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Planting a Hedge?  This may help!

A hedge can provide several different functions! A hedge can provide privacy, used as a screen between you and things you would rather not see, reduce winds, provide a home and food for birds and wildlife, and trap snow to prevent drifting in the wrong place. Hedges can also be used to mark boundaries and as barriers.

Many choices abound as you can have your hedge: 

• Deciduous or evergreen
• Sheared or natural
• Short or tall
• Or colors such as green, gold, red, purple

Deciduous or evergreen?   Deciduous shrubs drop their leaves in the fall and are effective screens mainly during the growing season. Evergreens provide good screening all year. Deciduous plants tend to grow faster, but also require more shearing if making a formal hedge.

Sheared or natural ?  If you are  considering a sheared (formal) hedge,  keep in mind that they probably will  need to be pruned or sheared more than once a year to remain attractive. Informal, natural hedges are relatively low maintenance.

Short or tall?  Select your hedge plants that grow to the desired height. Don't plant a tall-maturing shrub where a short, informal hedge is unless you crave extra work. A lot of future problems can be prevented by selecting the correct plants at planting time!

Color?  There are several plants in colors other than green that are suitable for hedges.  Red Barberry is good for it's red color plus it has thorns to keep the neighborhood kids from running through it.  Golden Privet is a good choice for a yellow-gold color.  Purple leaved plum is a good choice for a dark, purple color.  Also consider Forsythias and Weigela for informal blooming hedges.

Best planting time?  Spring is the best time to plant a hedge; although container-grown plants can be planted just about any time.  Bare-root dormant plants are the most economical type of nursery stock when planting a hedge. Keep in mind that some bare-root plants are rather small. Container-grown plants are larger, but are somewhat more expensive.  Bare root plants will require more attention than container grown while they are getting established.  Late March to mid-May is the best time to plant bare-root plants.

How far apart?  Spacing is determined by the plant species and hedge type. Plants (such as Privet) in a sheared, formal hedge are generally planted 1 to 2 1/2 feet apart. Shrubs in an informal, natural hedge should be spaced further apart. A spacing of 2 to 4 feet is appropriate for medium-sized (6-8 feet tall) shrubs. Large shrubs (8-12 feet tall) can be spaced 4 to 6 feet apart.

Pruning & Shearing:  Deciduous shrubs should be pruned back severely at planting time to achieve a dense, full hedge. Prune back to within 4 to 6 inches of the ground when planting both sheared and natural hedges. This will induce vigorous growth close to the ground.  On future shearings for formal hedges, keep the base slightly wider than the top or the lower branches may lose their leaves and become bare across the bottom.

Some Choices

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