs, some herbaceous or flowering plants. For clipped hedges of small height fit:

If the border (low hedge) is planned to be free-growing, you can plant:

These are just some of the possible options, but these plants form a dense wall of leaves and flowers, are relatively easy to care for, and can grow in central Russia. Just before the final choice, be sure to clarify the zoning of the selected plant, as well as the conditions and features of its cultivation. Choose according to the type and acidity of the soil, as well as the complexity of care and susceptibility to diseases.

If the hedge grows near the house of permanent residence, more attentive and thorough care is possible for it, therefore, you can select from slightly more capricious varieties. In the country, it is definitely necessary to choose unpretentious plants. This principle is preserved when choosing plants and for medium and high green fences.

medium height

If a fence of plants up to 1.5 meters high is required, they talk about a fence. It can use both flowering and fruiting shrubs, some types of trees. If such a fence performs a protective function, thorny shrubs can be used in it - barberry, wild rose, tall roses, dogwood. In addition to the plants already mentioned without pruning, you can also plant:

fruit-bearing - irga, dogwood, hazel, honeysuckle (common, blue, Tatar), golden currant, bright red pyracantha;
blooming - lilac, forsythia, mock orange, hydrangea, hawthorn, derain, yellow acacia
with dense foliage - privet, euonymus, cotoneaster, evergreen boxwood, Vangutta spirea;
conifers - western thuja, Canadian spruce, green, blue, Siberian fir, yew berry, juniper;

A green hedge is often used only to mask the main fence or complement it. In such cases, the surface of the fence can be used as a support for plants - this is if it needs to be completely masked.

One point: if you are going to cover with plants, you will have to try very hard: it heats up very much in the sun, because of which all plants at a decent distance simply burn out. If you do plan to plant a hedge, you will have to somehow protect the plants from the heat. At least knock down the wooden shields that will temporarily stand along the landing line, reflecting the heat.

High - living walls

For tall hedges (more than 1.5 meters), plants are more often used, although some tall shrubs may well grow up to 2 meters and above:

evergreen and coniferous - spruce, fir, thuja, yew, juniper (columnar, middle, Chinese), high varieties of evergreen boxwood, pea cypress;
fruit trees and berry bushes - berry apple, cherry plum, shadberry (Tatar, spike-flowered), buckthorn, viburnum;
deciduous - small-leaved linden, pedunculate oak, maple;
flowering - lilac (tall varieties), honeysuckle, mock orange;

fast growing hedge plants

Plant hedges are very beautiful, but it takes years to form a full-fledged fence. Conifers grow especially long and slowly. For example, thuja will grow to a height of 1.5 m for about 5 years, and berry yew in general 8, but they are pleasing to the eye all year round. Some shrubs grow more than others in a year - from 50 cm to 1 meter, and they can be used for planting and quickly forming a living fence.

Siberian hawthorn Crataegus sanguineawith yellow flowers - up to 1 meter per year;
shrub willows;
blackberries, wild roses, weaving roses (requires support);
spreading hazel - up to a meter or more per year;
viburnum viburnum - under favorable conditions, shoots grow up to 1 m;
deren.

Planting a hedge and care

Creating a green fence starts with the selection of plants. Please note that they must all be of the same age. This is the only way to form an even line. If these are deciduous plants, the age of the seedlings is 2-3 years, if conifers - 3-6 years. If planting is planned in a shaded area, the age of plants for planting in a hedge is more - 7-8 years. In such conditions they grow very slowly, and more or less mature plants will immediately give some kind of appearance.

hedge type	Distance between plants in a row	Distance between rows
High sheared fence (2-6 m)	0.8 - 1.2 m	1m
Medium trimmed hedge (from 0.6 to 1.5 m)	0.4 - 0.6 m	0.8 - 1 m
Free growing tall hedge (2 to 6 m)	1 - 2 m	2 - 3 m
Free growing medium (0.6 - 1.5 m)	0.8 - 1 m	1 - 1.5 m

Hedge planting distances

In the middle lane and closer to the north, landing begins in the spring, in the south it can be planted before winter - in the fall. It all starts with the formation of landing trenches.

According to the markings, trenches are dug 50-60 cm deep.
Pour a layer of fertile soil of a suitable composition.
At the required distance (see the table above), seedlings with a wrapped root system are laid out. Unfold it just before landing.
In order for the plants to take root well, the existing clod of earth does not need to be broken. Soil is poured around the root system and compacted. How exactly to plant: deepen or, conversely, plant on a hill - depends on the type of plant. Check before work.
Immediately after planting, the plants are watered, and the soil is sprinkled with mulch - peat, humus, crushed bark. This will keep moisture in.

Further, the first year of care consists in regular watering, loosening the soil, removing weeds, and periodic fertilization. All activities are prescribed in the recommendations for the care of a particular type of plant. These are the ones you need to follow.

In the fall, pruning may be necessary. Even if the hedge is free-growing, it does not mean that it does not need to be formed. She does not need to be given the correct geometric shape, and pruning is also required for her, as well as for a sheared one.

Rules for trimming an unshaped hedge

As already mentioned, even free-growing green hedges require pruning. The first one is carried out immediately after landing. In this case, powerful side shoots are formed, and by the end of summer the bushes become more branched. The second pruning - goes in the fall and then for 3-4 years the bushes are pruned quite shortly until the required shoot density is reached.

One of the effective ways is pruning by the coppice culture method. She uses the ability of all deciduous shrubs to activate dormant basal buds. The stages of pruning the first year are shown in the photo below.

When planting, weak, thin shoots are cut off almost completely, and strong ones are shortened to the first strong bud. By autumn, new shoots will appear from the root, and those left in the spring will give new ones.

When the sap flow stops, all shoots are cut low, short stumps remain. Trim shape - as in the photo - in an arc. During the second season, the bush will become much denser, several new shoots will appear from the root, two or three powerful branches will leave the “old” ones.

In the third year and further for another 2-3 years, pruning is carried out according to the same principle as in the second year, only branches are cut 3-4 cm higher than in the previous year. Further pruning is also strong, but about 3/4 of the length is cut off. This technique is good for those shrubs that form flower buds at the ends of young shoots.

According to this principle, you can very quickly form a dense hedge from curb - undersized plants, as well as from some medium-sized ones:

cinquefoil kusarnikova;
wrinkled rose;
hydrangea paniculata;
rowanberry;
white deren (decorative varieties);
Spirea Vaguna, Japanese;

The disadvantage of this method is that it greatly activates the formation of root shoots. Very aggressive varieties can produce abundant shoots at a distance of several meters from the bush. Therefore, it is desirable to limit the root zone even during planting by digging in a sheet of asbestos, plastic, metal.

hedge trimming

Many novice gardeners believe that before starting to form a hedge, it needs to be allowed to grow. You can wait a year or two only with conifers, deciduous trees must be cut off immediately after planting, and then in the fall, otherwise after 2-3 years of free chaotic growth, it will be either very difficult or even impossible to do anything with the plant.

Before you start molding, you need to choose a shape. Note that straight top hedges need to be cut frequently or they lose their decorative effect. And since growth is the most active in the upper zone, it is here that the ideality of the lines is violated in the first place, while on the side surfaces they are still normal. If it is not possible or desirable to carry out a regular haircut, choose a shape with a rounded or triangular top. Even with a missed haircut, they look normal.

How to cut a hedge to form a "skeleton" - the first two stages

In the first year, all shoots are shortened by a significant part of the height. If these are plants that are sold with bare roots in bunches, they can be cut to half the length, if planted in container plants, cut to 1/3 of the height, or it is not cut at all. In autumn, the bush looks like in the photo, the picture is at the top right. With strong pruning, the formation of new shoots is stimulated, therefore, by the end of summer, the bushes become much thicker. This completes the first stage.

The second stage is the formation of the skeleton. If you look inside the already formed hedge, we will see a powerful frame of bare shoots, from which young ones come in large numbers, with abundant foliage. It is this frame that needs to be formed. At the same time, it should be thick enough so that the surface is dense and opaque. The process begins already in the second year after disembarkation, and continues for 2-3 years. During this period, the frequency of pruning can be up to 4-5 times per season.

The task is to achieve the required density of the “skeleton”. Pruning is done according to the selected shape. In the photo - an example of the formation of the frame. Such trimming must be followed in any final shape, only raising or lowering the top of the triangle - depending on how long and narrow the fence is planned. If it is wider, the top is lowered a little, if you need a narrow and high one, it is raised, and the base is made narrower. From year to year, pruning is done a little higher, literally by 3-4 cm. As a result, new shoots actively sprout, and those that were forming new forks, skeletal branches become more and more branched.

After the required density of shoots is reached, forcing in height begins. This is the third stage. On it, the trimming height is raised more actively - by 5-10 cm at a time. Actively growing upward shoots are pruned until the required density of lateral shoots is obtained. Filling foliage should be dense. Provided that pruning is carried out several times per season, the growth is quite active. At the same time, new shoots are also formed, but there are not as many of them as before.

The third stage of hedge formation is forcing in height

The frequency of pruning depends on the type of plant:

plums and hawthorn are sheared from May to October three or four times;
arborvitae, juniper, cotoneaster, snowberry, barberry - once in the summer (July-August), once in October.

Trimming is carried out so that along with the hood upwards, side filling is formed. To avoid gaps, it is better to “raise” the bush more slowly. Then it will be harder to fix.

The final stage of formation is giving the required shape

The last step is to give the desired shape. Next is a regular haircut that maintains shape.

For this type of hedges are very good in our conditions:

Teren;
Ottawa barberry;
blood red hawthorn;
cotoneaster brilliant;
snowberry white.

Willow hedge

From the willow you can grow a very special green hedge. It can be woven from freshly cut willow branches, which are simply buried in the ground. Such a landing is accepted with a very high probability. Branches can even be stuck at both ends, forming an arc. The willow will take root from both ends at once. To speed up the process, the top of the shoot is cut off, the bark is cut along in two places by a couple of centimeters. The thus prepared shoot is stuck into the ground.

Using this feature, you can weave a hedge, which will turn green in a few weeks. Prepared shoots are deepened by 15 cm, the earth is tightly pressed around, the planting is watered. To make it look more attractive - the dried ends of the branches do not stick out - bend the rods. At the intersection, they can be intertwined with each other, or they can be connected. If the branches are too thin, you can use two twigs, and periodically put props that will hold in place.

The disadvantage of such a hedge is that it has a decorative appearance for only a few years. After the shoots become stiff, the greenery practically disappears. But the fence does not become less reliable. On the contrary, it is difficult to break through such a wall - the branches are tightly woven.

Green fence in a couple of weeks

If you wait until shrubs or trees grow for a long time, then herbaceous plants give abundant greenery in a couple of weeks. This can be used if you need to decorate an unsightly wall or part of the fence that is in plain sight.

They make a wooden lattice, into which square containers with planted plants are inserted sideways. So that the soil does not fall out of them, the containers are covered with black agrofibre. A very small hole has been made in it, into which the plant looks out.

On well-lit surfaces, with sufficient watering, the wall or fence will very soon become green-shaggy. If desired, you can lay out living pictures in this way - using plants with foliage of different colors.

Photo of hedges from different plants

Often, even from a general photograph of a plant, it is difficult to imagine how it looks in a hedge. We tried to find the most popular and ornamental plants. And this is a photo of hedges, not just plants.

Hawthorn Hedge - free growing and sheared

Different types of cotoneaster. One is good for a sheared live fence, the other is good for a free-growing

Now a few examples of how container planting can be used to decorate a wall or fence.

Another option is beautiful, easy to implement - sewn bags made of agrofiber that hang on the fence

Special "frames" and appropriate lighting, and even at night the wall will look magical

To determine what is better to make a hedge in a country house or garden plot, you need to think about which plant is suitable for a particular type of green fence.

There are a huge number of types of emerald fences. They can be tall, medium or short in height. And by the type of plants there are much more of them: climbing, evergreen, fast-growing, prickly, flowering, mixed. Consider several options from which you can make a natural hedge.

Plants for tall green fences

Some types of trees can be used without restriction in any climatic zone of our country. For example:

Linden large-leaved and small-leaved. From this plant you can form a durable hedge. The dense compact crown allows you to create green walls up to 3 meters high. It should be borne in mind that linden grows slowly. Therefore, if you want to quickly get an emerald fence, it is better to choose another option.

Small-leaved linden hedge

Irga. A very unpretentious plant that can withstand frosts down to -50 degrees. The root system goes so deep down, reaching 8 meters, that it is also not afraid of drought. Irgi can make a very tall hedge if allowed to grow into trees. But it is better to cut the plant under a bush, then you can form a beautiful fence no more than 2 meters high. Irgi fruits are edible and have healing properties.

Irga during fruiting

Maple ordinary. From young trees, you can very quickly make a high fence, because maple in the first three years gives an increase of about 1 meter. Then its growth slows down. A dense crown with carved leaves is an excellent solution for a green fence around the perimeter of the garden. Common maple should not be confused with American maple, otherwise the entire area will soon be overgrown with young growth. And it is very difficult to get rid of it.

maple leaves

Plants for medium height hedges

Privet ordinary. The plant is highly decorative. It is unpretentious to growing conditions. Privet lends itself well to a haircut and keeps its shape for a long time. From this shrub you can make a dense medium-sized hedge with a beautiful shape.

Privet hedge

Lilac. All types of this plant bloom beautifully. During flowering, the fragrance spreads far around the area. Lilac is unpretentious, lends itself well to a haircut. From it you can form a dense impenetrable hedge.

blooming lilac

Euonymus. Not very tall shrubs bloom beautifully and compare favorably with unusual foliage. From any kind of spindle tree you get a luxurious hedge.

Black chokeberry. There are legends about the beauty of the plant and the benefits of berries. This rowan variety copes well with the winter cold. An adult plant in height can reach 2 - 2.5 meters. It is especially beautiful in autumn, when the green foliage is replaced by a bright crimson color.

Black chokeberry fruits

Shrubs for undersized fences

The range of plants from which a low-growing border could be made is not so wide. However, for this purpose, perfect:

Mahonia holly. It is best used where a special fencing density is not needed. A low-growing mahonia hedge will turn out to be quite loose. The plant loves shade. After an unusually beautiful flowering, the shrubs will be decorated with a scattering of berries.

Magonia holly in the flowering period

Bloodroot. This plant is also called Kuril tea. Its leaves can be brewed and drunk instead of the usual tea. The shrub has good resistance to severe frosts. Potentilla can grow up to one and a half meters. But gardeners prefer to make low-growing borders out of it, forming miniature compact shrubs with the help of a haircut.

Potentilla hedge

evergreen fencing

A living evergreen wall can be obtained on the site if you plant an ordinary spruce around the perimeter. It perfectly tolerates severe frosts, grows well even in conditions of strong shading. But it is worth paying attention to the fact that spruce loves fertile and well-moistened soil.

Juniper is often used today, because it looks great both in single plantings and in group plantings. This slow-growing plant is able to disinfect the air. Juniper is especially useful for people suffering from respiratory diseases.

juniper hedge

Fir. Poorly taking root in urban conditions, in a summer cottage or in a rural area on a site, you can create a luxurious evergreen fir fence. Its exquisite beauty is due to the color of the needles, which can be golden green or blue. Where fir grows, the air is always fresh and filled with a wonderful coniferous aroma.

Prickly plant fences

Hawthorn blood red. This shrub is distinguished by purple-red shoots. Leaves turn red in autumn. And even when they fall off, the plant will be decorated with clusters of red berries for a long time. During the flowering period, hawthorn bushes are covered with "snow-white foam". Hawthorn will make an impenetrable durable hedge.

Sea buckthorn. An unpretentious plant well suited for the formation of an impenetrable double fence. Foliage in combination with bright berries give the shrub a decorative effect and a special charm. Sea buckthorn reproduces easily even with the help of seeds. Berries have healing properties. It is worth considering that if you regularly cut the sea buckthorn fence, its yield decreases.

The rose is climbing. During the flowering period, you simply cannot take your eyes off the luxurious living wall. To create fences, you can use different varieties of this thorny shrub. The rose can unwind up to 2-3 meters. By cutting it regularly, the natural fence is left at a predetermined height. The rose has a strong root system. She gives a lot of escapes. Therefore, in order to limit their growth, you need to regularly weed them out or put growth restrictions.

Climbing rose in bloom

Climbing plants for a living fence

Maiden grape. This vine is often used for landscaping fences. It grows rapidly, its dense crown covers any surface of the fence with a dense layer. Grapes prefer fertile soils. The green color can range from bright green to purple. It depends on the degree of illumination.

girlish grapes

Hop. The decorative effect of this climbing plant is given by rough foliage, as well as fruits in the form of cones, which are widely used in folk medicine. If you want to decorate your site with hops, then you need to know the following subtleties: young plants will have to be watered regularly and the soil fertilized. Hops are often attacked by aphids. The plant will need to be treated for pests.

Kirkazon. The decorativeness of this vine is given by huge leaves, the size of a plate, as well as long earrings during the flowering period. In winter, its shoots die off completely, but quickly recover with the onset of warm days. It is for this reason that kirkazon is used only for decorating fences on the site. It is not suitable for external fences.

When planting any hedge, it should be borne in mind that in harsh conditions it is easier to keep fast-growing plants in order than evergreens. Maintaining the beauty of a green fence will have to be done not only with a haircut. A well-groomed and healthy appearance of plants is given by regular watering, removal of weeds, treatment from diseases and pests. If there is no experience in creating hedges, then it is better to consult with more experienced gardeners on the selection of plants and their care. Do not be afraid to experiment and create beauty with your own hands.

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