Hedge planting can completely transform the feel of a garden. In place of stark fencing or lifeless walls, a lush, living boundary softens the space, adds structure, and brings movement and life – all while providing valuable habitat for birds, bees, and butterflies.

There’s no shortage of options to choose from. Some of the best hedging plants offer handsome evergreen structure, like yew and laurel, while others deliver seasonal interest with bursts of flowers, from spring-flowering forsythia to the glossy blooms of choisya.

But for a truly immersive garden, fragrance is where hedging really shines. The right plants can release a beautiful scent as you brush past flowering hedges, and providing a softer, more natural alternative to a wooden fence. Here, expert gardeners share the six of the best fragrant hedge plants to bring scent, atmosphere, and year-round appeal to your plot.

1. Mock Orange

Mock orange, or Philadelphus, are fragrant shrubs that are native to North America.

These flowering shrubs for full sun need good drainage and plenty of light, but otherwise are easy to grow, and will undoubtedly perfume the perimeter of your property when they flower profusely in June. You can find great quality mock orange starter plants from Amazon.

'Growing best in US hardiness zone 4 to US hardiness zone 7, mock orange plants produce huge shows of springtime flowers,' says Gail Pabst, gardening expert and Marketing Director for the National Garden Bureau.

'With an appealing scent that is not dissimilar to orange blossoms, mock orange plants can be used as specimen plants or as hedging,' Gail continues. 'There are many new cultivars that come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 2 feet to 10 feet.'

More mature mock orange plants are available from Nature Hills.

2. Viburnum

'There are many different viburnum species and varieties to pick from,' says Alex Kantor, gardening expert and owner at Perfect Plants, 'and many that are native to North America or Europe are hardy and resilient hedging options.'

When considering how to grow viburnum, plant care will be specific to each species, but generally speaking, viburnum shrubs grow best in US hardiness zones 2 to 8, thriving in sunny or partially shaded positions with good drainage.

One beautifully scented viburnum species is Viburnum burkwoodii, which you can find at Nature Hills. This will reach 6 to 8 feet tall, so would be better suited to those seeking a low to medium-sized hedge.

For a taller variety, consider growing the cinnamon viburnum, Viburnum cinnamomifolium, which can reach up to 20 feet tall.

3. Lilac

Lilac is widely regarded as one of the best flowering shrubs, prized for its soft, romantic clusters of blooms and unmistakably sweet fragrance.

Flowering in mid to late spring, its perfumed flowers can fill an entire garden with scent, making it an excellent choice for hedging near paths, seating areas, or entrances where it can be enjoyed up close.

When learning how to grow lilac, it’s important to give plants the right conditions. Lilacs thrive in US hardiness zones 3 to 9 and perform best in a sunny or lightly dappled spot, where they will produce the most abundant blooms.

For hedging, consider more compact or repeat-flowering varieties, and allow enough space between plants to accommodate their mature size. With minimal care, lilac will reward you with decades of fragrant, nostalgic spring displays.

'Fortunately, breeders took pity on southern gardeners, and have created lilac cultivars that perform beautifully even in warmer climates, such as ‘Josee’, a small, reblooming lilac with a wide hardiness range,' notes Gail.

You can find Proven Winners® Scentara® Double Blue Lilac at Fast Growing Trees.

4. Sweetshrub

'A southeastern native found growing from New York to Florida and west to the Mississippi River, sweetshrub (also known as Carolina allspice) is a gardener’s dream and an unusual option for those looking to plant a hedge,' says Gail Pabst.

Growing best in US hardiness zone 5 to zone 9, the flowers of this shrub are unique, appearing spider-like with long, narrow petals that are lightly scented. The 'Aphrodite' variety which has a deep red color and typically blooms for several weeks.

'These fragrant blooms smell like citrus, banana, strawberry, pineapple, bubblegum, or even gin, depending on whom you ask,' Gail adds, 'making this ideal for those seeking a fragrant shrub for the front of the house.'

'Sweetshrub is helpfully a versatile plant,' Gails continues, 'and grows beautifully whether planted in full sun or deep shade and can easily be shaped to form a low hedge.'

You can find sweetshrub plants at Amazon, and sweetshrubs are also available to buy from Perfect Plants.

5. Pittosporum

Pittosporum is among the best evergreen shrubs for hedging, valued for its glossy foliage, soft structure, and subtle fragrance. Best suited to US hardiness zone 8 and above, it thrives in milder climates where it can be used to create year-round privacy without feeling heavy or formal.

While pittosporum is often chosen for its foliage, it also produces small, dark purple or creamy-white flowers in late spring. These may be modest in appearance, but they release a soft, honeyed fragrance that becomes more noticeable in the evening; ideal for planting near seating areas or pathways.

If you’re planning a hedge, be mindful when selecting varieties. Many pittosporums are bred to be compact or dwarf, so opt for taller-growing types if height and screening are priorities. For best results, plant in well-drained soil in a sunny or lightly sheltered position, and protect from cold, drying winds in cooler regions.

Pittosporum shrubs are available to buy online at Walmart.

6. Abelia

Abelia shrubs produce a bounty of delicately fragrant tubular flowers from June through until the fall. Generally, they can be treated as evergreens in milder regions, holding on to their foliage through much of the year.

These versatile shrubs can be grown in US hardiness zones 4 to 11, preferring a bright, sheltered position in the yard. The flowers of abelia shrubs are popular with hummingbirds, bees and butterflies during the summer months.

Planting several abelia shrubs within 3 feet of each other will eventually form a continuous hedge. With a small amount of patience and occasional pruning, you can quickly craft a floral and fragrant hedge.

A variety of abelia shrubs are available to buy from Fast Growing Trees.

If you are planting a hedge this year, consider adding flowering and fragrant shrubs to enhance your boundaries.

Not only will you enjoy this, but so too will local wildlife. For more information on hedge planting ideas, consider our guide on planting a hedge for wildlife, to attract pollinators to your plot. Or, for hedge maintenance, read our guide on how and when to fertilize hedges.

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Trimming hedges keeps them neat and perfectly manicured hedges can perfectly frame a garden. Whether your hedges act as borders, provide much-needed privacy in urban areas, or are more decorative for flowers and to attract wildlife, cutting them annually ensures they are tidy and healthy.

While hedge trimming can be simple and enjoyable, it's very common to see examples of bad hedge cutting. These can include people who have gotten carried away and cut their hedges too hard or hacked at their hedges with blunt tools. Bad hedge cutting not only leaves them looking unattractive but puts the hedge’s health at risk.

I learnt hedge cutting while getting my horticulture qualifications and was also trained to cut hedges while working as a gardener for the National Trust in the UK. I spent countless hours each year cutting hedges to standards required in public gardens. I understand the importance of doing things right and understanding how to prune hedges. I have also seen my fair share of bad hedge cutting mistakes over the years.

7 common hedge trimming mistakes to avoid

To help reveal the mistakes that can lead to bad hedge cutting and unhealthy, unattractive hedges, I also heard from some gardening experts on common errors they see with hedges and what they recommend to avoid falling foul.

1. Cutting at the wrong time

The type and variety of your hedging plant will dictate the best time to prune, so it is vital to understand when to prune hedges to keep them healthy and beautiful. Prune at the wrong time of year and the hedge can get stressed, unhealthy, and susceptible to pests and diseases.

Many hedges may require more than one trimming each year. Deciduous hedges are cut in early summer and late summer or early fall, while evergreen hedges may require two or three trimmings during the growing season in spring and summer. It is important to get the timing right with flowering hedges, as you do not want to remove the buds. The best rule is to trim them after flowering.

As well as the time of year, the weather on any particular day should influence your trimming. Never prune during periods of extreme cold or extreme warmth, which will stress plants, and Josh Novell, director of Polhill Garden Centre, warns against trimming in wet conditions. He says: ‘Choose a dry, calm day to prevent spreading diseases through damp cuts.’ On top of a higher risk of diseases on damp days, cutting won’t be as easy (or enjoyable) in wet weather, and using electric hedge trimmers in the rain causes safety issues.

2. Cutting with blunt tools

The cutting blades of any pruning tools will dull over time through repeated use. As the blades lose their sharp edge, it hinders their effectiveness. Hedge trimming will be tougher, the results do not look as good, and the health of the hedge can be put at risk. As Steve Swanborough, gardening expert at Henchman, warns: ‘Dull tools tear branches and make the plant vulnerable to disease. Clean and sharp tools will ensure your plant stays healthy and reduces plant stress.’

If you notice frayed or jagged cuts during cutting or the tool is not cutting as easily as before, it may be time to sharpen hedge trimmer blades or pruning shears. The process involves securing the cutting tool and sharpening the blade with a file or sharpening tool, always moving it downwards and at a consistent angle. After a few strokes with the sharpening tool, the bevel should become shiny, which indicates sharpness.

3 Not having the right safety gear

It is important not to overlook protective gear. Trimming hedges is a task that involves potentially dangerous machinery that can cause serious injuries. The right safety gear includes safety goggles, gloves, and appropriate footwear. Gloves protect your hands from cuts and goggles protect your eyes from flying debris.

I always recommend ear protection when using both petrol and electric hedge trimmers - electric gardening tools may be quieter but you still benefit from ear protection, especially with long usage. Large hedges may require ladders and these must be stable to avoid accidents. If you don’t have the right equipment, it may be best to get a professional to come in and cut the hedge for you.

4. Cutting the wrong shape

It is a mistake to prune hedges into a perfect square shape with vertical sides, unless the hedge is less than 40 inches in height - like those seen in highly formal gardens. For most hedges, the best shape is tapered with the base wider than the top.

Steve Swanborough warns that hedges wide at the top will shade out the lower branches as the upper foliage reaps the rewards of more sunlight. He says: ‘If you prune it this way, the bottom will thin out and look patchy over time. Instead, shear the hedge so the base is wider than the top. This lets sunlight reach the lower parts, keeping the whole hedge full and healthy.’

Always start by cutting the sides of the hedge first, beginning at the bottom and working upwards. Take regular steps back to asses the shape.

5. Not using a guide or having a plan

Diving straight in and hedge cutting without a plan can lead to uneven results. Take some time before starting to examine the hedge to gauge how much material you want to take off and spot any areas of poor growth that may require special attention.

It can also be beneficial before picking up the hedge trimmer to set up a line to follow, to help you get a neat and even finish. It is quick and simple to set up a string line. Jamie Shipley, gardening expert and managing director at Hedges Direct, recommends using a guide as ‘trimming a hedge free-hand without any reference can make it difficult to achieve precise results’. He adds: ‘Bamboo canes attached together with a length of string are actually a really useful device for getting a neat and straight edge. Run this along the top or sides of your hedge to use as a guide to cut along.’

You may have to remove some excess plant material before setting up the line to get it taut or close enough to the hedge. Take care not to cut the string while trimming and regularly check the line to ensure it remains tight to get the best finish.

6. Cutting too hard

One of the biggest mistakes often made by gardeners is getting carried away and cutting the hedge back too hard. Avoid removing too much growth in one go, cut no more than one-third of the hedge as it needs greenery to stay healthy.

Over-trimming is a pruning mistake that will stress the hedge. This will lead to unpredictable regrowth and a hedge left more vulnerable to harmful pests and diseases. Certain hedges, especially conifer hedges, will not resprout if you prune too far back into the old wood and can be scarred with permanent bare patches or holes. It is sensible to trim lightly and redo sections to take more off if necessary, and to remember the one-third pruning rule to avoid you taking too much off.

But what if you need to cut an overgrown hedge? It would be a big mistake attempting to transform an overgrown hedge in one go. In this scenario, Graham Smith, a gardening expert from LBS Horticulture, recommends: ‘If the hedge you are cutting is severely overgrown, it is best to spread out pruning over a few years so that the plant does not go into shock from being cut back too much at once.’

A sensible three-year approach to trimming overgrown hedges would be to prune one side of the hedge in year one and the other the following year, finally reducing the top of the hedge in year three.

Not cutting enough also comes with potential problems. Not trimming the hedge back far enough will leave it looking scruffier than it should after being cut and runs the risk of a fast-growing hedge getting too big for its space as it spreads in size each year. Being too gentle with trimming, or not trimming at all, risks you being left with an overgrown hedge that becomes more difficult to deal with.

7. Not clearing up immediately

After cutting the hedge, never leave the clippings around the base. Clear them away immediately - a task that can be made easier by laying a sheet on the ground along the base of the hedge before cutting.

Jamie Shipley warns: ‘If you don’t dispose of clippings immediately, dampness can promote fungal diseases which risk spreading to the hedge and other greenery in your garden.’ Healthy hedge clippings can be used to make compost.

FAQs

Can you use a strimmer to cut hedges?

No, attempting to use a strimmer to cut hedge would never be advisable The result would be messy as strimmers or brush cutters will never leave a clean cut. Instead, the hedge will be covered in ripped stems left prone to disease. Cutting a hedge with a strimmer would be hazardous as debris would be flying everywhere.

Always check hedges for nesting birds before picking up any pruning tools. Do not disturb or destroy active nests, if there are nesting birds in the hedge simply walk away and only come back and cut the hedge once you can confirm that the birds have left.

Most front or backyards tend to rely on hedge plants to provide a green boundary for privacy and security. There are hundreds of different species to choose from, and whether you have a preference for holly or hawthorn, lilac or laurel, picking the right hedge plants can help to maximize greenery in your plot.

Some hedge plants, however, can be thuggish in nature, with vigorous growth rates proving challenging for gardeners. These aggressive and invasive hedge plants are best avoided when selecting what species to grow as they can quickly cause problems in the yard.

So, while you might already know about invasive trees and perennials to avoid, we have put together a list of five invasive hedge plants to watch out for. In addition, expert gardeners from North America have provided recommendations on what to grow instead.

Invasive hedge plants to avoid

Landscaping with hedges is far preferable to bare walls or bland fences. Indeed, using green hedging will soften and blur the boundary of your outside space. However, before deciding which hedge plants to grow, it is good to identify what species to avoid. Here are five invasive plants that should be kept out of your planting schemes.

1. Chinese privet

'One common hedge plant that can cause problems is the Chinese privet, otherwise known as Ligustrum sinense,' says Reese Robbins, garden expert and creator of Just Pure Gardening.

Considered an evergreen tree never to grow, the Chinese privet is classified as invasive in many US states, including Alabama, Georgia, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.

'While the Chinese privet might seem appealing with its dense foliage, ideal for screening and privacy, it spreads aggressively,' Reese adds. 'Once established, it is difficult to get rid of it, with birds carrying its seeds far and wide.

'For a better option that is easier to manage, try yew, otherwise known as Taxus. They are much slower growing and far less likely to take over your garden.'

Yew hedges can be grown down to US hardiness zone 4, making for an ideal option in cooler regions. They prefer moist but well-drained soil, and are remarkably versatile in terms of light, tolerating full sun to full shade. Prune yew hedges in early spring, usually around March, and again in late summer, by September, to keep them looking sharp and under control.

Live yew plants are available from Walmart.

2. Bamboo

Many homeowners opt to grow bamboo to create a dense, evergreen hedge. While this is true, if you opt for a running bamboo variety, their rampant growth can quickly get out of hand. If left unchecked, bamboo rhizomes will create dense thickets of growth, choking out other nearby plants.

'Bamboo is beautiful but it often grows too fast to control,' says Reese. 'The speed of their growth is often staggering, with some species growing two or three feet in a single day! If you have an invasive bamboo in your yard, chances are it will quickly find its way to neighboring plots too, which might lead to difficult conversations over the garden fence.

'If you are really intent on growing bamboo, avoid running varieties and stick to dwarf clumping options,' Reese says. The ruscus bamboo, or Shibataea kumasaca, for example, can be grown in pots for a low hedge. This variety will only grow to four or five feet tall and is far less vigorous than most bamboo species.

While not a true bamboo, sacred bamboo, or Nandina domestica, is an alternative if you are looking for an evergreen hedge plant. I have grown this species in the UK and found it to be slow-growing and manageable, although this species is best avoided if you reside in the southeast United States, where it has invaded woodlands. Sacred bamboo does best in US hardiness zone 6 to zone 9, thriving in bright, sunny borders.

Nandina live plants are available from Amazon.

3. Russian olive

While the Russian olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia, is similar in appearance to the European olive tree, Olea europaea, they should not be confused. Although both trees might have attractive silver foliage, the Russian olive is considered an invasive species in many US states, including California.

'Elaeagnus angustifolia can quickly escape cultivation, thriving in poor soils along highways and disused yards,' Reese says. 'It is often used as a hedge because it is tough and drought-tolerant, thriving in sunny regions, but be warned, it is a pain to get rid of it, spreading via seeds and suckers.'

For a native plant alternative, try growing serviceberry or chokeberry trees in a row, which will eventually form a hedge that will prove to be a hit with local birds.

'For an evergreen hedge option, try the ‘Little Gem’ magnolia,' says Bert Bast, garden expert and owner of Bast Brothers Garden Center. 'It can be grown from US hardiness zone 7 plus, with the dark green foliage complemented by large spring flowers. This evergreen will provide visual interest without the invasive tendencies of other hedge plants.'

'Little Gem' magnolia live starter plants are available from Amazon.

4. Cherry laurel

'Cherry laurel, or Prunus laurocerasus, is another problem plant to avoid,' Reese says. 'While this hedge plant might look lush and green, it grows incredibly fast, often producing two or three feet of growth in a single year.

'It might be a common sight in gardens across North America, but in my opinion, cherry laurel is an invasive hedge plant to keep out of your yard. What's more, it produces a lot of berries that can be toxic to pets, so if you have dogs or cats, steer clear of this species.'

If you are seeking a less vigorous evergreen hedge option, consider growing the Japanese yew, or Taxus cuspidata. This low-maintenance hedge plant is far less vigorous than cherry laurel but is just as tough and resilient.

Japanese yew can be grown down to US hardiness zone 4, making it an ideal option for northern states. For optimal growth, plant Japanese yew in a location that enjoys three or four hours of sunshine each day, and be sure to give it a hard prune in early spring to manage its height.

Japanese yew live plants are available from Amazon.

5. Buckthorn

Common buckthorn, Rhamnus cathartica, is an invasive species in many states across North America, including in Tennessee and Wisconsin. In addition, the sale of common buckthorn and glossy buckthorn was outlawed in Pennsylvania in 2022 due to its aggressive nature and ability to displace native species.

While the fruits of buckthorn are attractive to birds, this clever adaptation allows buckthorn seeds to disperse far and wide. So, while buckthorn might seem like an easy wildlife solution for a hedgerow, once established it will be difficult to get rid of.

For a native option, try growing one of the North American viburnum species, such as the southern arrowwood viburnum, Viburnum dentatum. Most viburnums are cold-hardy and can be grown down to zone 3. They do best in part shade with slightly moist soil. One variety with attractive fall berries is the American cranberry bush viburnum, Viburnum opulus var. americanum, available from Nature Hills.

FAQs

How do I remove a bamboo hedge?

Removing bamboo is challenging, but with persistence, it can be done. Prune your bamboo to the ground, disposing of all stems in your green waste. Then, dig up as many rhizomes as possible, which will likely be an ongoing battle over many months. This is a hard task and may require expert help from a landscaper, depending on the size and spread. If you are planting bamboo, be sure to use a bamboo root barrier, available from Walmart, to contain this vigorous plant.

Before adding any new perennials, bulbs or trees to your plot, it is always best to do your homework and find out what species are to be avoided in your region. Taking time to complete some research and speak to experts will ensure that your yard is free of problem plants.

For more information, see our guide on invasive climbers to keep out of your yard this year, as well as what vines you should grow instead.

A hedge often makes a fantastic way of creating a boundary and giving privacy to a backyard. Pruning hedges is important to keep the plants healthy, well-shaped, and under control - as they can quickly get overgrown and unruly if left untrimmed for too long.

Overgrown hedges can be unsightly and block sunlight from getting into your garden. They may invade space, lead to disputes between neighbours, and even result in fines when tall hedges flout homeowners association rules. A hedge that has got overgrown can be trickier to prune, but it is not a lost cause and they can be brought back into line over time.

So you need to know how to prune hedges and, more accurately, cut back overgrown hedges. Whether they are causing problems now or threatening issues down the road, it pays to know how to cut back overgrown hedges - as it may take planning and time to fix.

How to cut back overgrown hedges - an expert guide

For many years, I pruned hedges as a professional gardener in large, historic public gardens in the UK. I have also spoken to some garden experts to put together helpful tips for how to cut an overgrown hedge. This guide looks at when and how to cut an overgrown hedge so yours can recover from trimming to look great and grow as healthy as possible.

When to trim an overgrown hedge

It is imperative to prune hedges at the right time of year. This helps guarantee that the hedge responds to the pruning with healthy growth and minimal risk of diseases. When deciding when to prune hedges, it is important to consider the type of hedging plant. Late winter or early spring is usually ideal for pruning deciduous hedges, while late spring is best for trimming evergreen bushes and hedges.

‘However, as a rule of thumb, I’d recommend pruning most overgrown hedges in spring, just before new growth starts – an overcast, cloudy day, neither too hot nor too cold, will make for ideal conditions,’ recommends Paul Hicks, product and marketing manager at STIHL GB. ‘No matter what type of hedge you have, you must always make sure to check for nesting birds or other wildlife before taking on the task, and never remove or damage an active nest.’

Overgrown hedges may require more extensive pruning than regular hedge trimming. It is better to carry out more large-scale trimming over a few years, and it would be a pruning mistake to attempt to do it all in one go.

'It’s important to be patient and not try to trim everything back all at once. Instead, aim to prune over a few seasons,’ advises Steve Swanborough, a gardening expert at Henchman. ‘This gradual approach allows you to rejuvenate the hedge without stressing the plant.’

Is there any time to avoid cutting an overgrown hedge? It would not be advised to cut overgrown hedges in the fall in cooler climates. This encourages a fresh flush of new growth that will not harden off before winter - leaving the tree vulnerable to pests and diseases. There are also lots of fungal spores around at that time that can get into pruning wounds.

Also, never prune an overgrown hedge in periods of extreme weather, including extreme cold in midwinter or extreme heat in midsummer. Both of which can stress the hedge and jeopardize its future health.

How to trim overgrown hedges - expert tips for success

Proper pruning will keep any fast-growing hedge healthy and aesthetically pleasing. However, even if a hedge gets unkempt it can be brought back into control by following some simple steps. Here are a few pointers from professionals about how to cut an overgrown hedge.

Before trimming, Steve Swanborough hails how important it is to have the correct pruning tools for pruning overgrown hedges. ‘Sharp shears are essential for quick and effective cutting and ensuring they are clean will also reduce the risk of disease to the plant,’ says the experienced horticulturist.

The best garden tools for trimming an overgrown hedge may include pruning shears, hedge shears, hedge trimmers, long-handled pruners or a ladder for well-established branches. ‘Always wear a pair of gloves with good grip to make handling tools easier and consider safety goggles too,’ says Steve about personal protective equipment.

Start with the sides of the hedge and work upwards from the bottom of the hedge. Focus on renewal pruning and remove the oldest and thickest branches first to encourage fresh growth. However, be selective about which branches you remove. Graham Smith, a gardening expert from LBS Horticulture, warns: ‘An overgrown hedge can cope with being heavily trimmed, but do not cut any of the main branches that feed the top of the plant.’

As mentioned above, it is important not to prune everything if the hedge needs lots of renovation. The one-third pruning rule says not to remove more than a third of the entire growth in one go - and it is something to consider when you cut an overgrown hedge. Removing too much growth can stress the hedge, leaving it vulnerable to pests and diseases and leaving question marks over how well it will respond to trimming.

‘Prune it back hard, but only one on side, allowing your plant time to recover before pruning back the other side the following year,’ says Paul Hicks. While you prune one side hard, prune the other half with a more gentle touch and don’t reduce the height. Do the other side hard the following year and then finally reduce the height in year three.

When you prune, shape the hedge so it is thinner at the top than the bottom to allow light to get to the bottom of the hedge and help with healthy regrowth. Clear away the clippings after pruning to reduce the risk of pests and disease and give the hedge extra care after trimming.

‘Make sure to water your hedge well in any dry spells after renovation, for at least the first growing season, and mulch and feed your hedge in spring to promote growth,’ adds Paul Hicks.

Tools to cut an overgrown hedge

FAQs

What is the best tool for cutting overgrown hedges?

A variety of pruning tools may be required to cut an overgrown hedge. It will depend on the type of hedge and how overgrown it is, but a combination of a hedge trimmer, a pair of loppers, and some pruning shears are usually the best tools. Smaller hedges that need controlling may be pruned with hedge shears.

Can you cut a hedge back too much?

Yes, you can be too vigorous when you cut an overgrown hedge. Trimming too much material in one go can stress the hedge and this will affect how, or if, it regrows after trimming. Removing too many leaves can affect photosynthesis and some hedging plants will not recover well when pruned far back into the old wood. Taking the time to cut an overgrown hedge back in a planned and gradual manner will reduce the risk of stressed plants and the hedge dying back.

It may not be your overgrown hedge. Unruly hedges can trigger disputes between neighbors and you may find yourself thinking, can I cut my neighbors hedge? If this is an issue affecting you, the law says you can trim any part of the overgrown hedge growing over your property line, but not past that point and into your neighbor’s property.

Privet has long been a popular hedging plant to provide a fast and dense screen. It is a quick-growing and versatile option for hedges, but one that needs regular pruning to keep it neat and looking its best. If you have privet in your backyard, it is important to understand how and when to prune a privet hedge so it doesn’t get out of control.

Why is privet so popular? As well as its fast and dense-growing nature, privet makes an excellent screening plant in urban areas for protection from noise, wind, and prying eyes. Its dark and glossy oval leaves create an attractive screen, while the hedge provides a habitat for wildlife and its berries are a food source for birds and small mammals.

One of the main downsides of a privet hedge is that it quickly spreads - to the extent that some types of privet are on the invasive species lists in certain states. If you do have privet on your property, pruning hedges is an annual necessity. So, when should you trim and how many times may you need to head out with the tools each year? I spoke to some experts to reveal when to prune a privet hedge and get some trimming tips.

The importance of pruning privet

Privet has been a popular choice for landscaping with hedges for many years due to its fast-growing nature. As a fast-growing hedge, the importance of pruning cannot be understated, as privet can quickly get overgrown and look wild or uneven. We start by looking at the right times to head out and trim.

When to prune a privet hedge

Privet should be pruned annually, rather than being left to get overgrown and leggy where it may start to block pathways or obstruct light into a backyard. It means knowing when to prune a privet hedge is important as regular pruning keeps privet in shape and looking at its best. A consistent trimming ensures the evergreen shrub is dense along its entirety, and encourages strong and healthy growth during the season.

In most circumstances, privet will require more than one trim each year. The best time for any major trimming comes in late winter to early spring, just before the growing season begins for the year and after the last frost. If you prune privet in this window, it will encourage healthy and vigorous regrowth when the plant starts actively growing again in spring.

Further light trimming can be done through summer to tidy up and shape the privet. This will help to keep it tight and neat - ideal if you use privet in a formal garden design.

While a light prune in summer is recommended, heavier trimming is not. Steve Swanborough, gardening expert at Henchman, advises avoiding heavy cuts in summer as it would be a pruning mistake that can ‘risk weakening your plant or stunting its growth’.

‘You should also avoid pruning privet in late fall due to the risk of frost,’ he adds. ‘Newly grown branches have not hardened enough to protect themselves from sub-zero temperatures, so it's best to wait until late winter before snipping away.’

When it comes to when to prune hedges, always consider the weather conditions. For example, never prune during periods of extreme weather such as snow and hard frost or intense summer heat. Be prepared and put pruning privet on your spring gardening and summer gardening checklist - but always wait for the ideal conditions to trim.

How to prune privet - tips for pruning privet hedges

As with any hedge pruning, clean and sharp pruning tools and safety equipment, including gloves and goggles, are essential. Any hedge trimmer blades or pruning shears must be sharp, never dull, and sterilized to avoid spreading diseases. Before cutting, lay out a sheet or tarpaulin along the base of the hedge to make clearing up the cuttings easier.

Assess the hedge first to spot any dead, diseased, or damaged branches and remove these with a pair of pruning shears. Any heavily congested areas in the center of the hedge can be thinned by removing a few selected branches to improve air circulation and lessen the risk of fungal diseases.

Heavier pruning in late winter or early spring can be done with a combination of pruning shears or loppers for older branches and hedge trimmers for shaping. It is important to regularly take steps back to assess the shape of the hedge and not to be too heavy-handed - as you shouldn’t remove more than one-third of the hedge at once.

A light summer shaping can be achieved by lightly going over the hedge with clippers to cut back the season’s growth so far and give it a neat finish.

Tall privet hedges are best cut into a tapered shape, so the base of the hedge is narrower at the top than the bottom. Angela Slater, plant expert at Hayes Garden World, says this method ‘allows more light to get to the lower branches’ and keeps the hedge healthy. She also recommends: ‘If your privet is thin in the center, hard prune one side a year to retain some privacy.’

Post-pruning, it is best practise to dispose of the clippings immediately. Jamie Shipley, gardening expert and managing director at Hedges Direct, warns: ‘If you don’t, dampness can promote fungal diseases which risk spreading to other greenery in your garden.’

As well as a quick clear-up, Jamie also recommends some other post-pruning care for privet hedges. He says: ‘I recommend feeding your privet with an all-purpose fertilizer, watering vigorously and even laying down mulch around the roots to help the hedges recover and to stimulate new growth.’

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FAQs

When should you not cut a privet hedge?

It is not advisable to prune a privet hedge in the fall. Doing so promotes a flush of new growth that will not harden off in time and be damaged by frosts. This will leave the hedge increasingly susceptible to pests and diseases. You should also not prune when birds are nesting in the hedge. Inspect the hedge for signs of nesting birds and, if they are there, delay pruning until the chicks have left the nest.

Laurel is another popular hedging plant that needs regular pruning to keep any desired shape and prevent this fast-growing shrub from getting out of control. It is a hedging plant that quickly forms a thick screen, but can reach 15-20ft if left to its own devices. Regular trimming keeps the hedge compact and attractive and you can see when and how to prune laurel in our thorough guide.

Arborvitae, otherwise known as Thuja, is a well-known evergreen plant typically used as a hedge or boundary plant. With year-round greenery and a dense growing habit, arborvitae can be relied on to create privacy and security.

There are five extant species of Thuja, all of which are small to large evergreen trees. Two of these species are native to North America, Thuja occidentalis and Thuja plicata, the latter of which is commonly referred to as the Pacific or western red cedar and is the largest Thuja species growing up to 230 feet. If you have a small yard, this mighty species might be one to avoid.

So, if you are looking for some of the easiest evergreen trees for your yard, arborvitae might be what you are looking for. Here, one plant expert and nursery owner from New Jersey reveals how to grow arborvitae.

How to grow arborvitae

If you are looking for statement fragrant evergreens or fragrant hedge plants, arborvitae is one plant genus to consider, with the leaves producing a citrus-like scent when crushed.

While they do require maintenance to keep them under control, arborvitae can help to add greenery to boundaries - and let's face it, a green garden perimeter is far more attractive than bare walls or fences.

Growing habits of arborvitae

'Most arborvitae are fast-growing hedges, which should always be a consideration before you decide to plant an entire row of them,' says Bert Bast, garden expert and owner of Bast Brothers Garden Center.

'You must be prepared to carry out annual maintenance to prevent these trees from getting too large,' Bert adds. 'For example, the widely known ‘Green Giant’ variety can grow two to three feet per year once established.

'The important thing to remember is growth rates given by nurseries are for established plants, in other words, the growth rate in three years. I best explain this as: sleep, creep, leap,' Bert says. 'In the first year, or the sleep phase, there will typically be no noticeable growth. In the second year, the creep phase, there is just barely enough growth to notice, yet during the third year, the leap stage, you typically see an extraordinary amount of growth. From this point onwards, pruning is required.'

'All Thuja species are fully hardy and can be grown from US hardiness zone 3 to zone 7, and can withstand cold, wind and snow. For the best results, plant them in an open sunny site with plenty of room to grow.

'One of my favorite arborvitaes is Thuja occidentalis, a native plant to North America,' Bert says. 'I like the size and shape of the ’Nigra’ variety, which has a conical form. These trees are also a great place for birds to nest.' Thuja occidentalis live plants are available from Amazon.

Care guide for arborvitae

Soil: In terms of how to grow arborvitae plants, most prefer moist but free-draining soil. Avoid waterlogged borders, as they will not respond well to sitting in soggy soil for prolonged periods. Mulching your borders every year can help to improve the soil structure and add nutrients to the soil, which can be done at any time of year. Mulch is available from Amazon. In terms of soil pH, arborvitae plants prefer a neutral to slightly alkaline reading, so aiming for somewhere around the 6.5 to 7.0 mark is ideal. If you are unsure of your soil pH, use a soil test kit, available from Amazon.

Light: 'They grow best in full sun, but can tolerate a bit of shade,' says Bert. 'Arborvitae plants tend to grow much slower and can get a bit leggy in shaded areas,' so aiming for at least four to six hours of direct sunshine per day is best.

Watering: When your plants are young and settling into your yard, you will want to carry out deep watering twice per week during the spring and summer of the first year. Once established, all arborvitae plants are considered drought-tolerant, and should not require supplemental watering unless there is a lack of rainfall for long periods during the summer months.

Fertilizing: You do not need to fertilize arborvitae plants. These conifer trees are tough and self-sufficient, typically accessing the nutrients they need from the soil.

Pruning: 'Arborvitae plants take to pruning very well and are not too picky about how and when you do this,' Bert adds. 'I like to do my heavy pruning in the early spring but I won’t hesitate to go back at it again later in the season if I missed a spot or didn’t take enough off. If you are trying to keep them much smaller than they naturally want to be you may have to prune them multiple times per year.'

Toxicity: Arborvitae plants have a low level of toxicity, although the oil in the foliage can cause skin irritation and stomach upset if ingested. For this reason, it is a good idea to keep an eye on children who might enjoy playing around hedgerows and large trees. When pruning, wear gardening gloves, available from Amazon, to keep your hands safe. There are some reports that the foliage is toxic to pets, but arborvitae is not found on the ASPCA’s lists of toxic plants for cats, dogs, or horses.

FAQs

When should I plant arborvitae in my yard?

'While it certainly is easier to plant in spring or fall, you can plant arborvitae at any time of year,' Bert says. 'If the tree is planted in the fall there will be less stress on the plant by that first summer, as it will have plenty of time to establish in your yard. Be sure to incorporate some good quality soil when planting to give your trees the best start.'

Are there any arborvitae pests to be wary of?

'Arborvitaes are rarely troubled by pests or diseases, but one problem to look out for is bagworms,' Bert says. 'Bagworm moths are native to North America and the caterpillars can pick a tree clean in just a few days. You will be able to spot thinning or browning foliage, and upon closer inspection, you might find these little pests feeding on the needles. While this is mostly tolerable, larger outbreaks might require treatment.'

Deer are another pest to be wary of. In most cases, deer will snack on other plants in the yard, but they may nibble the lower-down foliage if hungry during the winter.

Most arborvitae plants should stay green throughout the year, but sometimes conifers go brown, which can be a cause for concern, thereby losing some of their evergreen vibrancy. Temperature drops can result in browning foliage, as can prolonged drought, so keep an eye on the soil in the hot months of the year.

For more inspiration, see our guide on how to create a native landscape for the year ahead, incorporating other native shrubs, trees and perennials into your plot alongside native arborvitae species.

The hedge apple tree, also known as the Osage orange, is a native tree growing in the south of the United States. Native to the Red River of the South basin, it can be found in the wilds of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

While the strange-looking fruit is not edible, this tree species has a long history of usage by Osage Native Americans, who made use of the strong and durable timber.

Today, the hedge apple tree is grown as a statement tree or as a boundary hedge to enclose backyards. So, if you are seeking native plants for your plot, why not consider growing this unique tree? Here, one plant expert from Wisconsin reveals all you need to know to learn how to grow hedge apple trees.

How to grow hedge apple trees

The hedge apple tree, or Maclura pomifera, might not be as well known as other native species but it is no less impressive. This fast-growing tree is a species for all seasons, with odd fruits in summer and brilliant fall colors, as can be seen below. What's more, learning how to grow hedge apple trees is simple, and by following a few simple steps, they will quickly settle in your yard.

Growing habits of hedge apple trees

'Hedge apples, also known as Osage orange trees, are unlike any other tree species you have seen before,' says plant expert, Katie Sunderlage, based in Wisconsin.

'They are best suited for large, wildlife gardens in rural settings,' Katie adds, 'ideal if you are interested in learning how to create a native landscape or want to try your hand at wild gardening.

'Due to its large growth habit - reaching upwards of 40 feet - it’s not recommended in a home landscape setting.' Beware the thorns too, which can cause serious damage but prove useful at the boundary of your yard if you are concerned about home security.

'Doing best in US hardiness zone 4 to US hardiness zone 9, you can grow hedge apples from seed or a sapling,' Katie continues. Hedge apple seeds are available from Amazon. Sow seeds indoors under cover, either in a greenhouse or on a windowsill in small pots. Once large enough to handle, usually after a few months, you can plant them outside in the ground.

'The best time to plant a sapling would be early spring when the ground can be cultivated but the sapling is still dormant. Opt for a sunny location with moist, well-drained soil for the best results.'

Growing advice for hedge apple trees

Soil: Hedge apples are resilient and versatile native trees and will grow in a variety of different climates and soil conditions, although it is best to avoid waterlogged soils. 'Applying a layer of mulch can help to regulate moisture in the soil and moderate the temperature too,' Katie says. 'Just be sure to keep a ring around the trunk free of mulch to prevent rotting.' Pine bark mulch is available from Walmart.

Light: Hedge apple trees can be grown in both sunshine and part-shade, although for the best results, you want to plant this species in an open site. In the wild, hedge apple trees will grow in unobstructed open prairies or grasslands, so providing as much light as possible is essential.

Watering: 'During the active growing season, young saplings need watering about every 2 to 3 weeks until established,' Katie says. 'After a year or two, they will prove to be self-sufficient and access the water they need from the soil.'

Fertilizing: 'While they are establishing, it is a good idea to use a well-balanced, all-purpose fertilizer,' Katie says. 'This is best done when the trees are young to help establish a strong root system. However, after a few years of growth, you should not need to feed hedge apple trees.'

Pruning: Without pruning, hedge apple trees can quickly get out of control. If they are growing at the rear of a large or wild backyard, this is not a problem, but in smaller spaces, annual pruning is recommended. If you are growing this species in a hedgerow, maintain a compact and dense habit by pruning out stems as they appear. Felco pruning snips are available from Amazon.

Toxicity: Hedge apple trees are not edible, and the fruits do contain substances that can be toxic if consumed by humans and pets. When handling, wear protective gloves as the sap from the stems and fruits can also cause skin irritation.

FAQs

Can I grow a hedge apple in a pot?

While you can grow a hedge apple tree in a pot, it is generally not recommended. Not only do these trees want to send out roots deep into the ground, but they also have thorns, so they would not make for an ideal addition to your pot displays. Instead, keep this unusual species in a wild section at the back of your yard.

If the hedge apple tree is not for you, consider a different native tree that is also in the mulberry, or Moraceae plant family. While related to the hedge apple, the native red mulberry, Morus rubra, could not be more different, with edible fruits and thorn-less branches. So, why not learn how to grow a mulberry tree and enjoy delicious and rare fruits every summer?

Hedges are commonplace in yards as they provide beauty, and privacy, and can be beacons for wildlife. Whether you have a deciduous or evergreen hedge, annual pruning keeps them healthy and looking their best. As a former professional gardener, I have done a lot of hedge trimming - so I put together this guide to help anyone discover how to prune hedges successfully.

I spent many months a year pruning hedges working as a gardener for the National Trust in the UK. At Hidcote Manor Garden there were several miles of large-scale hedges to cut and the hedge cutting season for the gardens team lasted around six months. At Hanbury Hall, there were many low box hedges in the formal gardens, along with large deciduous and evergreen hedges cut once or twice a year. The standards for hedge cutting were very high at both places, as the gardens were enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

I learnt a lot about both when to prune hedges and how to trim and want to help you with your backyard hedges. This guide looks at how to prune hedges, and I share some of the lessons I learned so you can keep your hedges healthy and neat.

How to trim a hedge in 6 steps

Any landscaping with hedges needs to be perfectly maintained so the hedges are bushy and compact. A freshly-trimmed hedge is a fantastic sight and a sharp-manicured hedge will even provide structure and interest in a winter garden.

On the other hand, not pruning will cause a fast-growing hedge to outgrow its space and lose its aesthetic appeal. Follow these steps to ensure your hedges are immaculate and avoid bad hedge cutting.

1. Have the right equipment

Using the wrong garden tools, or dirty and blunt cutting tools, is a pruning mistake that can damage any hedging plant.

Any pruning tools must be clean and sharp to ensure they cut smoothly and don’t spread diseases around the garden. So always take time before cutting to sharpen hedge trimmers or sharpen shears - it will make hedge cutting easier and ensure a quality finish.

Depending on the height of your hedge, you may need long-handled pruning tools or a ladder. Any ladder must be strong and stable to keep you safe - a tripod ladder is an excellent choice for added stability.

Protective gear is also a must for cutting hedges. This includes a set of gloves with good grips, safety goggles to stop debris from getting in your eyes, and ear defenders, available at Amazon, if you are using electric or petrol hedge cutters. When using electric cutters it is also important to ensure the cord does not pose a trip hazard during cutting.

Finally, laying a sheet along the ground under the hedge before cutting will make cleaning up hedge trimmings easier.

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2. Assess and plan….then cut

Before pruning, assess the hedge to check its current growth and monitor for any wildlife that may be nesting. Do not prune if there are nesting birds, simply check at a later date and only trim once the young birds have left the nest.

Always cut with a plan of action, this means closely examining the hedge before cutting. An established hedge may have less vigorous patches that need a lighter touch than other sections, or diseased or damaged bits that are best removed before cutting the bulk of the hedge.

Spotting these little intricacies beforehand means you are prepared. For example, it stops you from suffering with hedge cutter blades falling into bare patches and ruining the shape. It also means you will have an idea of how much you are going to take off, and the line you want to follow, before you start doing any cutting.

Newly-established hedges need formative pruning for the first few years. This means nipping back the shoots by around a third to encourage bushy growth. Cutting back any strong sideways stems will help create a thicker hedge, however, think in advance about the ultimate height of the hedge. Only trim the top of a hedge once it reaches the desired height.

3. Start with the sides

Cut the sides of the hedge first and always trim from the bottom upwards to shape the hedge as you trim.

It is best to cut in smooth and arcing movements, being careful to avoid cutting into the large structural branches of the hedge. Removing any of these would be a mistake that will make the hedge patchy and potentially harm the health of the plants.

Low formal hedges up to 40 inches in height can be cut with vertical sides. However, for bigger hedges, it is best to aim for a tapered shape - where the base is larger than the top. Shaping it in this way allows light to reach the base of the hedge.

Cutting oppositely to this and creating a V-shape is never recommended as the sunlight would not reach the lower branches and result in an unsightly patchy hedge.

If there are very dense sections of the hedge, selected small branches can be removed with pruning shears to allow more light and air to penetrate the interior of the hedge.

4. Move onto the top

Once the sides of the hedge are done, the next step is to cut the top. If you need a ladder to cut the top of a tall hedge, make sure it is sturdy and safe.

Make controlled, sweeping cuts along the top of the hedge, moving the hedge trimmer away from your body and not over-reaching too far. It is better to cut the top of a wide hedge from both sides rather than leaning over the top. You are liable to cut at an angle when reaching, rather than getting a perfectly straight hedge.

A string guide can be an effective tool to help achieve a straight line. This can be as simple as a length of string running between two bamboo canes as a guide to cut along.

Regularly brush the clippings off the top of the hedge as you go. This helps make cutting and assessing your line easier and stops clippings from sitting on the top. Leaving trimmings on the hedge prevents light from getting into the hedge and can stop the cut stems from regrowing.

5. Step back and take a look regularly

No matter what tools you are using, or whether you are using a line or not, regularly take a step back from the hedge and look at the progress. This helps you see the line you are cutting and assess whether any longer sections need going over again. Areas may need more growth removed or trimming again to straighten up the line.

It is always better to go lightly and repeatedly do sections to shave off more, rather than cutting too much off straight away. As I was told when I first learnt about hedge cutting - you can always take more off, but you can never put it back on.

Over-pruning a hedge is hard to undo. It can leave hedges looking bare and some varieties of hedging plants may struggle to produce new growth if you cut back to the old wood.

6. Remove clippings and mulch

Clear up and dispose of the hedge clippings straightaway, as leaving the cuttings sitting around the hedge can promote fungal diseases. Any healthy clippings can be used to make compost and added to a home pile.

The trimmed hedges will benefit from mulching in early spring. Spreading a layer of compost, leaf mold, or bark will deter weeds, retain moisture, and provide nutrients to the hedge for the coming year.

Many hedges benefit from being trimmed twice a year, including evergreen hedges like box and privet, and deciduous hornbeam and beech hedges.

To keep them at their best, a first prune is likely for early summer. After pruning hedges in warmer months, it is important to water plants well.

Watering and fertilizing hedges post-trimming helps them recover better and keeps them looking their best throughout the year.

Trimming hedges keeps them healthy, bushy, and controlled. However, knowing when to prune hedges can be confusing as there are a lot of factors to consider. The different types and styles can mean varying timings for when to prune hedges.

The best time to prune hedges primarily depends on the type of hedging plant you have, and many hedges will benefit from multiple trims throughout the growing season to keep them looking neat.

Whether you have evergreen, deciduous, or conifer hedges as part of your backyard ideas, there are simple guidelines to ensure you prune them at the right time of year. Let us help clear things up as we explore the exact right times to prune hedges.

When is the best time to prune hedges?

Whether you have large hedges on your property’s boundary or small formal hedges to compartmentalize a backyard, getting that timing right remains crucial. Knowing when to cut hedges to protect nesting birds is also important, as towards spring many songbirds begin to build their nests for the breeding season ahead.

I cut lots of different hedges during my career as a professional gardener. It included long hedge cuttings seasons in various public gardens cutting formal hedges of various heights and lengths. I strive to share my personal knowledge, and also hear from other experienced gardeners, to help you understand when to prune hedges and how often different types may need cutting annually.

When to prune evergreen hedges

Evergreen hedges should be cut at least twice a year to keep these fast-growing plants neat and dense. The likes of box, yew, privet, laurel, or holly have been popular as low maintenance hedge plants for many years when landscaping with hedges to create neat, formal hedges as a boundary or to divide a garden into areas.

Prune box and privet hedges at least twice a year during the growing season from spring to summer, potentially even three times a year. Yew benefits from trimming twice a year to keep it tidy, while holly is less demanding and requires only one trim in late summer.

While many evergreen bushes are trimmed during mid-to-late summer, there are a couple of exceptions where a later prune is recommended. Steve Swanborough, gardening expert at Henchman advises: ‘Evergreens like yew and privet prefer pruning in fall after active growth has stopped. Plus, pruning too early in the season can disturb nesting birds.’

Avoid trimming evergreen bushes too late into fall. It would be a pruning mistake as a flush of late growth will be damaged in winter.

When to prune deciduous hedges

Deciduous hedges also benefit from two prunes during the growing season. The likes of hornbeam, beech, and hawthorn quickly grow during the season to produce a screen and even when they drop their leaves later in the year provide structure to a winter garden.

Prune deciduous hedges twice a year. Firstly, trim in early summer after their first growth spurt when they come out of dormancy in spring. This keeps them compact and groomed for the summer months. The hedges will produce another flush of growth during summer and benefit from another trim in late summer or early fall.

‘October is an ideal time to prune your deciduous foliage because the weather is usually still fairly warm which means your plants are less likely to incur damage from cold snaps,’ recommends Jamie Shipley, a gardening expert and managing director of Hedges Direct. ‘An added benefit is you also don’t run the risk of disrupting nesting birds.’

When you do the second prune will depend on your US hardiness zone. If you have colder winters and earlier frosts, it is recommended to prune in late summer rather than wait until October to trim.

When to prune conifer hedges

Established conifers such as cypress or thuja are fast-growing hedging plants that require pruning more than once each year to keep them well-maintained and under control. Jamie Shipley recommends: ‘Most conifer species will only need a trim twice a year. I recommend pruning once in early spring and then again in fall.’

A light trim in spring keeps conifers in fine fettle for the summer. Late summer or early fall is a good time to prune conifers as they shed their needles at this time. It is a good time to assess the form of the hedge and reshape it as required.

When to prune flowering hedges

There is a great variety of flowering shrubs which can be grown as informal hedges to provide beauty, texture, and color to a boundary. The flowers and scent can lift a space and they can offer great food and habitat as hedges for wildlife.

The best time to prune flowering hedges will depend on the type of hedge, but a good general rule of thumb is to prune straight after they have flowered. As with when to prune shrubs, prune flowering hedges such as forsythia, lavender, fuchsia, or berberis after flowering.

The post-flowering timing is for both evergreen and deciduous varieties and it gives the hedge ample time to regrow again before next year’s blooms.

When to prune young hedges

Formative pruning is done for the first 2-3 years after planting a hedge. It helps to encourage a strong, bushy framework and the time of year to do formative pruning depends on the type of hedging.

Formative pruning of deciduous hedges should be done in fall or winter when the plants are dormant. There is no need to prune formal deciduous hedges upon planting but they benefit from formative pruning every winter until a thick hedge is established.

Evergreen hedges should be lightly trimmed in spring as the new growth is starting for the year, while formative pruning of conifer hedges takes place in late spring or summer.

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If you have to cut an overgrown hedge, the best time to do major pruning work is during its dormant season in late winter or early spring. While trimming during the growing season is good for maintenance, overgrown hedges need more rejuvenation that is best done during dormancy and just before the hedging plants start growing again.

However, if your neighbor has an overgrown hedge that grows into your garden it can be complicated. So can you cut a neighbors hedge? The answer is yes and no. You can prune the branches that are over your property line. However, you can only cut up to the property line and not past that point into their property without permission.

Hedge planting can be both practical and decorative, providing privacy and security for your home while also adding greenery and texture to the yard.

There are so many shrubs that can be used as hedge plants, including evergreen thuja, more commonly known as arborvitae, or traditional yew, beech and hawthorn. However, it is possible to grow fruiting hedge plants for a nutritious and productive hedgerow alternative. Doing so will make the most out of your plot - and adding something homegrown to your suppers is always a nice touch.

So, while traditional evergreen hedge plants are undeniably useful, consider incorporating some of the best edible hedge plants into your yard this year. Here, we reveal unique and attractive fruiting and fragrant hedge plants to plant along your garden boundaries.

How to grow edible hedge plants

There are so many hedging plants to consider, ranging from flowering hedges to wildlife hedges, using plants such as hawthorn. If you enjoy kitchen garden ideas, however, try growing edible hedge plants for a productive, delicious perimeter.

In terms of when and how to plant a hedge, most shrubs can be planted either in the fall months, usually around October or November, or in the spring, typically in March or April. Pick a mild, dry day to plant your shrubs, and be sure to provide a deep watering to give your new hedge the best chance of success.

1. Dog roses

If you are looking for wildlife garden ideas this year, planting dog roses at the boundary of your yard is a good idea. Not only will pollinators love the nectar-rich single flowers, but the rose hips are a tasty treat for both animals and humans in the fall months. Try picking some to make vitamin-rich syrups or jams.

'Dog roses, Rosa canina, can be grown from US hardiness zone 5 plus,' says plant expert, Katie Sunderlage. 'They are incredibly hardy and will tolerate cold weather with no problem.

'In terms of how to grow dog roses, they are very vigorous, fast-growing plants that thrive in sunny yards with moist but well-draining soil,' Katie adds. 'They are ideal for growing in a hedgerow among other shrubs, but be warned they will scramble and vine through other plants, sometimes reaching over 10 feet in length.'

2. Mulberry

Mulberry trees can be trained to grow as small shrubs or as part of a hedge, and who wouldn't enjoy picking handfuls of delicious mulberry fruits during the summer months?

'Growing mulberry trees is not overly complicated,' says Bert Bast, garden expert and owner of Bast Brothers Garden Center. 'These trees do best from US hardiness zone 4 plus, growing well in full sun. They are tolerant of most soil types so long as there is some moisture in the ground.

'Mulberries are typically fast-growing and easy to establish, and can reach lofty heights,' Bert adds. Pruning will help to keep the size in check when growing in a hedge, but it might be a good idea to select a dwarf variety such as Morus rotundiloba 'Mojo Berry', which will grow no bigger than five or six feet. Remember to avoid planting any white mulberry varieties, as these are considered invasive plants across much of North America.

Live mulberry tree starter plants are available from Amazon.

3. Blueberry

'There are several species that come to mind when thinking about edible hedge plants, but perhaps the most delicious would be a blueberry hedge,' says Bert Bast. Live blueberry plants are available from Nature Hills. For a popular fruiting variety, try Vaccinium corymbosum 'Patriot', a well-known blueberry that grows to about six feet tall.

'In terms of growing blueberries, most tend to reach anywhere between two and five feet in height, sometimes bigger, so pick a variety that is suited to your needs,' says Bert. 'Blueberries are far more compact and less vigorous than blackberries and raspberries, although both of these would also make for tasty edible hedges.'

In terms of getting a blueberry bush to fruit, remember that these shrubs need plenty of sunshine and moisture. They must also be grown in ericaceous, or acidic, soil, preferably with a pH of 4.5–5.5.

4. Hazel

Hazelnuts are popular and nutritious snacks that are high in magnesium and are a good source of vitamin E. Instead of buying them from the grocery store, why not plant a hazelnut hedge and produce handfuls of homegrown nuts to enjoy in the summer and fall months?

They tend to be fast-growing and low-maintenance hedge plants, quickly establishing themselves in sunny and partially shaded spots. Hazel trees can eventually reach up to 20 feet tall, but annual spring pruning will keep them in check.

The common hazel, Corylus avellana, is hardy down to US hardiness zone 6, whereas for cooler regions, try the native American hazel, Corylus americana, which can be grown down to zone 3. American hazelnut live trees are available from Amazon.

5. Elderberry

Elder shrubs are ideal for informal hedgerows when wild gardening. In terms of elder care, most species are hardy down to US hardiness zones 5 or 6 with a tolerance for both shady and sunny spots, although flowering and fruiting will be notably better in brighter situations.

Many species can reach up to 10 or 15 feet tall, so if possible, use elders at the back of the yard where they have room to grow. There are two native species, the American elder, Sambucus canadensis, which produces striking blue-black berries, and the red elder, Sambucus racemosa, which produces crimson fruits. Both are lightly fragrant when in bloom during the spring and summer.

Always do your homework on the exact species, but nearly all ripe elderberries are edible and can be used in jellies, jams, and even in wine-making. Alternatively, harvest the elder blooms to make elderflower cordial in the summer months, for a delicious and refreshing drink.

Live elderberry plants are available from Walmart.

FAQs

When is the best time to fertilize hedge plants?

While it will vary from species to species, most shrubs and hedge plants tend to respond well to an application of fertilizer in spring, just as new growth begins to emerge. However, once established, most trees, shrubs and hedge plants will be self-sufficient, with extensive root networks that can access nutrients in the soil.

You can plant different species in one hedgerow, combining evergreen and deciduous species for year-round interest in the garden. Whatever you decide, always try to incorporate native planting as part of your hedge, which will prove popular with local birds, bees and butterflies who will enjoy the blooms and berries on offer. Try the scarlet hawthorn, Crataegus coccinea, a North American species that produces sour berries that are useful when flavoring sauces, jams and wines.

Hedge trimmers are great for keeping your hedges in line. But they're usually perceived as one-trick ponies. If money is tight, it feels a little ridiculous to spend a few hundred dollars on a hedge trimmer that only does one job.

However, after speaking to landscaping experts, there are a some hidden uses for hedge trimmers that make these machines much more versatile.

Whether you need to tidy a lawn or hack back brush, these unusual uses for your hedge trimmer will give you much better value for money.

1. Edging a lawn

One of the most surprising uses for hedge trimmers is for edging lawns. If you don't have a pair of edging shears or a grass trimmer, hedge trimmers can help to keep the edge of a lawn tidy.

Landscaper Nathan DeWoody told me that 'Landscapers use hedge trimmers for edging lawns in a pinch. Holding the trimmer blade parallel to the edge of a lawn creates a neat line.'

Gardening expert Scott Seargent agrees and adds that you can you even use hedge trimmers to trim a lawn. If you spot a tuft of grass your mower has missed, a hedge trimmer can be a way to snip it level without the hassle of unloading and setting up your mower.

Scott says 'A hedge trimmer can be used in a pinch to trim your lawn. Be careful to keep blades level or you will have dips in the lawn.'

However, Scott warns 'Take care when the lawn is along concrete. If the blades hit the concrete they will jump up so be careful.'

He adds that there's a potential danger if your lawn backs onto gravel. Scott says 'I wouldn’t recommend using them to trim anything if there is gravel. Gravel can fly or get stuck in the blades and damage the blades.'

2. Clearing weeds and brush

Hedge trimmers can also be a fast way of dealing with weeds and brush. If you only have a small patch of weeds or you don't mind stooping down, a hedge trimmer will save you from buying a separate grass trimmer. Nathan DeWoody says that 'Hedge trimmers can be very helpful with small areas of brush, especially when it’s dense.'

Sometimes, hedge trimmers can be a better option than grass trimmers. If you have a cheap grass trimmer using nylon string to cut, it might not be able to cut through tougher weeds and brambles. Nathan says that Nathan DeWoody 'Hedge trimmers can handle weeds that are thick and woody, clearing overgrown areas quickly.'

However, if you've just moved into a new home and need to prepare the whole garden, you should stick to a grass trimmer. Scott Seargeant says 'Hedge trimmers can clear brushy areas but other machines - including a weed eater - are more efficient'.

3. Tackling ivy and vines

Hedge trimmers are also perfect for tackling ivy and vines. If you have unwanted climbers on your walls, a hedge trimmer is one of the best ways to tame them.

Nathan DeWoody says 'Hedge trimmers are particularly helpful for cutting back large areas of climbers like ivy or wisteria on walls and fences.'

Scott Seargeant agrees but warns that it depends on the plant. He says 'Hedge trimmers can cut back ivy and other vines. But they may get tangled in the blades or have runners too large to fit into the blade width. In these cases, use pruners or a hand saw.'

You also need to be careful when using hedge trimmers against a wall. Just as Scott warned when using a hedge trimmer on a lawn near concrete, a hedge trimmer will buck against brick walls or cut into vinyl siding.

4. Cutting and opening - but be careful

You can also use hedge trimmers to help with other tasks around the yard, but you need to be careful. For example, they can be great for cutting lengths of material.

Scott says that 'Hedge trimmers can cut twine and rope up to about ½ inch. They can cut softer plastic like weed eater line, nursery tape, or zip ties.' If you don't have pruners or scissors on hand, this can be a helpful shortcut when you're out in the yard.

Scott adds that 'They can open a bag of fertilizer or other plastic bags, if in a pinch.' However, you need to be careful here, because the plastic can gum up the blades of the trimmer if you're too vigorous.

You must take care when attempting these uses. Scott says 'Note that these alternate uses are not recommended by the manufacturer or myself.'

Hedge trimmers aren't the only tool with unusual uses. There are a host of unusual uses for a lawn mower that make these tools much more usual in the winter lawncare downtime.

There are times when even the best hedge shears aren't up to the task. If you need to cut a large hedge with dense branches, you need a powerful hedge trimmer.

These tools are gardening essentials, turning a day of hard work chopping branches by hand into a couple of hours, and offering clean, precise hedgerows and shrubs.

But finding a good hedge trimmer can be tricky. As a product tester who has tried dozens of market-leading hedge trimmers, here's everything to look out for when you're in the market for one of these power gardening tools.

1. Opt for electric or battery-powered hedge trimmers over gas

Lots of hedge trimmers are gas-powered, but you should think twice before you buy one. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is that gas engines are slowly being phased out by manufacturers and legislation. Gas engines contribute more to greenhouse gas emissions than cars, so many municipalities are considering a ban on these hedge trimmers.

For example, the small engine ban in California means you can't buy gas-powered yard equipment in-state, and while it's the only state-wide ban, legislatures across the country are considering similar bans. Gas-powered leaf blowers are banned in Washington, DC, and Burlington, Vermont, and other types of gas-powered yard equipment may come under similar bans. This means that many manufacturers are turning away from gas-powered hedge trimmers in favor of cordless or corded hedge trimmers. So, while you can still buy a gas-powered hedge trimmer, you may find it hard to find parts to fix it over the coming years.

On top of the ecological reasons, gas-powered hedge trimmers are harder to use than cordless trimmers. Gas trimmers are much noisier because they have the noise of the engine as well as the blades. They emit noxious fumes, which is not the case with electric trimmers, and they're also much heavier than cordless trimmers because their two-stroke engine weighs more than a lithium-ion battery. There's also all the hassle of filling them with gas, and they're more liable to break than cordless hedge trimmers.

However, gas trimmers still have a use case. The only reason to consider a gas trimmer is if you have a lot of hedges to trim. The best cordless hedge trimmers have a top runtime of around an hour, which may not be long enough to cover your whole garden.

2. Check the Ah on cordless hedge trimmers

If you have a large hedge to trim but want a cordless hedge trimmer, consider Ah.

Ampere hours, or amp-hours, are a measure of a battery's current over a given rate for a given period. For example, a battery rated at 4.5Ah can draw 4.5 amps over an hour.

Many cordless hedge trimmers below $150 have batteries with low ampere hour readings of 2.0 or 3.0Ah.

It's not a one-to-one comparison, but this often indicates a low battery life. Hedge trimmers can draw a lot of current, more than the battery can put out over an hour, which means a shorter runtime.

I've used cordless hedge trimmers with low Ah batteries - the Kärcher HGE 18-45 from Amazon running a 2.5Ah battery, for example - that tap out at around the twenty-minute mark. If you can, aim to buy a cordless hedge trimmer with a battery of at least 5Ah.

3. Spend between $150-$300

Aim to spend between $150-$300. Much below $150 and you're probably looking at a cheaply-made hedge trimmer that, forgive the pun, doesn't cut it. Most hedge trimmers below $150 are corded, which is fine, but there's a high likelihood that you'll cut through the cable, which can be dangerous. Most cordless hedge trimmer at around this price point have low Ah batteries that don't hold a charge.

However, don't spend more than $300. You don't get any bonus features above this price point, so you're paying a premium without any benefit.

4. Ensure you have good safety features

There are some safety features that are essential to a good hedge trimmer.

The most important is a hand-guard. This is just as it sounds, a plastic guard above the blades to protect your hands. Look for as wide a hand guard as you can for maximum safety. It's not a deal-breaker, but the best hedge trimmer guards are made of transparent or translucent plastic, so you can see all of the blades as they work and achieve a better cut. The Worx Nitro 22" from Amazon is a great example of this.

It's almost standard across the industry, but make sure your hedge trimmer has a tip protector at the end of the blades. This little plastic cap prevents the blades from chipping if you drop the trimmer, and it means that it can't cut at the tip. That's great if you're trimming a low hedge in front of a fence and don't want to damage the wood paneling. Good tip protectors will have a hanging hole at the top so you can store the trimmer in your garage or shed.

If you can, buy a hedge trimmer that comes with a plastic cover. This not only prevents the blades from rusting but keeps the hedge trimmer safe while in storage, covering the blades so there are no exposed sharp edges.

Finally, make sure the hedge has a dead man's switch running around the whole handle. Just like in a push mower, a hedge trimmer will only run when you squeeze the handle and will turn off when you let go. Just make sure that it runs around the whole handle. There will be times you have to switch dominant hands to get into nooks and crannies, and if the dead man's switch is only on the right-hand side, for example, it might limit your cutting.

5. Match the blades to the bushes

You should also tailor your hedge trimmer to your hedges. If you have a small, decorative hedge, opt for a 16-inch blade. Pro gardener and gardening writer at H&G Drew Swainston explains that 'The smaller blade gives closer control and makes it easier to cut your hedge into shapes. Smaller blades are also best for hedge plants made of thin branches like yew or boxwood.'

If you have a larger hedge or shrub made of thicker, denser branches like laurel, holly, or cypress, you need an 18-22 inch blade. This will be best for cutting through large amounts of harder wood, but you give up some control over the shape.

6. Consider a pole trimmer

If you have high hedges, consider buying a pole trimmer. This will save you for having to climb up a ladder to trim your hedge or level out the top. It also makes for more efficient trimming, because you can use wide, swinging strokes over the face of the hedge much faster than with a classic hedge trimmer.

The drawback is that this offers much less control, so you won't have a neat a cut as you would with a hedge trimmer. On top of that, these trimmers are often more expensive than the classic trimmer.

Hedge trimmers are far from the only tool for pruning. They can cut a huge amount of biomass but sometimes you need much more detailed work. I've tested dozens of the best pruners and best hedge shears for when you need to get hands-on and tackling your pruning up close.

Few pieces of yard equipment are as crucial as shears. Pruning is essential for healthy plants. Without pruning, your yard will grow wild, with diseased plants and low flowers, fruits, and vegetable yields.

If you have a lot of plant material to remove, shears are the perfect tool. They can snip swathes of unruly hedges into shape, saving you from cutting them branch-by-branch with a set of pruners.

However, there are a lot of cheap, badly made pairs of shears on sale right now. They easily rust, chip, or break, and you can't even fix them with replacement parts. I've tested lots of pairs of garden shears and found the very best. These are the only shears you should ever buy - as tested by an expert.

The best hedge shears you can buy

I've tested plenty of hedge shears in my career, but the ARS KR-1000 stand out as the very best. They're incredibly sharp, lightweight, and comfortable, and every part of them can be maintained and replaced.

Firstly, these are easily the sharpest shears I've ever tested. Straight out of the box, these cut through leaves and stems like they're not even there. They're perfect for both topiary and general pruning. Every cut is incredibly clean with no tearing or mashing at leaves or branches. It's remarkable to watch - these shears prune so precisely that it's almost as if your hedges were laser-cut. With regular sharpening, these should make short work of almost any hedge in the garden.

Secondly, these shears are very lightweight, a few ounces lighter than the other shears I've tried. It was particularly noticeable on the day I put these to the test. After long, hard hours with the other shears on the test, these felt like a revelation. Lifting them up felt almost weightless and they're well-balanced, too. Holding them up at awkward angles was easy because they're so light.

On top of being lightweight, these shears are very comfortable. The rubber handles give a soft, effective grip, and the squishy bumpers reduce the impact on your hands and wrists. Don't get me wrong, after a few hours, your palms will start to rub a little, and your joints will be a little sore, but it's much more comfortable than other shears out there.

But the best feature of these shears is that every part is replaceable. There are a lot of shears out there that can't be fixed. Once you crack a handle or chip a blade so badly it can't be sharpened, that's it - your shears are broken. If any part of the AS KR-1000 breaks, you can fix it. With a little TLC, these are the last pruners you'll ever buy.

However, these shears aren't perfect. The most obvious drawback is that they're much more expensive than other shears. That said, well-oiled, these can last for life, so while it's a larger upfront cost, over the course of your gardening life it's a lower net spend.

A bigger issue is that they aren't great on hardwood. They're stronger than they appear – I found that they can cope with much larger branches than the 0.39" maximum suggested by ARS. However, they struggled a little with thicker branches of laurel. The cut was still clean, but it took a little oomph to get through tougher branches.

Other great options

The ARS KR-1000 are my favorite hedge shears, but the price and struggles with thick hardwood means it isn't always the best option. If the ARS shears aren't for you, consider these other pairs.

How do I find good hedge shears?

First of all, work out the length of blade you need. Short blades - around 6" - are best for close-up topiary; long blades of 12" are best for cutting big hedges in one go.

Gardening expert Thom Rutter says: 'I always found the shorter handled shears ideal to use for smaller, more intricate shaping, as the design gives you more control and makes it more manageable to create the shape you want.' For a mid-length that suits both tasks, look for blades of around 8-10".

Then, work out if you want straight or wavy blades. Wavy blades are best for cutting through larger branches, but they give slightly ragged cuts and they're hard to sharpen. Straight blades give the cleanest cut and are easy to sharpen, but can't always get through hardwood.

Keep an eye out for rubber blade bumpers. These stop the handles from knocking together harshly, reducing the strain on your hands. If possible, avoid bare wood handles, because these can rub uncomfortably on your hands.

Finally, whatever you do, try to buy shears with bright handles, either red or yellow. This color stands out against dark green shrubs and lawns, so if you drop your shears you'll always be able to find them.

Pruning is a delicate task, especially when it comes to trees, hedges, and shrubs. Learning when to prune shrubs and trees can make a huge difference to your plants.

Sharp and well-maintained hedge trimmers are essential for quality cutting. When you use a hedge trimmer the blades lose their sharp edge. Over time the blades will dull and blunt hedge trimmer blades won’t perform as well, while hedges suffer as the cutter rips and shreds at branches rather than making clean cuts.

If you know how to sharpen hedge trimmer blades, you can keep them in top condition. Cutting hedging plants with sharp-edged blades will mean easier cutting, neater hedges, and healthier plants.

As someone who has done large-scale, annual hedge cutting as a professional gardener in historic gardens in the UK, I understand the importance of sharp blades. Along with cleaning a hedge cutter at the end of any trimming session, sharpening the blades keeps the cutting tool performing efficiently and extends the lifespan of the trimmer.

How to sharpen hedge trimmer blades at home

Our guide to how to sharpen hedge trimmer blades looks in-depth at when to sharpen and outlines the key steps that need to be followed to keep any hedge trimmer blades in the best condition.

When to sharpen hedge trimmers

Hedge trimmers may not be used as much as other garden tools. The likes of lawn mowers or pruning shears may see more action each year, but when you head out to cut a fast-growing hedge once or twice a year you need the hedge trimmer to be sharp to work at its best.

The proof you need to sharpen hedge trimmer blades will show when you use the machine. For example, Paul Hicks, marketing and product manager for STIHL GB, says: ‘If you notice that the blades are getting jammed easily, frayed edges on the material you are cutting, or the machine is struggling, the blades may need sharpening.’

Spotting any of these signs means it is time to sharpen the hedge trimmer blades, rather than continue regardless and attempt to cut an overgrown hedge. The consequences will be dire and arborist Ben McInerney warns: ‘I once neglected to sharpen my trimmer and ended up with a hedge that looked like it had been chewed rather than cut – a mistake I never repeated.’

Not only does a well-maintained hedge trimmer make life easier when cutting, but looking after the machinery is also crucial for the ongoing health of the plants.

How to sharpen hedge trimmers in 7 easy steps

You can get professionals to service your hedge trimmers, including sharpening the blades. However, if you want to sharpen hedge trimmers at home it can be done safely and quickly in a few simple steps.

1. Make it safe

Safety first - before preparing the machine to sharpen the blades, unplug the hedge trimmer if it is an electric cutter or remove the battery if it is battery-powered. This avoids any nasty surprises and keeps you safe. It is essential to put on heavy-duty safety gloves and eye protection, such as these safety glasses available at Amazon.

2. Clean the blade

Give the blade a good clean to remove debris, dirt, and sap that may have accumulated on the machine over years of use. Wipe the blade down using soapy water and a soft brush or damp cloth. Once the trimmer blade is clean and dry, it is ready for sharpening.

3. Align the blades

Hedge trimmers have one blade on top of another and need the two to align and overlap. This allows easy access to the blade and makes sharpening easier. The top blade can be pushed with a plastic screwdriver handle, a piece of wood, or other hard object, to sit on top the other.

4. Secure the hedge trimmer

Secure the hedge trimmer to a sturdy surface, such as a work table or bench. Use a C-clamp, available at Amazon, or a vice to secure the trimmer’s body to the surface.

Either set the trimmer up with the entire blade sticking out from the table or have half the blade over the edge - secured at the edge with a clamp - and move the trimmer along when the first half of the blade has been sharpened. This is more beneficial with hedge trimmers with longer blades as they can flex during sharpening.

5. Sharpen the blade with a file

‘Sharpening involves using a flat file to file downwards on the cutting blade,’ says Paul Hicks from STIHL. It is important to be consistent, by maintaining the original angle of the blade - usually around 45 degrees but refer to the tool’s manual for a precise figure - and only working in one direction. Two or three passes on each blade are sufficient, beware not to over-sharpen the blades - which can weaken it.

David Miller, CEO of Austin Tree Services, advises not rushing as ‘patience is your best friend’ when sharpening hedge trimmers. ‘It’s not a race, and rushing through could result in uneven blades or, worse, a damaged hedge trimmer,’ he warns. ‘Focus on maintaining the factory-set angle of the blades to keep things sharp and precise.’

Carefully work your way through the individual cutting teeth and use the same number of passes on each.

6. Remove the burrs

Turn over the hedge cutters and move the teeth so they no longer overlap. This will show any burrs that have developed as a result of the sharpening. Remove these burrs with a whetstone, wiping across the blade in the direction of the edge.

7. Spray the blades

The final task is to spray the blades. David Miller recommends giving the blades a spray with light machine oil or WD-40, available at Walmart, and wiping them down with a dry cloth. ‘This not only protects them from rust but also reduces friction during use, keeping your blades in top condition for longer,’ he says.

FAQs

How often should you sharpen hedge trimmer blades?

Sharpening hedge trimmer blades after around every 50 hours of usage is recommended. Planning a regular sharpening schedule should hopefully keep the blades in good condition and avoid them showing lots of the tell-tale signs of wear and tear that makes cutting inefficient and can harm the health of plants.

How do you clean hedge trimmer blades after use?

After using the hedge trimmer, always brush off any remaining bits of leaves, branches, and other debris and clean the blades down with soapy water. Then spray the blade with a lubricant spray, such as WD-40, to help to protect the blades from erosion and, finally, wipe the blades and dry them off before storing away the machine. Doing this routine every time you finish hedge cutting can extend the life of a hedge trimmer.

Along with hedge trimmers, knowing how to sharpen lawn mower blades can help keep any machine cutting efficiently. Lawn mowers need sharpening more often than hedge trimmers, after around 25 hours of usage, and the blades can be sharpened with a 10-inch file held at a 45-degree angle. Sharp lawn mowers blades means a neater lawn and a longer lifespan for the machine.

What I love about garden design is the ability we have to combine a practical aim with sheer beauty. A rose hedge is a perfect example of this. The best roses for hedging combine the prospect of privacy or a border with glorious, scented flowers, glossy leaves, and jewel-toned hips in the fall and winter.

As an added bonus, many varieties have wicked thorns meaning they make an excellent protective boundary for your backyard, while dwarf varieties can be used internally to divide your yard into different zones or outdoor rooms.

A few years ago we travelled to Spain, and every day we walked past a beautiful garden with a hedge of roses that filled the air with the sweetest rose perfume - it was an absolute feast for the senses. If you're thinking about landscaping with hedges, I've selected 10 of the best rose varieties that I know will thrive as hedge plants, providing beautiful borders as well as blooms.

How to choose the best hedge roses

Hedge roses usually come from varieties that are tough, more able to shrug off rose diseases and tolerant of harsh conditions, meaning they can be grown to USDA hardiness zone 2.

They can be part of your rose garden ideas, or a completely different planting scheme. These roses need relatively little care once established, but they will require some pruning to remove dead wood and thin, tangled stems.

Because of their density and thorns, hedge roses are also one of the best deer-resistant plants, creating a barrier that will deter even the most determined hind and stag.

Roses grow in a range of sizes, from dwarf shrub roses to sprawling rambling roses and climbing roses, meaning there are appropriate hedge roses whatever size your yard.

1. Rosa ‘Gertrude Jeykll’

This is my number one personal choice because we have one growing in our front yard and it is one of the best climbing roses I’ve ever grown.

‘Gertrude Jekyll’ produces ruffled pink flowers with a strong, old fashioned rose scent and, best of all, if deadheaded and feed through the growing season it may bloom three times between early summer and mid-fall.

It will grow well in all soils and reaches a height of 4ft, and is suitable for zone 5, zone 6, zone 7, zone 8, zone 9 and zone 10.

Rose 'Gertrude Jekyll' is available to buy from Amazon.

2. Rosa ‘Lady of Shalott’

Named for the tragic heroine of Sir Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem, this classic English rose has large orange blooms with over 60 petals apiece, producing a warm scent of cloves and apples that will bring the bees flocking.

It can reach a height and spread of 4ft and is happy in most soils, liking full sun and partial shade.

Despite her stunning looks, Rosa ‘Lady of Shalott’ is a relatively easy-going variety that can tolerate less-than-perfect soil and is suitable for hardiness zones 5-8.

Gallica rose varieties

Gallica roses are thought to be one of the oldest groups of roses and were originally grown by the Ancient Greeks and Romans. The Dutch started breeding new varieties in the 17th century and now we have a good selection for low-growing shrubs in shades of crimson, purple and mauve.

Perfect for the front of a rose hedge owing to its striking blooms, varieties include ‘Empress Josephine’, ‘Tuscany’, ‘Rosa Mundi’ and Rosa gallica ‘Oficinalis’.

These roses can be grown in hardiness zone 4 as well as zones 5-9.

4. Rosa ‘The Lark Ascending’

This is a disease-resistant rose variety with large cup-shaped blooms in an apricot shade. It has a light fragrance and grows to 5ft height and spread.

It is one of the few roses that will grow happily in a shaded spot and is also ideal for wildlife gardens, as it attracts pollinators and produces bright hips in the fall.

Suitable for growth in hardiness zone 5.

5. Rosa ‘Lady Banks’.

Rosa 'Lady Banks' is an evergreen rose with pale yellow flowers, though it originally produced white blooms.

Originally brought to the UK from China in 1807, its thornless stems can reach a length of 20ft, making it perfect for hedging, though it does like a sunny spot.

‘Lady Banks’ is low maintenance, needs little in the way of fertilizing or pruning, and as it is a relatively drought-tolerant rose it can survive reduced watering.

The largest specimen of this variety in the world is found in Arizona. It was planted in 1855 and now covers a colossal 8,000 sq ft! ‘Lady Banks’ will thrive in zones 6-8.

You can find'Lady Banks' rose plants at Walmart.

6. Polyantha rose varieties

Polyantha roses are compact shrubs that originate from an ancient climbing rose called R. multiflora 'Polyantha', which is one of the ancestors of modern-day floribunda roses.

It produces clusters of flowers at the top of each stem and is an incredibly sturdy variety, generally disease resistant and tolerant if tough conditions.

Good varieties include ‘Cecile Brunner’, which produces pink blooms. It is known as an ‘earth kind’ rose, as it needs little help from synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Another popular variety is the strongly scented ‘Perle d’or’, which has apricot-pink blooms, can handle heat and drought, and doesn’t need much in the way of feeding or pest control. Both are suitable for zone 5.

'Cecile Brunner' plants can be bought from Amazon.

7. Alba rose varieties

Alba roses date from the middle ages and their flowers are either white, pink or blush set off by elegant grey-green foliage. Popular varieties include ‘Queen of Denmark’, ‘Alba Maxima’ and ‘Amelia’.

This is an extremely hardy strain of roses, almost completely disease-free and able to thrive in the toughest conditions with little care. They can cope with light shade better than other rose varieties.

Suitable for zone 5, though some varieties can handle cold down to zone 3.

8. Rosa ‘Molineux’

Rosa 'Molineux' is a traditional English shrub rose that is suitable for all areas of the backyard, including containers, as well as being ideal as part of a rose hedge.

Rich yellow flowers are the calling card of this repeat-flowering beauty that can be grown in hardiness zone 5 and warmer.

'Molineux' can reach a height and spread of 3ft and has a light-to-medium tea musk scent. It is happy in all soil types and can handle partial shade.

9. China rose varieties

China roses, or Rosa Chinensis, are native to south west China. They grow into slender bushes with almost thornless stems bearing glossy foliage that is smaller than that of other rose varieties, and single or double flowers that appear reliably throughout the summer and fall.

The flowers of Rosa chinensis have a light, pleasant scent and the plants don’t need much pruning but they do like a sunny spot.

'Semperflorens', ‘Sophie’s Perpetual’ and ‘Old Blush’ are popular varieties, and they are suitable for growing in hardiness zones 6-9.

10. Species roses

If you are looking for horticultural heritage and history, then choose species roses for your hedge.

These are the forebears of all the roses we see on sale and growing today, and they are are a wide category of plants that produce beautifully simple, scented, open flowers in a variety of colors. Most of the blooms are single, and their scent attracts bees. In the fall they will decorate your hedge with a wealth of colorful hips to brighten the darker days.

Species roses range from rambling and climbing roses to shorter, denser shrub varieties and they are usually thorny, making them excellent for deterring intruders and deer. They are robust and need little pruning, though do remember that they flower on growth produced the previous year.

Popular varieties include the yellow ‘Canary bird’, the striking fire-hued Rosa foetida ‘Bicolor’, and the blood-red Rosa moyesii.

They grow best in zones 5-8.

How to care for a rose hedge

The best time to plant a rose hedge is the fall, when the soil is warm from the summer and dampened by seasonal rain, and the spring when soil is starting to warm up. Plant your roses closely together to create a dense barrier, no more than 18in apart if possible.

Hedge roses are usually robust and healthy and can withstand attacks by pests or disease. They develop deep root systems that lets them forage for food and moisture, though they will appreciate a feed with a general fertilizer in the spring.

Prune roses when plants are dormant in the fall and winter, removing old, dead and diseased growth and allowing good airflow around the plants to combat fungal diseases and allow maximum sunlight to encourage excellent blooming.

When you water, make sure the moisture hits the ground rather than the foliage and flowers to reduce the risk of fungal problems developing.

FAQs

Are ground cover roses worth considering for hedges?

Ground cover roses are fast-growing plants that hug the ground. They are ideal for drought-prone areas as their spreading habitat shades the soil and helps retain moisture, however, they are low growing and would not provide height or privacy as a traditional hedge would.

There are lots of varieties online including ‘Electric Blanket’, which has coral flowers, the pure white ‘Wedding Dress’ and ‘Beautiful Carpet’, which is a rich pink.

Take care when buying and read the labels carefully as some are more shrubby than ground covering and can compete with other plants.

Should I worry about pests on hedge roses?

Although many varieties if roses suitable for hedging are robust and disease-resistant, they will collect pests such as aphids. Don't worry though, as roses hedges also attract other insects and garden birds and many of these will prey on pests and help keep numbers in check. Rose hedges also offer food in the shape of hips in the fall, as well as secure places to roost and nest, so your rose hedge will benefit everyone.

A hedge of roses is guaranteed to bring beauty, scent and protection to your yard. It will also be a haven for garden birds and pollinators, and offer interest from late spring right through the fall and into winter if you leave its hips to develop. If wildlife gardening is high on your agenda, you might also be keen to read our picks of the best hedges for wildlife.

Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other insects and creatures, are vitally important to our plots. Sadly, you will often read about them in the news for all the wrong reasons.

Their numbers are plummeting as climate change and habitat loss destroys their habitat, and this will have a disastrous knock-on effect on us all.

One way in which we can help is by adding plants for pollinators, and fortunately, many hedging options are known to be a hit with these tiny beasties. So, if you are seeing wildlife garden ideas this year, consider planting a hedge that will be a hit with passing insects and birds.

What are pollinators?

Pollinators are small creatures, usually insects or birds, that transfer pollen from plant to plant to help them reproduce. They visit the plant to feed on its nectar and in doing so, accidentally collect pollen which they take to the next plant they feed on.

Bees are the best pollinators, followed by butterflies and moths, wasps, hoverflies, flies and even beetles that collect and transfer pollen that has fallen to the ground. Larger pollinators include hummingbirds and bats.

Hummingbirds are very important North American pollinators and bats help pollinate more than 500 plant species across the globe. They feed on insects close to the plants and also feed on nectar. Bats also help pollinate agave plants - so without them, we wouldn’t have any tequila to drink!

10 best hedge plants for pollinators

When planning a hedge for pollinators, which will also be of benefit to wider species of wildlife too, consider the soil type in your yard and whether it is acid or alkaline. This is easy to discover using a soil test, available from Amazon.

Aim to create as long a flowering period as possible and include evergreen trees and shrubs in the mix to offer year-round shelter and protection.

Here is our list of 10 of the best trees and shrubs to choose for a hedge for pollinators. You could use only one variety, or create a mixed hedge that offers something through every season of the year.

1. Buddleja

There is a reason why the common name of Buddleja davidii is ‘butterfly bush’. Their nectar-rich racemes of little flowers act as magnets to all forms of pollinators in the summer, but the butterfly is the most prevalent.

It is also popular with bees, hoverflies and ordinary flies that all feed on its nectar and spread its pollen. This shrub likes a sunny site with well-drained soil and can grow to 8ft tall. Buddleja flowers in shades of mauve and purple, as well as white. The variety Buddeja globosa (also known as the orange ball tree) has round, deep yellow flowers.

Prune in spring by 'stooling’, or cutting branches down to within a few inches of the ground.

Buddleja davidii is hardy to zone 5, dies back in zone 6 and is an evergreen from zone 8 heading south. Buddleja globosa is suitable for zones 5-6 and up.

Buddleja bushes can be bought from Walmart.

2. Hawthorn

Pollinators love the white and pink flowers of hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna, while garden birds will feast on its red berries in the fall. Hawthorn is a hardy, fast-growing shrub that is low-maintenance. As well as providing nectar for pollinators, many varieties have spiny branches that make it ideal as part of a security hedge.

Hawthorn likes full sun and soil with a slightly acidic pH. Hawthorn doesn't need a lot of pruning but can become tangled and untamed if left to their own devices.

They also self-seed very easily so look for unwanted seedlings and either get rid of them or share them with a neighbor. Hawthorn is hardy from zone 3 to zone 9.

Hawthorn plants are available from Walmart.

3. Abelia grandiflora

Abelia grandiflora is an easy-care shrub that will bring butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. It can grow up to 10ft tall and provides a wealth of tubular blooms in shades of pink and yellow and also white that appear from spring right through to the fall. The leaves are also attractively colored.

A popular variety is ‘Rose Creek’ which bears flowers that change from pink to white, and green foliage that turns bronze in the fall, all held on trunks with striking deep red bark.

Abelia is one of the more pest and disease-resistant shrubs and needs little watering once it gets established.

Other varieties include ‘Glossy Abelia’ with its fragrant white flowers, ‘Sunshine Daydream’ which has attractive multi-colored foliage, and ‘Edward Goucher’ which has lilac blooms and bronze-tinged leaves.

Suitable for hardiness zones 4-9 as well as zone 10 and zone 11.

4. Privet

Privet, Ligustrum vulgare, is a fast-growing evergreen, making it an excellent species to include as part of your hedge-planting ideas. While it will quickly add privacy to your yard, its small white flowers will also draw in pollinating insects, especially the bees.

It is a hardy shrub and likes full sun or partial light shade. Water well after planting, and give mature trees a good soak occasionally during prolonged dry spells, though the species is remarkably drought tolerant.

Golden Privet is a charming example, with golden leaf margins. Most varieties of privet can tolerate conditions down to hardiness zone 3, making this a remarkably resilient choice.

Privet bushes are available to buy from Walmart.

5. Rambling rose

All hedges need a pretty rose scrambling through them, and rambling roses are relatively low-maintenance, with only one pruning requirement needed each year after they have finished blooming.

Their flowers will bring the pollinators flocking, and if left untrimmed their faded flowers will turn into red or orange hips to brighten the winter days.

Rambling roses are suitable for zones 5-9 and are happy in most soils but will do best in a light spot where they get up to six hours of sunshine a day. Water when first planted to help them get established, and mulch with well-rotted compost or manure in winter to feed and protect the roots.

Varieties include ‘Phyllis Bide’, which has yellow flowers tinged with delicate pink, the repeat-flowering ‘Super Excelsa’ which has dramatic, semi-double crimson blooms. In addition, ‘The Albrighton Rambler’ is relatively disease-resistant and has soft pink flowers.

You can buy rambling rose plants from Walmart.

6. Buttonbush

The buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis, is a fast-growing shrub that combines beauty with functionality and toughness. It is also a fabulous plant for drawing pollinators to your yard, in particular bees, butterflies, moths and hummingbirds.

Its unusual white, pincushion flowers appear in late summer and the leaves are a food plant for moth and butterfly larvae. It even gives interest in the fall and winter, thanks to its red berries - though they are popular with birds so may vanish before you have time to appreciate them!

Buttonbush grows to 12ft tall and likes full sun, though it can cope with light shade. It dislikes dry conditions so does best in damp soil that is neutral to acidic. It is hardy in zones 5 to 11.

7. Reblooming lilac

Ever-popular lilacs, Syringa vulgaris, generally have far too short a blooming season, but new on the block is a reblooming variety known (perhaps a little unfortunately!) as the ‘Bloomerang’ (Syringa x 'Penda').

Reaching around 5ft tall, it grows shorter than the traditional lilac, so would be an attractive addition to the front of your hedge for pollinators.

Its flowers are lilac or purple, appearing in late spring and again in the fall, and it blooms best in a sunny spot. It can tolerate light shade but won't flower as profusely.

We usually prune lilac straight after flowering, but don't touch your Bloomerang any time between the fall and spring as this will remove the wood that produces the blooms. Lilacs need a period of cold to flower well, so will grow happily between zones 3-7.

Reblooming lilac plants are available to buy from Walmart.

8. Hibiscus

The large, exotic flowers of hibiscus, Hibiscus spp., make it one of the best flowering shrubs for the backyard. They are a draw for a wide range of pollinators, from butterflies to hummingbirds and even dragonflies.

Hardy hibiscus is a North American native and its large flowers range in color from white to pink, red and magenta. Each flower only lasts a couple of days but will swiftly be replaced by a new bud, so they are delightful shrubs.

Hibiscus grows to 7ft tall and up to 4ft wide, so are ideal for the middle of a hedge. They prefer full sun but in hotter regions will need some protection from the full force of midday heat.

Hardy hibiscus are suitable for hardiness zones 4-9, though may need wrapping in protective fleece on colder nights in more northerly states. Tropical varieties are suitable for zones 9-11. Some hibiscus flowers can be eaten, so if you are interested in edible hedge plants, this might be one to try. However, always check on the species and whether it is safe to consume.

A wide selection of hibiscus plants are available from Walmart.

9. Honeysuckle

Although usually grown up a trellis or pergola, honeysuckles (varieties of Lonicera) also thrive well scrambling through a hedge and their deliciously scented flowers are wonderful for all sorts of pollinators.

There are several varieties of honeysuckle, and some will flower in winter. Many varieties are deciduous but some are evergreen. They are shade-tolerant, which makes them ideal for growing among the other plants in your pollinator-friendly hedge.

Do be wary of the more invasive varieties, which include Morrow's honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii), Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii), Bell’s honeysuckle (Lonicera x bella) and Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica).

Luckily many varieties are non-invasive, including the US native trumpet honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, which are native to the East Coast and hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9.

Honeysuckle plants are available to buy from Walmart.

10. Crab apple

There are more than 30 varieties of crab apple (Malus sylvestris), and they are one of the best trees for pollinators and the backyard as a whole. Most varieties will grow well in zone 4 to 8.

They can grow up to 20ft tall and in late spring create a froth of white and pink blossom that will bring the pollinators flocking. This is extremely useful if you are growing other apple trees in your yard, as crab apples will help to pollinate them all!

In the fall, crab apples develop large crops of small, tart fruits that we can use for jams and jellies, but which also provide vital late sugar for pollinators to feed upon.

Crab apples like a sunny spot and need little supplementary watering once established. We have some in our wildlife-friendly hedge at home and they have meshed beautifully with the other trees and shrubs.

Varieties include ‘Prairifire’, which has dark pink flowers and fruit that lasts well into the winter, or the shorter ‘Aberina’ which grows to 10ft and has sweet white blossom.

FAQs

 When should I plant my wildlife hedge? 

The best time to plant a hedge is in spring, when the soil is warming up, or in the fall when the soil is still warm after summer.

Both seasons can expect to see some rainfall, which will help your plants get established. These are also the seasons where bare root trees and shrubs are available. Bought with the roots loose, rather than in containers, they are an economical way of creating a hedge and even though the plants look small, they will grow quickly once they get going.

What plants can I use as ground cover beneath my hedge?

Ground cover is important under hedges because the plants retain moisture in the soil and also provide food for pollinators.

There is a wide variety of attractive, ground cover plants for shade, including pulmonaria, cyclamen and hellebores, which can be grown alongside foliage plants such as ferns.

A hedge for pollinators will also benefit the local ecosystem as a whole. It will not only look attractive all year round and increase your privacy but will improve pollination so you get better flowers and bigger crops.

Intruder proof hedges are a fantastic way to add an extra layer of home security. Laden with thorny stems and dense foliage, they act as an effective deterrent to unwanted visitors, but there is more to these plants than just their spiky personas.

Many of these flowering hedge plants provide valuable shelter and nesting sites for birds and wildlife, maturing into important mini ecosystems and forming a network of wildlife corridors in urban neighbourhoods.

There’s also the seasonal spectacle of the sheer concentration of blooms and vivid fruits condensed into hedge form. A row of hawthorn plants in full bloom or berry-lade firethorn are both spectacular garden features. Easily clipped to keep them in check, they are also among the best privacy hedges you can grow.

10 of the best intruder proof hedge plants

Whatever your home style, location or climate, there are dense and thorny hedging plants to suit. From hardy natives to more flamboyant varieties, these are some of the best plants with thorns and spines, and some of the best ways to plant for home security.

1. Firethorn

Pyracantha is a stunning choice for a creating a prickly barrier around your home. ‘This evergreen shrub offers a combination of thorny protection and vibrant berries, adding aesthetic appeal,’ says landscape designer Jonathan Ames.

Native to south east Europe and south-west Asia it bears a mass of cream colored blooms in summer followed by clusters of dense orange, red berries in fall. These fruits are popular with birds and small mammals making them one of the best hedges for wildlife.

Suited to growing in USDA hardiness zones 6-9, there are many standout varieties to choose. These include strong -growing pyracantha ‘Orange Glow’ and Pyracantha rogersiana 'Flava' with its arching stems and vivid yellow berries. Fast growing Pyracantha ‘Mohave’ is available at Walmart.

Timing is key when it comes to planting pyracantha, Jonathan explains, ‘The best time to plant these hedges is in early spring or late fall in a sunny to partially shaded location with well-draining soil.’

2. Shrub rose

Fancy a floriferous, fragrant but intruder proof hedge surrounding your yard? Then good old fashioned roses are hard to beat. One of the best hedging plants around, space them around 18 inches (45cm) apart and their thorn-laden stems will gradually form a dense hedge reaching heights up to 6ft (1.82m) if you let them.

David Austin's English roses are well suited to growing as hedges, along with more compact Gallicas, Albas and modern shrub roses - such as Olivia Rose Austin and Roald Dahl.

Flowering repeatedly through the summer months, they have been bred for color, perfume and disease resistance. Learn when to prune and fertilize roses and you can enjoy an abundant floral boundary around your home. Walmart stock a selection of David Austin shrub roses.

3. Blackthorn

For a barbed hedge that is slightly on the wild-side, Blackthorn or prunus spinosa is an excellent choice. A small, deciduous tree it produces tiny white flowers in early spring followed by dark green, oval leaves. A rich nectar source, its blooms are loved by bees and other pollinators, while the young foliage provides food for the caterpillars of many species of moth.

One of the best fast growing hedges, reaching up to 13ft (4m) tall, these sturdy plants are also long-lived taking up to fifty years to mature. The foliage turns a showy orange in fall before dropping, exposing the dense mass of sturdy branches and their needle-like thorns.

Tolerant of a wide range of soil types and conditions, this plant will thrive in USDA zones 4-8.

4. Barberry

There are over 400 species of Berberis or barberry to choose from. Shade and drought tolerant, these deciduous or evergreen shrubs pair mainly red or purple foliage with super sharp spikes along their branches.

Growing up to 10 ft (3m) tall, these plants make a formidable but attractive hedge, that’s also popular with bird and wildlife, thanks to the yellow nectar rich blooms in spring and juicy berries early fall.

Berberis thunbergia, the Japanese barberry has brilliant red deciduous foliage. Growing to around (1m) tall, new green growth appears in spring and turns a vivid scarlet August to October.

For a fast growing but shorter hedge, consider Berberis thunbergia ‘Crimson Pygmy’ or 'Crimson Beauty' Barberry - available at Nature Hills. With deep burgundy leaves from summer to fall, it’s a striking shrub that quickly knits together to form a dense hedge. The dark stems are covered with sharp spines and only reach a height of 2 ft (60cm), so perfect for pairing with a taller fence, thorny climber or prickle laden window box.

5. White stemmed bramble

Looking for a thorny hedge with a difference, then Rubrus cockburnianus or the white stemmed bramble is a dramatic choice. Ok, it does need a fair amount of space, but keep it in check and this plant will reward by producing long arcing stems blushed with a ghostly white bloom.

A striking sight in a winter garden, deciduous varieties drop their lime green leaves to reveal a mass of tangled stems covered in sharp bristles or thorns.

Best grown in a sunny or part shady spot, this plant will reach 5 x 5ft (1.5 x 1.5m), making it most suitable for rural or spacious plots.

6. Hawthorn

‘A dense, fast-growing hedge with thorny branches, hawthorn provides an excellent barrier,’ says Jonathan Ames. Native to north America, Europe and Asia, they thrive in USDA zones 4-8, on a range of different soil types and can happily cope with exposed conditions and urban pollution.

A magnet for insects, these tough, thorny shrubs are covered with small, white or pink tinged open blooms in early spring set against intricately cut dark green foliage. Red or orange berries appear in fall and remain on the branches well into winter. Often found in ancient mixed species hedgerows, hawthorn hedges offer valuable shelter, food and nesting sites for birds and wildlife.

Expect hawthorn to reach heights of 10ft (3m) if left untrimmed but they can be pruned annually to keep them in check.

7. English holly

A festive favorite, common holly or Ilex aquifolium is a great choice for training into a dense, imposing hedge that will deter intruders. Although it can take time for young plants to mature, this shrub will knit together to create an impenetrable boundary.

‘Holly has prickly foliage that is irritating to the skin, which will help prevent unwelcome guests from getting too close to your home,’ says New York-based landscape designer Amber Freda. ‘Partial to full sun, hollies do best in slightly acidic soil.’ For a spectacular show of berries try Blue Princess Holly available at Nature Hills.

Reaching 13-26ft (4-8m) wide and over 39ft (12m) tall these hardy plants can be grown as fantastic evergreen trees, but by clipping them into neat lines you can create crisp, formal boundaries.

Amber suggests, ‘An electric hedging shear is a great tool to help shape the plants into a neat looking hedge and effective privacy barrier for your home.’

8. Flowering quince

Hardy down to temperatures of -25 F (-3.8C), Chaenomeles speciosa is a spectacular sight in full bloom. Trained against a wall or grown as a shrub or hedge, it’s a robust plant with a mass of tangled spiny branches.

The cup-shaped flowers, in shades of white, orange, red or pink, appear in early spring and look particularly stunning set against the bare, smooth grey branches. Attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators, these blooms are then followed by glossy green deciduous leaves.

Besides keeping intruders at bay, these sun loving shrubs are one of a few deer resistant plants. They are, frustratingly, rather irresistible to rabbits, so not ideal for edging crops or a veg patch.

9. Juniper

Juniper makes a stunning hedge, that looks crisp and formal when closely clipped. Tactile with aromatic, silvery green foliage, these coniferous plants thrive in USDA zones 2-10. There are many different types of juniper, when it comes to hedging it's important to avoid the ground cover varieties.

‘Junipers make effective boundary hedges,’ says landscape designer Amber Freda. ‘They have prickly foliage that is irritating to the skin, which will help prevent unwelcome guests from getting too close to your home.’

Female juniper plants produce tiny, insignificant flowers between the leaves from June onwards. These are then followed by the distinctive blue-black berry-like fruit. Decorative and a great food source for both birds and mammals, they also have medicinal uses and can be used to flavor red meats, game and gin.

Tough and attractive, these conifers are easy-going once established. ‘Junipers are somewhat drought-tolerant and can tolerate anything from mild acidity to alkaline soil,’ continues Amber.

‘Depending on the size of the plants and how close you plant them, it may take some time for the plants to form a really dense hedge. An electric hedging shear is a great tool to help shape the plants into a neat looking hedge and effective privacy barrier for your home.’

10. Sea Buckthorn

Instantly recognised for its sharp spines and vivid orange berries in fall, Sea Buckthorn or Hippophae rhamnoides is an ornamental, deciduous shrub that’s found in coastal areas. Covered in fine silver-green leaves, it will happily thrive in exposed, salt-laden climates and poor soil conditions.

Tolerant of cold temperatures, this popular hedging plant will grow in USDA zones 3-8 and reach a height and spread of 8-12ft (2.4- 3.6m). Though all plants produce tiny flowers and catkins in spring, only female plants will bear fruit in fall.

These brilliant orange fruits look spectacular appearing in clusters on the branches where they remain for weeks, making them one of the best shrubs with winter berries. Packed with vitamins A,C and E they are widely used to flavor jams, tarts and jellies and can be juiced.

FAQs

How often should you water a newly planted hedge?

Any newly planted hedge will need its roots watering once or twice a week depending on the weather, the soil and the chosen species. Once the roots have had a chance to establish watering should only be necessary in extremely dry conditions. Mulching underneath the hedge will help to conserve water and prevent roots from drying out.

Planting an intruder proof hedge can upgrade your home's curb appeal and security system, as well as raising your yard's biodiversity. Why not investigate other ways you can plant for home security and handy tips to prevent porch pirates.

A hedge is a natural way of marking a boundary. It has been used for thousands of years to split land into fields for growing crops. In a residential setting, closely planted shrubs and bushes are most commonly used to form a boundary to your yard that can provide privacy and change with the seasons, especially if they are flowering hedges.

If you choose to go with a living, growing divide rather than an inanimate fence panel, you need to be ready for the upkeep. Unkempt hedges can be a blight on good neighborly relations. What to you might be a lush and vibrant barrier to noise, inquisitive eyes or intruders, could be a messy sunblocker to the people living next door.

But what is the etiquette of proper hedge maintenance? We spoke to the experts to find out. 

Is your overgrown hedge a problem?

There are a lot of questions around hedge maintenance in relation to your local area. How often should you cut it, and who is responsible if your hedge is overhanging your neighbor’s yard, for instance. We have spoken to experts to discover the essential considerations when it comes to keeping your hedges in check. 

Consider the aesthetic of your local area

A quick walk round the neighborhood will tell you whether your hedge is sympathetic to the local aesthetic. If yours sticks out like a sore green thumb because of its height or untidiness, or because it impedes progress along the sidewalk, you may find yourself being side-eyed as a neglectful gardener.

‘Tall hedges are much more acceptable if they're well maintained,’ says Rafi Friedman, an expert in outdoor design. ‘You should prune them at least once a year in order to keep them from getting out of proportion, no matter how tall you want them to grow.

‘Let your neighbors be your guide here. If your hedge isn't much taller than a neighbor's fence, there's probably nothing wrong with it. Also, make sure you're following your HOA's regulations around hedge height.’

Know your local laws around hedge heights

One thing you should take into account is that the upkeep of your hedge might be as much a matter of law as it is of good manners.

‘In the United States, local ordinances often regulate hedge height and maintenance,’ says Tommy Mello, a leader in the home service industry. ‘These regulations can vary significantly from one municipality to another. For instance, some cities might restrict hedge height to six feet to ensure that neighbors’ views and sunlight are not obstructed. 

‘It’s crucial for homeowners to check their local laws to ensure compliance. HOAs can impose their own rules, which might be stricter than municipal regulations.’

For maintaining hedges of all sizes, an adaptable trimmer like this EGO power multihead combo kit from Lowe's is an essential purchase.

Understand HOA rules and regulations

‘Homeowners’ Associations (HOAs) often have specific guidelines regarding hedge maintenance to ensure uniformity and aesthetic appeal in the community,’ continues Tommy. ‘These can include regular trimming schedules, specific height limits, and requirements to keep hedges neatly trimmed. 

‘HOAs might also impose fines or penalties for non-compliance, making it essential for homeowners to familiarize themselves with and adhere to these rules.’

But as well as being the guardians of neighborhood orderliness, the HOA can provide mechanisms to find equitable resolutions to disputes over hedge maintenance

‘This can include mediation services or a formal complaint process, which helps address grievances in a structured manner,' Tommy adds.

Choose the right plants for your hedge

The bushiness of your hedge will depend on the plant, as some grow more quickly than others.

‘Boxwood, Pittosporum tenuifolium, bay laurel, English laurel, Carolina Cherry Laurel, Texas privet, camellia and plum pine are all commonly used,’ says Aileen Carroll, a garden consultant from California. ‘Boxwoods don’t have to be hedged nearly as often as pittosporums because they have a slower growth rate. However, they often need more maintenance because they are more susceptible to pest and disease pressures.

'It’s best to consult with a garden professional local to your area over the right choice of plant,' continues Aileen. 'While a hedge of pineapple guava might be fantastic in Napa Valley, it wouldn’t be a suitable choice if you’re not living with a Mediterranean climate. You can also take a walk through your neighborhood and see what’s working well for other people.’

These versatile laurel varieties from Fast Growing Trees all make excellent hedges that you can sculpt into neatness. But always ask how easy they are to care for before you buy.

Take care of the cuttings

If you are establishing a new hedge along the border of your yard, it is worth considering how it will impact the people next door and your relationship with them. If you get on well you can easily come to an agreement on who cuts it and how often. If you don't and it becomes overgrown this may lead to tension.

‘If you are planting a hedge on your property line be prepared to have a conversation with your neighbor,’ says Aileen. ‘Almost inevitably some branches will hang over the fence and need to be dealt with. 

'I have clients whose gardening crews have permission to go onto the neighbor’s property to keep a hedge tidy on both sides. With other clients, either the neighbors don’t mind an unruly hedge popping up over their fence or happily take responsibility for its maintenance.

‘If you have a contentious relationship with your neighbor, you should choose your hedging material wisely.’

If you are starting your hedge from scratch and need to know what to plant and when, you can discover our helpful guide on how to plant a hedge. It is packed with practical advice on how to create a lush and colorful garden divider.

Hedge planting is vital in any backyard. Gardeners can add structure and create privacy by planting beautiful green boundaries in any outside space. In addition, softening boundaries with greenery will add much more to your yard than any hard landscaping, such as fences or walls, and is ideal for gardeners seeking to encourage wildlife to their plots.

Many of the best hedging plants are low maintenance and easy to grow, yet this is not to say that after learning how to plant a hedge, you can simply ignore these plants. Indeed, boundary plants require some annual maintenance, and feeding your hedging can help to give your hedge plants a boost for the growing season.

Here, expert gardeners share advice on how and when to fertilize hedges and also reveal the best products to use for these plants, ensuring that you enjoy lush green hedging this year.

How and when to fertilize hedges

Hedge plants come in all different shapes, sizes, colors and textures. Landscaping with hedges is a good idea for softening your boundaries, and depending on your preferences, you can plant evergreen hedging, such as laurel or holly, or perhaps you prefer a hedge plant with more seasonality, such as hawthorn, which will produce wonderful spring blooms.

Whatever hedge plants you grow will require some annual maintenance, and learning how and when to fertilize hedges can help to encourage new growth for the spring and summer months.

When to fertilize hedges

Hedging might seem like the sort of plant that can be ignored, and while it can do just fine when left alone, the occasional application of fertilizer will undoubtedly improve plant growth.

'Hedging plants can really benefit from feeding during the growing season,' says Mike Murphy, garden expert and owner at You Had Me At Gardening. 'While many of us gardeners assume that low-maintenance hedge plants do not require feeding, doing so will help your plants.'

'It is best to feed hedges in spring, just as new growth begins to emerge,' Mike continues, 'feeding again in late spring or early summer to support vigorous growth throughout the growing season.'

As Mike says, as a general rule, fertilizing hedges is best done in spring, typically in April or May, so it is a job to add to your spring gardening checklist. While you can feed again in the summer, if you are only going to feed your hedges once, make sure to do it in spring when everything in the garden is producing new growth and sending out shoots.

'Your approach to feeding and the products used might vary between evergreen and deciduous hedging, as will the frequency of feeding, which will depend on the fertilizer used,' Mike adds.

How to fertilize hedges

When planting hedging, it is a good idea to incorporate fertilizer into the soil, to give your new plants the best chance of success. Adding a slow-release fertilizer to the soil is a good way to help your hedge plants as they establish. There are many products available online or in garden stores, such as this Bio-Tone plant feed, available from Nature Hills, or this Miracle-Gro shake and feed, available at Walmart.

In addition, I would recommend using a plant fertilizer that is high in phosphorus for recently planted hedging. Doing so will help your plants with root growth during the first growing season, so using something like this bone meal, available from Walmart, is a good idea.

'For feeding established hedges, I recommend using a balanced slow-release fertilizer specifically formulated for shrubs and hedges,' Mike says. 'Whether the hedge is evergreen, deciduous, or flowering, they all benefit from using a balanced fertilizer which will promote healthy growth and vibrant foliage or blooms.'

Remember that liquid fertilizers are useful for giving your plants an instant hit of nutrients, whereas slow-release granules might take slightly more time. For those gardeners looking for a low-maintenance option, applying slow-release granules is a good option as you can feed once and the job is done for the year.

'When feeding hedges, it is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding application rates,' Mike adds. 'Gardeners should also remember that it is generally best to feed hedges after pruning, as this provides nutrients to support new growth and helps the hedge recover from the pruning process.'

Finally, I recommend adding some organic leaf mold or mulch underneath hedge plants every year. This is important as it will help to improve the quality of the soil and improve the health and growth of your hedge plants. This is especially important for maintaining the health of dense, evergreen shrubs, which are some of the best privacy hedges, including box or holly.

FAQs

What product is best to use for evergreen hedging, such as yew or box?

Evergreen hedges will benefit from an application of balanced fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which can be applied in the spring months. I would suggest using a feed that is recommended for evergreen hedges and shrubs, which can be found online or in garden stores. In addition, be sure to spread an organic leaf mold or mulch in the fall, which will help to add goodness to the soil.

Feeding your hedge plants will help to give your beautiful boundaries a boost, and is an important job to add to your spring gardening task list. For more fertilizer information, consider our guide on how best to fertilize established trees, another important spring job.

When it comes to adding structure to your yard, landscaping with hedges is an ideal solution. Whether it's a soft natural screen, smart edging for paths and borders, helping to divide up spaces or adding a clipped eye-catching topiary feature, hedging plants are so versatile. 

Depending on the variety you choose, hedges can add a dark, dense backdrop that's perfect for colorful borders to pop against, while low hedges are ideal for dividing up spaces and adding definition to break up planting. They are often less expensive than installing brick walls, making them a cost-effective way of creating spaces and enclosures within a garden setting.

It's a good idea to strike a balance between evergreen and deciduous species in your backyard landscaping ideas if you have the space. Evergreens are effective year-round screens, but can look a bit dark and gloomy in winter, while deciduous hedges filter light for most of the year, and offer seasonal color, too. Here, we take a look at 11 wonderful ideas for landscaping with hedges that would work in every style of yard. 

11 expert ways of landscaping with hedges

Beautiful in every season, whether as a backdrop to flowers in summer, or providing an architectural quality in winter, the best hedging plants are hugely versatile.

Garden designers will often use hedges rather than walls to create the 3D framework of a garden. They're softer and many are also beneficial to wildlife as they provide shelter, food and nesting opportunities. 

1. Smarten up your front yard with a clipped hedge

Including smart clipped hedges as part of your front yard landscaping ideas will help to frame the entrance to your house. Choose varieties that look good all year round, are multi-purpose and need only a light snipping to keep them tidy. 

A variety of hedge that ticks all the boxes is the classic privet - one of the best front yard hedges for privacy. It's tough, easy to grow and easy to keep in check. Another option is boxwood. Plant it as either a low hedge, to edge the path to your door, or to plant up in containers for the porch. It also works as a boundary if you choose taller varieties. 

You can find a variety of different privet hedges available at Fast Growing Trees. 

Landscaping with boxwood works whether you like classic or contemporary designs, so it's a super-easy choice.

2. Use hedges to create privacy for a pool area

Some of our favorite pool landscaping ideas are when the pool slots into the overall landscape, blending seamlessly into the wider space. In a modernist garden design, clipped hedges can provide a simple screen that complements the horizontal expanses of paving, lawn and water while at the same time helping to create a private and secluded space.

A clipped hedge works well in combination with a flat water surface, so this is something to consider for other water feature ideas, whatever the size of your space.

3. Zone small spaces with mini hedges

Space is at a premium in urban gardens, so natural features such as hedges need to be smaller too if they're to be incorporated into our smaller plots. Try planting a low hedge in a wall and use it for dividing up your outdoor space to add interest to a patio or other seating area as part of your small backyard layout ideas.

'Instant hedging, especially in its more diminutive form, can work really well in courtyard gardens or rooftop spaces,' says Rachel Bull, Head of Gardens at H&G. 'Even a small ready-grown hedge adds immediate landscape maturity and an instantly softer, more natural appeal to an urban yard.

'There are lots of options for fast-growing hedges, such as hawthorn, lilac, or even lavender, if you want to create a boundary or zone a space quickly,' continues Rachel, 'just remember to take note of the eventual height and spread of your chosen plant to make sure it won't end up taking over your space.' 

You can find plenty of lavender options, including this English 'munstead' lavender, at Nature Hills. 

4. Double up by layering different hedge plants

Sometimes it's nice to think outside the box and come up with something different when landscaping with hedges. Try using interesting clipped shapes and fragrant planting, and even better if you combine them to layer up a look that's unique to your yard.

Use instant box hedging to recreate the look of a zigzag hedge like this one. Instant hedge plants are grown in troughs that are regularly clipped to shape as they grow. When you buy them they're already knitted together to form a complete, ready-made hedge with an established look. Another plus is that instant hedges can be planted all year round for immediate impact.

There is a vast range of boxwood hedging and shrubs available at Fast Growing Trees. 

5. Pair a flowering hedge with a picket fence

The combination of a flowering hedge and a picket fence makes a magical addition to the garden. Bougainvilleas are adorned with blooms in the summer months, and can work very well as a hedge plant. Another good option is weigela Florida 'Pink Princess'. Both would suit informal hedge planting and will grow up to six feet tall. 

Prune weigela right after the flowers fade to keep it at the height you want but go easy as this one works best left a little on the wild side. Shear it too hard and you will ruin the elegant fountain-like habit of the lovely arching branches with their profusion of beautiful pink tubular flowers.

6. Use hedging in a courtyard garden

If you're looking for low maintenance hedge plants you can't beat hornbeam. Much loved by garden designers, it's a popular and classic hedge known for its lush, serrated leaves. 

It's perfect for screening to bring privacy and security to your garden, as well as providing an effective barrier against noise and wind, making it ideal for sheltered courtyard gardens and other urban spaces.

American hornbeam is a beautiful native variety and is available from Nature Hills. 

7. Plant ornamental grasses in hedge donuts

This design takes its inspiration from 18th century parterres, but with a strong contemporary twist. It's a modern interpretation of a parterre - part of a formal garden consisting of symmetrical patterns - in a design that ripples and swirls.

It shows how landscaping with hedges can be used in a different way to the standard role of screening and boundaries. Here hedging is interspersed with perennials to create plenty of year-round interest as well as bringing a new twist to landscaping with grasses.

8. Screen a vegetable garden with hedging

If you love the idea of a separate area to grow vegetables, it can be a good idea to screen your kitchen garden with hedging to create a sense of enclosure. As well as providing a more sheltered space for your crops to grow it will act as a magnet for wildlife too.

'Beech (or hornbeam if the conditions aren’t suitable for beech) makes a great deciduous hedge,' says Rachel Bull. 'Though the leaves turn orange and brown in fall, beech will retain its leaves for a lot of the winter, offering continued shelter and structure, with an attractive variation in color.'

It's also worth learning how to trim a hedge properly so that you can keep these boundaries looking neat and under control all year round. 

9. Edge flower beds with low hedging

This garden’s design is based on curves, circles, globes, spheres and balls, and all of these ideas can be used when landscaping with hedges. The central round planting bed shown here is the very heart of the garden and all curves ripple out from this point.  

This circular bed of low box hedging contains several hawthorn trees Crataegus prunifolia, which have been cloud pruned to float above the plants below. Offering a long season of interest, this small deciduous tree carries clusters of white flowers in late spring and early summer, followed by bright red fruit. The planting plan itself is built around a color palette created from drifts of allium 'Purple Sensation' and white 'Mount Everest'. 

Small hedge details are a useful addition to a planting border because they add a degree of permanence and a change of character to the looser planting. Short, shrubby evergreen hedges at the front of a border act as a foil to perennials that come and go. 

10. Create a secluded seating spot with hedges

Hedges are a key planting feature in more formal garden designs, helping to define space or views, or add a feeling of enclosure, while dwarf hedging can be used for garden edging ideas or form knot gardens. This balanced design is often achieved through symmetry and a clear layout.

Hedging also provides shelter and increases privacy to create quiet places to sit, and by landscaping with evergreens you can create a space that remains secluded all year round.

11. Plant a series of tiered hedges to flank steps

This is a modern spin on traditional formal style, which uses landscaping with hedges in a really creative way. Layers of clipped box walls help to define the symmetry, while cottage-style planting softens the lines. 

Clipped hedging, typically box or yew for evergreen structure, is used here to help define the space. Topiary provides architectural definition, and dwarf box hedges are used to form interesting patterns. 

There are so many wonderful reasons to landscape with hedges in your front or backyard. There are lots of lovely options if you are searching for the best hedges for wildlife, or for flowering hedges, to add more color into your boundaries and structures. 

Flowering hedges can add spectacular color and scent to your yard, and the best hedging plants can also provide privacy, security and year-round form.

Often overlooked as an opportunity to squeeze more glorious blooms into your garden, flowering hedges can create a true seasonal spectacle – whether you opt to plant a vibrant single species such as forsythia, or go for a dazzling mix of varieties. With decorative hips or berries often following the flowers, these plants can also become an invaluable food source and habitat for insect and wildlife too, all helping to boost the biodiversity of your outdoor patch.

We’ve compiled an expert list of the best flowering hedges, so you can choose how best to brighten up those boring boundaries.

12 of the best plants for flowering hedges

If you're planning on planting a hedge in your garden this year, and would like it to include that added element of color, our top picks are sure to inspire you. 

1. Lavender

Conjuring up heavenly images of French lavender fields and English cottage gardens, a lavender hedge in full bloom is a sight to behold. Lining entranceways, enveloping alfresco dining areas and poolside terraces, these masses of tiny blooms set against silver-green foliage come in all shades of white, lilac and deepest purple.

Adored by bees for their nectar, these hardy plants are a must in any summer garden and if clipped annually after flowering, they can form a neat, evergreen boundary. English varieties - Lavandula angustifolia, such as this one from Nature Hills, and Lavandula intermedia tend to be more frost hardy than French lavender - Lavandula stoechas. Some types of lavender can also be relatively short lived – lasting two or three years – so may need replacing often.

Learn how and when to plant lavender for healthy, long-lasting results. For a neat, straight hedge, space lavender plants 16 inches (40cm) apart and water regularly until established.

2. Spirea

Smothered in masses of tiny white or pink, showy blooms from spring to late summer, a spirea hedge is a breathtaking sight. They are a magnet for bees and other pollinators, making them one of the best hedges for wildlife into your yard.

The attractive, smooth green and variegated leaves turn to spectacular shades in fall but do leave slender bear stems throughout winter, so are best used for hedging where privacy is not an issue.  

There are among 80-100 different species to choose from, many of which are ideal for planting as hedges. Tolerant of temperatures down to 35F, these hardy shrubs are popular with many landscapers not only for their good looks and reliability, but for their unfussy nature too. The Renaissance spirea variety from Nature Hills has spectacular cascading spring blooms. Learn how to prune spirea correctly for long flowering shrubs that will dazzle for weeks on end.

3. Camellia

If you love hedges with flamboyant, bold blooms and glossy foliage, camellias are for you. Easy-to-grow and evergreen, they will bring a vivid dash of color to the neighbourhood when little else is flowering.

Camellias make wonderful flowering hedges, providing dense evergreen screening year-round and bursts of color at certain windows in the growing season

While commonly recognized for their bold lipstick pink and red colors, less traditional favorites are white blooming varieties like Camellia sasanqua 'Setsugekka' which blooms in soft, papery single petals late fall into winter, grows 8-10' (2.4-3m) tall and can be clipped to maintain a consistent shape. The soft ballerina pink Camellia japonica 'Nuccio's Pearl' reaches 6-8' tall, and shows off in late winter and early spring with dense, double blooms jammed with geometry and ombre colors.

4. Forsythia

If you are looking for a tough hedge that’s happy growing in most conditions, then forsythia is a winner. Tolerant of full sun and part shade, it will quickly grow into a dense hedge up to 10ft high. 

Sporting fresh green foliage from spring turning brilliant red in fall, it’s the early show of dazzling yellow flowers that really make this shrub stand out. Tammy Sons, founder of TN Nursery agrees. ‘The forsythia shrubs are one of spring's first blooming shrubs. It's intoxicating vibrancy of bright yellow blooms adorn the entire branches of the shrub and is low maintenance and drought tolerant making it a favorite of most homeowners.’

Reaching up to heights of 8 feet, and hardy in zones 5 to 9, this popular shrub can live for many decades and can be easily propagated from softwood cuttings. Discover how to grow forsythia in your yard and learn how to prune it like a pro for healthy growth. 

5. Hydrangea arborescens

Laden with striking mop-headed blooms in summer, hydrangeas are hugely popular and instantly recognisable. Bringing show stopping color and sculptural form to every corner of the yard, they can also be planted as statement boundaries.

Preferring a sunny spot, but also tolerant of partial shade, these garden favorites are pretty easy going and require little attention. Hydrangeas have huge snowballs for blooms, are highly fragrant and have a long blooming cycle in spring and late summer making it a favorite, especially of old southern plantation homes and homesteads.

When it comes to choosing varieties there are plenty of stunners to choose from. Tammy suggests: ‘The top choices in hydrangeas are the Nikko Blue, which has dinner plate size deep blue snowball blooms all throughout the summer months. The Pee Gee hydrangea, available here from Walmart, is also a favorite shrub, hardy in the moderately warmer zones of 6 to 9, it has large vibrant white blooms in mid-summer.'

‘For smaller yards, Hydrangea arborescens makes a gorgeous summer flowering hedge,’ says landscape architect Carolyn Gange. ‘A late winter cut-back will give enough time for these hydrangeas to regrow as the weather warms up for summer.’

6. Escallonia

True sun lovers, escallonia are robust shrubs that are covered in red, white or pink bell-shaped blooms from June to October. Most varieties are evergreen with their small, glossy deep green leaves showcasing the clusters of waxy flowers. Tolerant of salty conditions – they are often spotted thriving in coastal gardens and make stunning garden hedges.

The flowers are hugely popular with pollinators, so be sure to only clip hedges into shape once flowering is over.

Originating in South America, these woody shrubs are hardy to USDA zone 7 but will succumb if temperatures dip below 23F (-5C). If in doubt, grow next to a brick wall for added protection.

7. Japanese azalea

Providing they are clipped immediately after flowering, Japanese azaleas make an impressive garden hedge. With their extraordinary display of cerise, red or white blooms in mid to late spring they will dazzle the neighbourhood with their theatrical display.

Best suited to a sunny or part shady spot with acidic soil, these evergreen shrubs need little attention throughout the year, rewarding with a show of dense glossy, green foliage.

There are many varieties of azalea to choose from so check the height spread of a mature plant before planning your hedge. Ranging from dwarf varieties 1ft 6” (0.5m) up to 6ft (1.8m), there are plenty of options for creating a sturdy and long lasting hedge. It is also a good idea to consider feeding your flowering hedges. If you are unsure, read our guide on how and when to fertilize hedges. Flowering shrubs, such as azaleas, can be hungry, and feeding can help with their floral display.

8. Philadelphus

Also widely known as mock orange, this shrub is instantly recognised for its sweet, fruity fragrance and delicate, white, cup-shaped flowers. Blooming from late spring to early summer, it’s display season may be fleeting but it is a seasonal highlight worth looking forward too.

Often planted as a standalone garden shrub or placed at the back of a border, philadelphus, available from Burpee, can actually be trained into a striking hedge. Preferring full sun or part shade, it can reach a height of 10-21 ft (3-3.7m) and will thrive in most soil types, as long as they are well drained.

Best pruned immediately after flowering, this woody shrub will quickly form a relaxed, informal boundary laden with a mass of deciduous, deep green leaves. Discover other fast growing shrubs here.

9. Lilac

A cottage garden favorite, lilacs are adored for their cascades of highly perfumed flowers in dreamy shades of white, mauve, purple and pink. Set against their lush, bright green leaves these conical blooms make a striking springtime spectacle and are adored by butterflies, bees and other pollinators.

Usually grown as a standalone shrub, they also make a beautiful, dense hedge growing up to 1 to 2 feet in a year. A deciduous woody plant, they can look a little bare and spartan during the colder months, but this is soon forgotten once the foliage and blooms reappear in April and May.

Best suited to a sunny spot – too shady and the shrub won’t bloom – lilacs, such as this 'sensation' variety from Nature Hills, thrive in US hardiness zones 3 to 7. They prefer a neutral to chalky, fertile soil and hate having their roots sat in wet, waterlogged soil, so make sure your soil is free draining. Aim to plant lilac hedging plants roughly 20 inches (50cm) apart and clip regularly to form a thick, healthy hedge that’s smothered with flowers. Knowing exactly when to prune lilacs  is key for spectacular blooms.

10. Rosa rugosa

Also known as Japanese rose, this plant forms a thick, sturdy hedge that is covered in magnificent white or pink flowers from June to September. These blooms are then followed by handsome, large red hips in fall that are hugely popular with garden birds and mammals alike.

A real tough beauty, the stems of this plant are covered with ultra sharp thorns, ideal for security but, perhaps, not for lining narrow pathways or seating areas. Thriving in exposed, coastal areas and tolerant of temperatures as low as -4F (-20C), the Japanese rose is happy growing in the poorest of soils, including sand dunes and salt-laden soil. It can become too comfortable in some situations if left unchecked, so do check for straying suckers throughout the growing season.

11. Viburnum carlesii

It’s hard to beat beautiful Rosa Rugosaiburnum carlesii as a hedging plant. With its clusters of white trumpets fringed with pink coupled with the sweet – spicy fragrance its sure to stop you in your tracks. Also known as Arrowood or Korean Spice viburnum, this springtime beauty is ideal for lining path and driveways and has a loyal following amongst garden designers.

'I love viburnums and I think my favorite viburnum carlesii is perfect for a hedge. It’s 8ft tall, narrow and semi-evergreen, blooming early in the spring it smells phenomenal,' says designer Irene Kalina-Jones, owner of Outside Space NYC.

In fall juicy black-blue berries appear throughout this deciduous shrub and provide a feast for garden birds. Grow in US hardiness zones 5-9, either in a part shade or sunny spot.

12. Hawthorn

Attractive and a magnet for wildlife, hawthorn is a fabulous hedging option. Grown widely across the UK and North America it will form a dense, prickly boundary perfect for protecting birds, mammals and an effective deterrent for unwanted visitors too.

Smothered in nectar-rich white flowers in spring followed by red, shiny berries in fall, it makes an attractive - if slightly wild-looking boundary - perfect for rural gardens. Apart from very wet and shady spots, this deciduous shrub will thrive in most situations including very exposed, wind blown and coastal areas. 

A speedy grower - hence it's common name quickthorn - this plant is great if you need to a establish a fast growing hedge in a short timeframe. Clip back after flowering, to keep in shape, or if nesting birds are present, wait until fall.

FAQs

What is the easiest flowering hedge to grow?

There are plenty of low maintenance options when it comes to growing a flowering hedge but one of the most resilient choices has to be privet.

Privet plants makes an excellent border, privacy and hedge plant that is evergreen which means they stay lush and green year-round. They also bloom in both spring and summer season, depending on the variety, and offer the best of both worlds, year-round beauty, flowers and privacy.

Inspired to replace boring garden boundaries with flowering hedges? Well, discover how to plant a hedge plus other ways to encourage wildlife into your garden.

Hedges are one of the oldest forms of land management - it is thought that Neolithic tribes used hedges 6000 years ago to enclose land for cereal crops.

Hedges are relatively easy to plant and we still use them in many different ways today, to create a natural boundary, for privacy, to attract wildlife or to act as a windbreak to create shelter for our yard.

When we moved into our house the backyard was backed by a 30ft tall, 10ft deep dying hedge of leylandii conifers. It looked a mess, blocked out a lot of light and took up a lot of room. We hired a professional team to remove the trees and grub out the trunks, and replaced it with a selection of bare root trees - beech, hazel, guelder rose, hawthorn and wild rose.

They were tiny when we planted them but grew fast and now, eight years later, we have a hedge that produces flowers and creates an attractive green barrier in spring and summer, with masses of berries, hips and delicious hazelnuts in the fall, as well as jaunty yellow hazel catkins in late winter. In fact many of the berries and hips stay in place all winter, offering glowing pops of color when everything else is dull and brown.

Hedges can come in many forms and are an integral part of garden design. Here I take you through all the steps of planting a hedge in your yard.

What to consider before planting a hedge

We plant hedges for many reasons: to increase our security and privacy; to create a boundary more attractive than a fence; and to provide food and shelter for local birdlife, insects and wildlife.

Before you start planting your hedge you need to think carefully about how it will affect your yard.

Consider the height and density of the trees and shrubs you use for hedging plants. Do you want evergreen or deciduous plants, or a mix of the two? Do you need it to be fast growing?Do you want fragrant hedge plants?

Consider where your hedge will go - if you are planting it on an exposed slope you will need more resistant trees than in a more sheltered area of garden. You should also measure the intended length and depth of your hedge and calculate how many trees you will need to buy.

With the answers to these key questions in mind, here is my step-by-step expert guide to planting a hedge in your yard. 

Decide when to plant your hedge

Spring, when the soil is damp and warming up, and fall when the summer sun has warmed the soil, are usually the best times for planting a hedge.

However, if you are using bare root plants then winter is the key time when they are dormant.

Summer is not a good time because the soil is more likely to be dry and you may have to spend a lot of time watering.

As soon as spring rolls around and the temperature rises they will soon start to grow. However, never plant when the soil is waterlogged or frozen. If your hedging arrives and you find the soil is unworkable, potted plants will be happy in their containers for a few weeks.

Bare root plants can be kept somewhere cool and shady with their roots damp and wrapped for a few days, but after that will need potting up or temporarily planted somewhere sheltered until their final growing spot is ready.

Gather the tools and equipment you need

Once you have settled on a spot for your hedge and chosen your plants you will need to have the right equipment. This may include:

• A sturdy spade like this one by Berry&Bird on Amazon
• Tape measure
• Mycorrhizal fungi, such as Trifecta Myco Supreme on Amazon
• Weed blocking fabric, like this Sunifier roll on Amazon
• General fertiliser
• Compost and/or manure
• Tree stakes
• Tree ties like this cuttable roll of Easyflex on Amazon

Plot the line of your hedge

Measure and mark the length and depth of your proposed hedge, whether it is straight or curved.

Ideally make sure there is no essential access to utilities - water, gas, electricity - under the ground where your hedge will be.

Calculate the number of plants you need

Once you know how long and deep your hedge will be, calculate the number of trees and shrubs you need, as well as how you want to mix up different varieties.

Before buying, research how tall each plant can get and how wide its branches may spread.

Think about how wide you want your hedge to be. A good thickness is two lines of staggered plants, which creates excellent cover and gives the trees and shrubs room to grow as they should.

Take into account their flowering and berry-producing habits so they are scattered equally through the hedge and not all clustered in one spot leaving the rest of the hedge bare for months at a time.

You may also wish to plant colorful shorter shrubs along the front, in which case consider varieties such as Photinia ‘Red Robin’, shrub roses, flowering hardy fuchsias and evergreen Coronilla glauca, which produces sweetly scented yellow flowers in late winter and spring.

Prepare the soil

Give your hedge its best chance to thrive by feeding and enriching your soil.

Whatever the soil type, a few weeks before planting, dig it over and weed it well, adding weeds to the compost heap - unless they are carrying ripe seeds in which case they should be added to the trash.

Once you have dug the soil and weeded, fork in a generous amount of well-rotted compost or manure, or some chicken manure fertilizer like this one by Coop Poop at Amazon.

These will all break down and improve the soil so that newly planted roots will be able to take up lots of fresh goodness, which will lead to strong growth.

Consider putting down weed fabric

Weeds steal moisture, light and nutrients from young plants, so planting your hedge through weed blocking fabric helps remove their competition.

Peg it down taut over the length of your proposed hedging area, then mark where the trees and shrubs will go and cut holes or slits so you can access the soil underneath.

We used membrane when planting our hedge and it certainly gave the trees room to grow unhindered by weeds, and was relatively easy to cut away and remove a few years later so that fallen leaves and plant matter could break down and enrich the soil naturally.

Planting your hedge

Whether your hedging is in pots or bare root, place the plants on the soil in the spots where you want them to grow.

Plant at the same depth as they were growing before. With container plants it will be at the same depth as the pots, for bare root trees and shrubs they should go in the soil at the same depth as the muddy ‘tide mark’ around their stem.

If you are planting on heavy clay, rough up the sides of the planting holes with a garden fork to improve drainage. 

Stand your plants in water for at least half an hour before planting as this will soak the roots and make it easier to slip them from their pots.

Tease out any congested roots to make it easier for them to spread and at this point you may want to add some mycorrhizal fungi to the planting hole. These are beneficial organisms that boost the transference of water and nutrients from the soil to the roots. Some gardeners swear by them, others say that some ‘tough love’ so the plants have to fend for themselves makes them more robust and resilient.

Similarly, sometimes I use it, other times I don't, it depends on the appearance and soil health of the area I'm planting in. If it looks healthy and well-nourished and I think the plant will thrive, I simply add some bone meal or general fertilizer to the planting hole.

Once in the ground, add a stake or cane, securing it to the tree with a rubber tie in a figure-of-eight to help protect the bark and stop it chafing against the stake.

Infill around the roots with soil and compost, firming it down as you go to give support and knock out any air pockets.

Then water generously and mulch over the root area with well rotted compost or manure, making sure it doesn’t touch the trunk as it can dampen and soften the bark and create an access point for pests and disease.

Hedge planting aftercare

Once planted, young hedging plants should help to protect each other from strong winds but you may need to erect a temporary windbreak if very stormy weather is forecast.

Keep their soil damp, but don’t overwater, and there should be no need to feed for the first year as the enriched soil should contain all the necessary nutrients.

Many garden centres and online sellers offer a guarantee for perennial plants, trees and shrubs, so keep the relevant paperwork so that should anything die in the specified time you can claim a refund or replacement.

Hedges for different purposes

Hedges for privacy and security

The most common reason for planting a hedge is for privacy and for this you need fast-growing plants that thicken up quickly and provide a dense barrier.

Ideal varieties are evergreens including yew, privet, laurel and leylandii which provide color all year, and you may also wish to add thorny shrubs such as Berberis thunbergii and Pyracantha (firethorn) for extra security.

These come with the added benefit of vivid winter berries.

Hedges for coastal gardens 

Coastal plants need to be tough enough to survive salty air and more extreme weather conditions.

There are many to choose from including evergreen Griselinia littoralis; tamarisk, which is swathed in beautiful pink flowers in summer; sea buckthorn; corokia, which produces yellow flowers followed by red berries; Escallonia; and Crategus monogyna or whitethorn, which has white flowers and red berries in the fall.

Hedges for wildlife

Hedges for wildlife that offer food and sanctuary for wild birds, insects and animals are becoming increasingly important as natural habitats disappear.

When planting for wildlife, choose popular tree and shrub varieties such as hazel, alder, holly, hawthorn, or red chokeberry that has nectar for insects and berries for birds.

These are fast-growing, and hawthorn and berberis also bear sharp thorns making them ideal for yard security too.

Low-growing hedges

Topiary hedges are a popular way of breaking up a yard, creating an old-school knot garden or parterre, making different ‘rooms’ to add interest and variety.

Boxwood has been a traditional favourite for this, but the increase of box blight and the damage caused by box moth caterpillars means that gardeners are looking for manageable alternatives.

Privet, hebe and yew are popular choices, as are mock privet and Japanese holly.

For scent, consider lavender and osmanthus, while for color you could go for a variety of Boxwood honeysuckle called ‘Baggensen’s Gold’, which has attractive yellow leaves.

FAQs

Do I need planning permission to plant a hedge?

You don’t need an official permit to plant a hedge on your land but you do need to ask a neighbor’s permission if you are planting right on the boundary of your two properties.

In the interests of a happy community it is also worth discussing your plans with direct neighbors first, especially if any branches are likely to grow over their garden and leaves or fruit fall into their yard.

How long does a hedge take to establish?

It all depends on the varieties of trees and shrubs you use, the time of year they are planted, the richness of the soil and the weather conditions.

If you plant in the fall you won’t see any growth until the following spring, though the roots will have had time to get established and bed in. Spring plantings can start growing within a few weeks.

How high will my hedge grow?

It depends on the varieties. Some conifers and deciduous trees such as beech and maple can reach several 10s of feet, while roses, privets and hawthorns tend to be shorter. 

Will I need to prune my hedge?

You probably won’t need to cut anything back for the first few years. After that, evergreens are easy to trim in late spring and summer, while deciduous varieties can be pruned in the months between fall and spring.

This winter we started to coppice some of our hedge, cutting a few hazel trees down to the base then chopping the thin trunks to use as firewood, kindling and plant supports. Each tree will throw out several new shoots from the base, creating a thicker hedge and opportunities for more firewood.

Planting a hedge can seem like a daunting prospect but, as we discovered, the benefits far outweigh the effort involved and the end result should be a more private, sheltered garden with even more interest and color.

Despite what you might think, hedges don't have to be hard work as easy-care plants will pretty much look after themselves while creating shelter, absorbing noise and adding precious privacy to your outside space. 

Not all hedges are equal, of course, and while some do require a careful routine of pruning and plant care, there are plenty of varieties which, once established, really do need only minimum attention. 

Most hedge-related chores relate to the trimming back needed to keep the branches and foliage in shape and under control. Although it is tempting to choose a fast-growing variety to ensure the quickest possible coverage, slower growing hedges will create less work in the long run. 

Evergreen shrubs, which do not lose their leaves in winter, are more straightforward to care for than their deciduous counterparts, so keep this in mind if you're searching for hedging plants. 

Cut down on gardening tasks with the best low maintenance hedge plants

Get a garden boundary that requires minimal upkeep with our top choices for the best low-maintenance hedge plants. From classic evergreens to options that are covered in pretty flowers in spring, there's something to suit every size and style of yard. 

Once you have chosen a suitable hedge for your garden or backyard, even the most low-maintenance varieties must be watered for the first few months as the roots establish. Once that has happened, it is time to sit back and enjoy the many advantages of a soft and leafy green hedge for wildlife. 

1. Euonymus japonicus

When it comes to low-maintenance shrubs, this is a great all-rounder for any plot as it suits every site and situation. It is a bushy shrub with neat, evergreen leaves which tolerates exposed sites, coastal locations, a sunny or shady position and any kind of soil. It is also rabbit-resistant. 

Give it a light trim after it flowers, but other than that, it’s a fuss-free privacy hedge. We like Silver King Euonymus at Nature Hills for USDA zones 6-9. 

2. Choisya 

Also known as Mexican Orange, this is another of the best low maintenance hedge which grows in most light and soil conditions. ‘Aztec Pearl’ and ‘Sundance’ to his clients. 

A drought-tolerant plant, choisya has narrow, glossy aromatic green leaves and sweet-smelling spring flowers, which return in the fall. It grows to between 5-6.5ft tall and is suitable for zones 7b to 10 in the US, preferring milder winter locations. 

Shop hedge trimmers

3. Thuja smaragd 

An evergreen conifer with upright, fan-like sprays of leaves. Some varieties of Thuja make very fast-growing hedges and are tall, which means they need careful watching and pruning, but Thuja smaragd takes 10-20 years to reach its ultimate height of about 8ft, yet it still offers a dense, attractive screen of bright green all year round. 

It is a popular choice for screening ideas in the US. 

4. Cherry laurel

Whether you use it as a windbreak, or plant it to mute the sound of noisy neighbors and improve your garden privacy, cherry laurel is a trooper of a hedging plant, and it’s attractive, too. Try Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel at Fast Growing Trees.

Another evergreen, it has neat, glossy leaves which will form a dense screen, with white flowers in spring and bright red berries in winter. It grows in full sun or shade and just needs one annual cut back. So trim evergreen bushes in late winter or early spring. 

The ultimate height is around 16ft, but it can be easily trimmed to size. This plant is also known as ‘English Laurel’. 

5. Yew

One of the best low-maintenance hedge plants for creating a more formal, classic look, yew is a bushy, dense and evergreen tree with berries, with fine, needle-like dark green leaves. 

It will grow tall, up to around 49ft, so it is suitable for larger backyards, although it can be kept under control with hard pruning in spring or summer. It copes well with sun or shade. 

Yew berries and foliage are toxic, so take care in gardens with young children or pets. Yew is native to Europe, Turkey and Iran. It does well in cooler, northern areas of the US, but it can be trickier to grow well in hot and dry climates. 

6. Pyracantha

If you want a low maintenance hedge which will also deter intruders, this spiky plant is a great choice. Try ‘Mohave’ which has dense, small green leaves, white flowers in summer and thick clusters of red berries in the fall. 

It can be cut into shape in the spring and early summer (make sure you have a thick pair of gardening gloves to hand for the job) or just leave it alone for an informal wildlife-friendly hedge. 

Its prolific nature means that pyracantha is classed as invasive in certain parts of the US. But if it's ok for your area this makes a vibrant front yard hedge for privacy.

7. English holly (Ilex Aquifolium)

A slow growing evergreen, with spiny leaves and delightful red berries in winter, holly makes a sturdy, thick and secure hedge which needs little more than a trim in the summer to keep it happy and healthy. 

There are many different types of holly, with both solid green and variegated leaves, but generally this plant has flexible needs, tolerating full sun and part shade and any kind of moist, well-drained soil. 

In rural areas, holly plants may require a rabbit guard around the trunk as they get established, particularly if you're already struggling with how to keep rabbits out of your yard. 

It thrives in US growing zones 7-9, but American holly is a good substitute for gardens outside these areas. Try American Holly at Fast Growing Trees. 

8. Photinia

Just because a plant is evergreen does not mean that it stays the same boring color all year round, and this pretty option for the best low-maintenance hedge plants certainly rings the changes. 

Try Photinia X Fraseri ‘Louise’ which shifts through red to olive green to a dark gray green as the seasons turn. It is a spring flowering shrub where white flowers appear, followed by red berries. It will thrive in sun or partial shade, in moist, well-drained soil. 

Minimal pruning is needed, just a light trim in spring and summer (avoiding the height of summer). It is a popular choice for gardeners in Australia and will grow in the US, zones 7-9. 

9. Osmanthus x burkwoodii

An evergreen shrub with leathery, sharp leaves which have a similar shape to holly, Burkwood Osmanthus, as it’s also known, is a very hardy, easy going hedging plant, which will tolerate full sun or part shade. 

It is a well behaved slow-grower, and only needs pruning if it gets too big for the plot. This is best done in late spring, after the display of starry and superbly scented white flowers (the botanic name actually means ‘fragrant flower’). 

It’s a good choice for a small backyard and it grows well in USDA zones 7-10. 

FAQs

Which low maintenance hedges will stay green all year round? 

Any hedge which is described or labeled as a hardy evergreen will keep its color and its leaves through every season of the year. But it is important to choose a species that will not grow too big for your space as some can become dominant in record time. 

Which low maintenance hedge plants are best for shady areas?

For areas which hardly get any sunlight, opt for shade plants such as a holly (ilex) or a Japanese laurel (Aucuba japonica), as both will tolerate lower light levels.

Hedges don't only add permanent evergreen interest and structure to your backyard, they can also work as plants for home security as break-in deterrents.

Planted at the front of your plot, a hedge can create a clear boundary between your space and the outside world. By acting as a natural screen, it instantly ups the sense of security and prevents prying eyes from passers-by. Plus, it's often a prettier option than a wall (and more wildlife-friendly).

There are various hedging plants you can choose to incorporate into your front yard landscaping. But, for year-round privacy and curb appeal, without the need for excessive maintenance, some are better than others. We asked the experts to share their top recommendations.

10 hedges to screen your front yard from view

Consider planting these privacy hedges in your front yard for a beautiful, botanical screen.

1. Cherry laurel

• Best for: Low maintenance
• Type: Evergreen shrub
• Height: 10-18ft
• Spread: 5-7ft
• Hardiness: USDA 5-10

Glossy-leaved, evergreen laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is a top choice for a fast front yard hedge. It's known for its hardiness and is a low-maintenance hedge plant, with almost no care involved and it will quickly grow to form a dense screen.

If left unpruned, it produces white flowers that attract bees, which then turn into berries that attract birds. It's resistant to deer as well as drought once established, and is unfussy about soil type. This shrub can also be grown in the shade. 

You can shop Prunus laurocerasus from Fast Growing Trees.

2. Yew podocarpus

• Best for: Attracting birds
• Type: Evergreen conifer
• Height: 12-20ft
• Spread: 6-8ft
• Hardiness: USDA 7-11

Podocarpus macrophyllus is often referred to as yew podocarpus or Japanese yew, and can be brought from Fast Growing Trees. However, although its long, leathery leaves are similar, it's not from the yew (Taxus) genus. It hails from China and Japan but it's not considered an invasive plant.

'It is an incredibly versatile evergreen shrub, happily taking to various forms when annually pruned,' says arborist Ned Cromack. 'It can be grown as a tree, as topiary, or even in a container display when planted in a large pot, and also makes a dense and attractive hedge in a front yard. It forms blue cones which then turn into berries that attract birds,' he adds.

It's not a fast-growing shrub, but it's worth the wait. One of the major benefits of Podocarpus macrophyllus is its fuss-free maintenance. It's deer-resistant, and pests and diseases generally don't pose a problem. It's also moderately drought tolerant once it's established. 

Plant it in full to partial sun in soil with good drainage for best results.

3. Western red cedar

• Best for: Scented foliage
• Type: Evergreen conifer
• Height: Up to 150ft, depending on variety
• Spread: Up to 65ft, depending on variety
• Hardiness: USDA 5-8

The western red cedar, or Thuja plicata, is a tough, coniferous evergreen. It has year-round sprays of glossy green leaves that release a pineapple-like scent when crushed.

'Its dense foliage makes it a good windbreak for a front yard,' says Ned. 'It's effective at absorbing pollution, too, making it a great hedging plant for homes near busy roads. It responds well to pruning.'

There are a few varieties available, each with different growing rates and eventual heights. Thuja plicata ‘Atrovirens’ is particularly popular for hedging, often used as an easier-to-manage alternative to leyland cypress (see below). Thuja plicata x standishii 'Green Giant' (available from Fast Growing Trees) is another well-loved option, reaching tall heights quickly.

4. Boxwood

• Best for: Formal landscaping
• Type: Evergreen shrub
• Height: 1-20ft, depending on variety
• Spread: 2-20ft depending on variety
• Hardiness: USDA 5-9

Boxwood is a slow-grower. This means it won't be suitable if you want a quick, tall privacy screen – unless you splash out on mature plants. But, for a formal look, it can't be beaten.

'With its dense foliage and neat appearance, it adds an elegant touch to the landscape,' says Gene Caballero, a landscaping expert. 'Regular pruning is essential to keep boxwood in shape.'

Most varieties do best in spots with partial shade and well-drained soil. Watch out for box blight, a common fungal disease that results in bare patches.

In terms of varieties, try 'Green Mountain' boxwood, from Nature Hills, which can grow to 5ft. The slightly smaller 'Wintergreen', from Fast Growing Trees, is also popular. For more height, go for the classic American boxwood, also from Fast Growing Trees, which reaches 10-12ft.

5. American holly

• Best for: Red berries
• Type: Evergreen shrub
• Height: 15-30ft
• Spread: 10-20ft
• Hardiness: USDA 5-9

'American holly is a visually appealing evergreen shrub that can be shaped into a dense hedge,' says Gene. 

'Its glossy green leaves and vibrant red berries add beauty to the landscape while offering privacy. However, keep in mind that male and female plants are required for berry production.' Meanwhile, the spiky leaves are good for deterring intruders.

It has a medium growth rate and is disease- and pest-resistant. Plant it in slightly acidic, well-drained soil, in full or partial shade. American holly shrubs are available to buy from Nature Hills.

6. Leyland cypress

• Best for: Fast growth
• Type: Evergreen conifer
• Height: 60-70ft
• Spread: 15-20ft
• Hardiness: USDA 6-10

'In my experience, leyland cypress is a top choice for creating a privacy hedge,' says Gene. 'With its fast growth rate and dense foliage, it can quickly form a solid barrier.' However, regular pruning is necessary to maintain its shape, he adds.

This fast-growing shrub is perfect for large front yards. Provide the plants with full sun and plenty of water.

You can shop leyland cypress plants, otherwise known as Cuprocyparis leylandii, from Nature Hills.

7. Bamboo

• Best for: Tropical gardens
• Type: Ornamental shrub
• Height: 15-39ft, depending on variety
• Spread: 25ft+, depending on variety
• Hardiness: USDA 5-11, depending on variety

'For those seeking a more exotic and unique option, bamboo hedges offer both privacy and a distinctive aesthetic appeal,' says Becky Decker of Gardeninghood.com. 'With its fast growth rate, bamboo can quickly create a dense screen, perfect for blocking out unwanted views.' 

However, it's important to take precautions to stop bamboo from spreading, such as choosing clumping bamboo varieties, as Becky notes. 'Regular pruning is also necessary to maintain its desired shape,' she adds.

Some varieties are hardier than others, such as 'Little Red Head' clumping bamboo, available from Nature Hills, which can tolerate growing zones 5-9.

8. Privet

• Best for: Glossy leaves
• Type: Semi-evergreen shrub (depending on region and variety)
• Height: 4-15ft
• Spread: 4-10ft
• Hardiness: USDA 3-8

'Privet is a versatile hedging plant available in different species, such as Chinese privet and Japanese privet,' says Gene. 'It grows quickly and can be pruned to form a dense hedge, but regular maintenance is necessary to prevent overgrowth.'

'Its glossy, dark green leaves create a lush and vibrant backdrop for your front yard,' adds Becky Decker. She also highlights their adaptability, as they can grow in a wide range of climates and soil conditions.

Plant privet (also called ligustrum) in full sun and remember to water the plants during long periods of drought, especially when they're young. Note that some varieties of privet are considered invasive in some regions, so double-check before you add them to your plot.

9. Tri-color dappled willow

• Best for: Colorful foliage
• Type: Deciduous shrub
• Height: 8-10ft
• Spread: 8-10ft
• Hardiness: USDA 5-9

If you're after a more colorful look for your front yard, try this beautiful, compact willow, also known as Salix integra 'Hakuro-nishiki'. It loses its leaves in winter, but in spring, the new foliage dazzles with its green, white, and pink hues.

Water these plants regularly to keep them happy (especially during the first few years of growth), and apply a slow-release fertilizer once a year in early spring. They like plenty of sunshine and should be pruned in late winter, before they put on new growth.

Salix integra 'Hakuro-nishiki' is available to buy at Fast Growing Trees.

10. Yew

• Best for: Shaded front yards
• Type: Evergreen conifer
• Height: 4-65ft, depending on variety
• Spread: 4-65ft, depending on variety
• Hardiness: USDA 4-8

A classic go-to for their evergreen growth, yews can be grown as trees or planted closely together and clipped into a smart and dense hedge.

The female plants produce red berries that attract birds. Yews are easy to grow, flourishing in both sun and deep shade, but avoid planting them in waterlogged soil. Note that they are toxic, so remember to wear gloves when giving them their annual prune.

The Hicksii yew, available from Fast Growing Trees, is a popular variety, growing to 8-12ft tall in a columnar habit.

FAQs

Growing a privacy hedge has multiple benefits. But, as well as needing a bit of patience while they grow, bear in mind that plants need the right environment to thrive, so always check their requirements before adding them to your yard.

As well as this, remember that even the most fuss-free ones may need a spot of TLC from time to time – whether that's watering on dry days or giving them a quick prune to tidy their appearance and remove dead limbs. If you're not sure that you can commit to this, there are lots of beautiful fence options you could choose instead.

Growing up, my dad took pride in trimming our hedges and making our family home look nice. When I bought my own house, I wanted to do the same, but I needed the tools to do that. 

My dad knew which yard tool brands were the best and Husqvarna was always in his top suggestions. And I get why. Did you know that Husqvarna was founded in 1689 and began producing yard tools in 1919 when they created their first manual lawn mower? When a company has been around for over 330 years, you know they’re doing something right.

So, of course, I said yes when I got the opportunity to test the Husqvarna 115iHD55 hedge trimmer and see how it would fare trimming my hedges into shape. 

Husqvarna 115iHD55 cordless battery hedge trimmer specs:

• Blade length: 22 inches
• Power source: 40V battery
• Cutting capacity: .63 inches  
• Weight (with battery): 10.2 lbs
• Dimensions: 43.9 inches (L)
• Noise level: 90 dB(A)
• Cutting speed: 3,000 cut/min

Setting up the hedge trimmer

The hedge trimmer arrived on my front step in a long box. Upon cutting the cardboard away, I discovered that the hedge trimmer was practically put together. The only thing I needed to do was charge the battery. 

This hedge trimmer comes with a single 40V battery. Most cordless hedge trimmers have batteries that are between 20V and 60V so the Husqvarna 115iHD55's battery sits in the mid-range. For reference, the previous version of this hedge trimmer, the 115iH45, had a 36V battery. The higher the voltage, the more powerful and efficient the trimmer.

The battery comes with a charging cable that you connect to the battery and plug into the wall. I’ve found that most yard tools have battery charging cases that plug into the wall, so this was a nice change. 

When I started charging the battery, one LED light flashed which meant the battery was very low. I waited until all the LED lights were flashing before I unplugged the battery and placed it into the hedge trimmer. It took less than two hours to reach its full charge.

What is it like to use?

After placing the battery into the hedge trimmer, I removed the sheath that covers the 22-inch blade. To start the hedge trimmer, all I had to do was press the start button and then hold the front and the back triggers at the same time, which made the teeth on the blade move.

The first thing I noticed when I started trimming my fast-growing hedges with the Husqvarna 115iHD55 hedge trimmer was how it wasn't that loud. I found it interesting that the sound pressure level was 90 dBA, but to an operator like me, the sound pressure level was only 78 dBA, which is below the recommended 80 dBA (anything higher can cause sound loss). Of course, I made sure to wear ear protection, but aside from that, I was glad the hedge trimmer didn’t cause too much noise pollution in the neighborhood.

My privacy hedges have a mix of branch sizes – from tiny twigs to one-inch branches. The hedge trimmer is designed to cut twigs that are .63 inches or smaller, so I will say that a few times the hedge trimmer got caught on some thicker branches. When that happened, I had to stop the hedge trimmer and be careful to remove the teeth from the branch, which wasn’t always that easy.

Besides that, I had a positive experience using this hedge trimmer. It's incredibly easy to start and stop and the design makes it comfortable to hold and maneuver as I cut with either my left or right hand in front (I'm ambidextrous). The 22-inch blade allowed me to reach a decent distance during my trimming. I was glad for the safety shield which minimized kick back of twigs. Because of its size, I expected the hedge trimmer to be a little lighter than it was. At 10.2 lbs., my forearms became weary and sore after a while.

I did test the SavE function, which is a power saving function that maximizes the run time of the battery. What I liked about this feature is that it did not decrease the cutting power of the hedge trimmer. To use the SavE function, all I needed to do was press the button on the keypad. With the BLi22 battery, I got a maximum of an hour and a half of run time before I had to recharge. 

One of my favorite features is the automatic shutdown, which kicks in if the product hasn’t been used in 45 seconds. This is a nice safety and power-saving perk. 

How does it compare to similar models?

The previous version of the Husqvarna 115iHD55 was the Husqvarna 115iHD45, which was tested by a colleague of mine for a sister site of Homes & Gardens. In comparing the two, it seems like the 115iHD55 has a better battery (40V compared to 36V) and a longer blade (22 inches compared to 17 inches). However, I couldn’t help but notice that the 115iHD45 was about two pounds lighter than the 115iHD55, which would make it easier for some to handle.

I have previously tested another hedge trimmer, the Black + Decker 60V Max cordless hedge trimmer. Not only did it have a better battery, but it is cheaper, is two inches longer in terms of the blade, and has a 1.5-inch cutting capacity. It’s definitely better designed for homeowners with tougher and larger hedges.

If I was keen to go for a more powerful model and wanted to stay within the Husqvarna family, I might be tempted to try the Husqvarna Hedge Master 320iHD60. This battery-powered hedge trimmer has a one-inch cutting capacity, a 24-inch blade, and a higher cutting speed of 3,800 cut/min (the 115iHD55  has a speed of 3,000 cut/min). Its battery voltage is also 42V, meaning it’s a higher-powered and more efficient hedge trimmer overall.

Is the Husqvarna 115iHD55 cordless battery hedge trimmer worth the money?

Husqvarna has a great reputation in the yard tool industry, so it's no surprise that the the Husqvarna 115iHD55 cordless hedge trimmer is a quality product. With a 22-inch blade that can cut up to .63-inch twigs and branches, it’s the perfect hedge trimmer for those with small to medium hedges.

The 40V battery can last up to 1.5 hours, especially when the power-saving SavE function is in use. Sure, it’s a little heavy for some at about 10 lbs., but the lower noise level ensures a more comfortable cutting experience for you and your neighbors.

At about $250, it's not the cheapest on the market. You can find comparable hedge trimmers at a lower price – but they may not have the trusted name power as Husqvarna and they’re unlikely to have a two-year warranty like this hedge trimmer does.

About this review

As with all our reviews, the Husqvarna 115iHD55 cordless hedge trimmer was tested first-hand in Alex’s backyard, using it just as you would so you know exactly what you are buying. 

The products are given to us free of charge and we test them for as long as possible before sending them back to the brand unless we are able to keep it. This means that we can continue to use the product which gives us the opportunity to return to our reviews for updating, so you can keep up-to-date with how it's fared over a period of time. You can find out how we test products on Homes & Gardens for more details. 

It's one of the most popular plants for a hedge, and for good reason. But keeping on top of pruning laurel is key if you don't want it to get out of control and take over your backyard. 

Laurel offers a dense and evergreen screen thanks to its large and glossy green leaves. However, whether you have a cherry laurel, portuguese laurel, or skip laurel hedge in your garden, you may find yourself looking at it, especially if it has become a bit unruly, and wondering when to prune it. 

Rest assured, pruning laurel hedges is a fairly straightforward maintenance task. Once the plants are established, cutting laurel hedges is all about maintaining the desired shape and not letting it get out of control – as laurel is a very fast growing shrub. If it does need radically renovating then it is a very tough plant, you just have to make sure it is the right window for vigorously pruning laurel before reaching for those tools.

Why is pruning laurel so important?

The laurel family is regarded as a good fast-growing hedge option due to its rate of growth, meaning it can form a thick hedge quickly. It grows very densely also, with its large evergreen leaves allowing it to block unsightly views, reduce noise from busy roads, and act as a good privacy hedge in case of prying eyes. 

It is this fast growing nature, however, that means pruning is such an important task. Left to its own devices laurel will grow tall, can reach up to 15-20ft, and very easily start to get out of control. The hedges, if untouched, can become wider and wider and start to take up more space in your backyard. 

‘The main issue with laurel is they grow wide very quickly and, if you are not careful, they completely take over the space,' says Nick Grey, CEO of Gtech.

It can, however, be easily kept small by pruning and can be kept clipped as a formal hedge. 

What tools do you need for pruning laurel?

Cutting laurel hedges requires sharp and clean garden tools, as this will help make clean cuts that will heal quicker. It is thought in some circles that you should only use hand tools in the form of secateurs and loppers when pruning laurel. This is due to the fact that you would ideally remove whole leaves, rather than cut leaves that will brown as they die back - making the hedge look unsightly. 

My preferred tools for pruning laurel would be a good pair of bypass pruning shears, such as the Fiskars PowerGear2 Pruner, and some compound action loppers, like the Tabor tools bypass loppers, for larger branches.

Paul Hicks, Product and Marketing Manager at STIHL, claims that mechanical tools can realistically be used, however, that is predominantly just for spring pruning and not winter work.

‘Laurel is best trimmed with shears, secateurs, or a hedge trimmer,’ he adds. ‘While some may advise avoiding a hedge trimmer as the part trimmed laurel leaves could look untidy when having just been trimmed, if you time your trim when the hedge is actively growing, the new growth will quickly cover any messy edges.’

Paul advises that, as hedges can be attractive hedges for wildlife, people ‘make sure to carefully check’ their laurel for any nesting birds before reaching for any tools. As well as tools for cutting, making sure to have equipment to clear up any debris around the base of the hedge to keep it looking neat and tidy is also very important. These heavy-duty gardening bags from Amazon are ideal for clearing away the waste material. 

A step-by-step guide to pruning a laurel hedge

A laurel hedge should be pruned to a slight taper to allow the lower leaves to get access to light and air. Starting at the base of the hedge and working upwards is recommended, to ensure prunings fall clear of where you are working and not catching on any longer lower branches, and also to prevent them getting in the way as you are pruning.

Morris Hankinson, director at Hopes Grove Nurseries, gives the following advice for how to prune a laurel hedge:

1. Determine the desired shape and size of the hedge before you start making any cuts. 
2. If the hedge is overgrown, you may need to thin it out by removing some of the inner branches. This will allow more light and air to reach the center of the hedge.
3. Begin by removing any dead, diseased, or damaged branches.
4. Trim the sides of your laurel hedge, make the cuts at a slight angle and following the natural shape of the hedge.
5. Trim the top of the hedge to create a flat surface. Make sure to leave the hedge slightly wider at the base than at the top, as this will help to prevent the base of the hedge from becoming bare.
6. Remove any stray branches or twigs that do not fit the desired shape. 
7. After pruning, water the hedge well to help it recover from the pruning.

 When to prune a laurel hedge

A laurel hedge needs trimming at least once a year due to its fast-growing nature. This varies depending on variety, but the fastest-growing ones, like cherry laurel, can grow between 11-23 inches per year. 

Tammy Sons from Tennessee Wholesale Nursery, which grows over 20,000 schipp and cherry laurels a year, advises pruning laurel in late fall or early spring.

She says: 'Because the sap is in the roots it's safe to trim when plants are dormant. Dormancy simply means the sap goes from the branches to the roots in late fall to mid spring.'

Although never truly dormant as laurel is one of the best evergreen shrubs, more radical pruning to get the desired shape is recommended for late winter or spring. Nick Grey warns, however, that this can leave them looking ‘very woody’ and caution should be taken to avoid taking all the growth from the plant’s crown.

‘If your laurel bush is very overgrown, do it in two stages; first cut back the width hard with an angle which isn’t south facing to ensure that all the surfaces get sunlight,’ says Nick. ‘This will make them bud out nicely. In late spring when the sides have fully formed leaves, you can then cut the top back hard.’

The best hedges for wildlife will have a transformative effect on your garden. Not only will they offer a beautiful backdrop to your space, but will also encourage birds, mammals and pollinators into your plot. 

Offering habitat, food, and protection, hedges are an invaluable addition to wildlife garden ideas. 'Hedges provide dense foliage as a perfect shelter for birds to nest in, branches decorated with an abundance of berries provide a welcome source of food, and plants with spiny foliage can protect birds from predators and keep their nests safe,' says garden expert Leigh Clapp.

Here, we have rounded up some of the best plants to incorporate into your hedging to ensure that it provides the maximum benefit for visiting birds, mammals, and critters. 

Best hedges for wildlife

Planting a hedge for wildlife is essential for biodiversity in your backyard, but hedges are a valuable addition to garden privacy ideas, too. When researching the best wildlife hedges, be sure that you've incorporated hedge plant varieties that provide wildlife with both food and protection, and get clued up on how to plant a hedge. 

‘Hawthorn is a key hedge plant, but beech, field maple, hazel, hornbeam, spindle, wayfaring tree and, in moderation, holly are also important. Blackthorn sends out a lot of suckers so would be best in bigger rural gardens. Wild rose and honeysuckle are excellent climbing additions to hedges and provide added nectar,’ advises Guy Barter from the RHS. 

‘It is potentially unwise to plant elders (not to be confused with alders) and sycamores but if elderberries are wanted they can be incorporated and the raggedy resulting hedge tolerated. Brambles tend to take over but planting in shade helps to curb them. Avoid yew in hedges where livestock browse as it can poison them. Sadly, box is so afflicted by box tree moths we can no longer recommend it.’

1. Common hazel (Corylus avellana)

‘One of the most versatile hedging plants, hazel sets catkins as leaves turn yellow and fall in autumn. These shed pollen in February when small maroon female flowers open, followed by nuts in autumn. Lay the long stems or cut for bean supports,’ says horticulturist and author Anne Swithinbank.

It is the combination of leaves (which are attractive to caterpillars); catkins (which are popular with pollinators) and hazelnuts, that make hazel one of the best hedges for wildlife.

Hazelnuts are a good high-energy food source for wildlife and are popular with mice, chipmunks and squirrels. They are also favored by woodpeckers, bluejays and nuthatches. 

2. Alder (Alnus glutinosa) 

Alder is commonly known as one of the best trees for clay soil, however, it is also a great hedge for wildlife. Perfect for wet and waterlogged soils, alder is an extremely durable plant and makes for a great fast-growing hedge – it will add at least 23 inches of height each year.

'The leaves provide food for invertebrates, such as the larvae of caddis flies, stoneflies and water beetles,' says experts at the Wildlife Trust. Alder catkins are also popular plants for pollinators.

3. Holly (Ilex aquifolium)

One of the prettiest evergreen plants, holly is also one of the best hedges for wildlife.

'Choosing a wildlife-friendly hedge with spiky foliage, such as Blackthorn or Holly, provides a bushy habitat that keeps food sources and nests safe from predators, such as cats or other larger birds. Planting these low maintenance hedge plants around the base of a bird table or hanging feeder can also protect unsuspecting birds as they eat,' explains Jamie Shipley, managing director at Hedges Direct.

'As long as you don’t mind spiny leaves in the garden, evergreen holly shines from a wild hedge come winter, but of course, male and female plants are needed for berries. It’s invaluable for the holly blue butterfly,' says horticulturist Anne Swithinbank.

If growing holly hedges, it is important you know when to prune holly bushes to prevent them from taking over. 

4. Berberis

One of the best evergreen shrubs, berberis can add a wide spectrum of color to a backyard, from its spring green leaves with pretty white flowers to its orange berries which, along with the leaves, deepen to red come winter. Not being too needy in terms of watering, berberis is one of the best hedges for wildlife to add to drought-tolerant planting ideas.

5. Lavender

If you are looking for a low hedge, perhaps to frame path ideas, then lavender is a great choice. Lavenders are ‘drought tolerant and provide a wonderful food source for bees,’ explains Jamie Shipley, managing director at Hedges Direct.

There are lots of different lavender varieties available but if you're looking for the best lavender hedges for wildlife, then Lavandula Provence is a great choice. One of the tallest lavender varieties, it grows to around 35 inches tall. 

If establishing a lavender hedge for wildlife, be sure you know how to grow lavender and when to plant lavender to give your hedge the best start.

6. Scarlet hawthorn (Crataegus coccinea)

Native to eastern North America, the scarlet hawthorn is characterized by its beautiful red berries and its thorny branches. One of the best trees with red berries, they are invaluable in providing food for birds and other wildlife while the thorns provide protection from predators such as hawks or cats. The pretty white flowers will also attract lots of bees and butterflies in the spring and summer months. 

What is a good hedge for birds?

Hawthorn, berberis, alder, and hazel are all good hedges for birds. They provide the perfect mix of habitat and food. Planting two or three hedging plants is a great way to ensure a diverse hedge that will attract a wide range of birds and other wildlife.

What wildlife live in hedges?

Hedges don't just provide food for animals. The best hedges for wildlife also provide a habitat for birds and other wildlife. Birds will live in hedges over winter, and will also use it as a safe space to build their nests in the spring. Mice will also hibernate in a hedge as will other small mammals such as chipmunks. 

If you are trying to make your backyard more eco-friendly, planting a hedge for wildlife is one of the simplest yet most effective things you can do.

An invaluable addition to wildlife garden ideas, planting a hedge will give birds and other visiting insects and animals a valuable source of food and habitat.

'When wanting to embrace sustainable garden ideas, plant hedges for your boundaries over fences every time. Hedges are good for wildlife, and the environment, too. They provide a habitat and absorb pollution. Use mixed wildlife hedging in rural areas and dense evergreens in the urban environment,' advises H&G's garden expert Leigh Clapp.

How to plant a hedge for wildlife

Some of the best fast-growing hedges and best fragrant hedges are also great for wildlife. What's more, you can combine planting for wildlife with defining the shape and structure of your backyard's boundaries by planting privacy hedges, too. Garden fence ideas, on the other hand, whether wooden or metal, limit wildlife highways, preventing animals from traveling from yard to yard. While you can install wildlife-friendly baseboards, these only offer a limited improvement. So, instead, learn how to plant a wildlife hedge to provide valuable food, habitat, and security for birds and other wildlife.

1. Plant hedges for wildlife at the right time

Hedges are best planted in spring or fall when the ground isn’t frozen, dry or waterlogged. Plant bare root and root-balled varieties as soon as they arrive or heel in (like when planting roses) until ready to plant. Cell-grown and potted hedge plants can be left a little longer but need to be kept watered and be planted before they outgrow their pots.

2. Choose the right mix of species

A mix of deciduous and evergreens is best but avoid mixing too many species – two to three is best, planted informally so they all mingle together as they grow.

3. Mark the hedge line

Mark the hedge line using sand and decide whether to use a single or double row. A single row will be cheaper to grow but a double row provides greater impact and privacy.

4. Plant the hedges

‘Cultivate the soil to 12in (30cm) deep, let it settle or tread firm and use three plants per yard (meter) for a single row and six-eight for a double,’ recommends horticulturalist and author Anne Swithinbank – her latest books are available on Amazon.

If no rain is forecast, water in.

Picking the perfect placement for a wildlife hedge

The main role of a hedge of any kind is to provide privacy. This will dictate the size and location of your hedge and will also guide your other garden privacy ideas.

'Plant a hedge at least 3ft away from the boundary on your land. This will help to avoid potential problems with neighbors and, if they trim the hedge to your boundary line, the main stems won’t be damaged. Do allow space for trimming on your side, too – don’t fill borders right up to the hedge or you’ll trample over the plants in front when you need to trim it,' explains garden expert Leigh Clapp.

Urban vs. rural hedges

When it comes to selecting the best hedges for wildlife, it is important to consider where you live.

You need to choose plants that will thrive in your backyard’s soil. A failing hedge will not only look unpleasant but will be of little benefit to wildlife.

‘Urban backyards are often more prone to wet or waterlogged soils, with water running off hard surfaces. Alder (Alnus glutinosa) and Willow (Salix capraea) are well worth considering for wet soils prone to being waterlogged. Urban soils are generally not as naturally balanced so it will help to use topsoil and fertilizer to give your plants the best chance of establishing,’ explains Jamie Shipley, managing director at Hedges Direct. ‘Rural areas are generally more affected by drought and dry soils. Brachyglottis could be used to add a splash of yellow to drought-prone gardens, while Berberis hedge plants can add a wide spectrum of color to a garden in need of drought-tolerant hedging.’

It is also a good idea to combine two or three varieties. Ensure you combine fast-growing hedge plants, which will fill out your hedge and provide privacy, alongside other hedging plants that produce berries and habitat for birds and wildlife.

Planting different hedge forms

When it comes to establishing your hedge there are several options: pot grown; cell grown; root-balled and bare-root. Pot and cell grown are more affordable and easier to plant but will require patience to establish while root-balled and bare root will provide instant coverage but are more costly.

The practicalities of planting your hedge for wildlife will depend on the option you choose. ‘For pot-grown and cell-grown plants, your trench needs to be about twice as wide as the pots or root structures. Root-balled and bare-root plants will need a trench twice as wide as the root structure. For pot-grown plants, plant them at the same depth as they were in the pot, or in the case of bare root and root balled plants, plant to the damp line on the main stem where you can see they were previously planted in the fields. Cell-grown needs an inch of soil over the top of the roots,’ explains Jamie Shipley at Hedges Direct.

Why are hedges good for wildlife?

Unlike fences, hedges provide shelter, protection, and food for wildlife. Once established, a hedge can offer the perfect location for birds to build their nests and raise their young, especially if you include a thorny plant as this will offer additional protection from predators.

What hedge is best for wildlife?

‘Consider native hedging to recreate the local ecosystem within your area as much as possible. Species-rich, mixed hedging will encourage greater biodiversity and support different types of wildlife. Choosing a wildlife-friendly hedge with spiky foliage, such as Blackthorn or Holly, provides a bushy habitat that keeps food sources and nests safe from predators, such as cats or other larger birds.

'Planting these hedges around the base of a bird table or hanging feeder can also protect unsuspecting birds as they eat,’ advises Jamie Shipley at Hedges Direct. ‘Also be sure to incorporate a plant with berries to feed the birds and flowering hedging plants such as Dog Rose and Bird Cherry which have flowers that attract bees and butterflies.’

Is a hedge better than a fence?

Yes, a hedge is better than a fence. A hedge provides greater security – it is harder to climb a spiky hedge than it is to climb a fence. Hedging offers more benefits to wildlife – providing food, habitat and security. Opt for flowering and evergreen varieties and a hedge will be more aesthetically pleasing than a fence.

Privacy hedges are an ideal planting element to bring to your backyard if the ground-floor of your house feels like a goldfish bowl – a leafy screen can shield you from view, and look beautiful, too. 

By tempering wind, they create shelter, and they also frame the garden with verdant color and structure. On top of this, privacy hedging provides birds with shelter from wind, rain, and predators, as well as nesting sites, in turn treating you to the sight and sound of songbirds all year round. Plus they're smaller than trees for privacy and screening in a backyard – perfect if you need to save space or don't want to throw your garden into shade.

Fast-growing hedges with dense growth will fill out at speed, too, forming an impenetrable wall of foliage that guards you from onlookers and intruders, so that you can relax at home. 

Best privacy hedges

Whether you want to plant a hedge for screening, security or even just to create a private corner in your backyard, these are some of the best evergreen shrubs to choose.

1. Best privacy hedge for impenetrability 

Arborvitae ‘Green Giant’ is as good as a moat around a castle, having incredibly thickset growth that nobody can peer or push through.

‘If I had to choose a single plant, one that grew quickly and was evergreen, it would have to be arborvitae ‘Green Giant’,’ says Connecticut-based landscape designer Richard Schipul. ‘It fills out quickly and doesn’t have the problems that a lot of our other common evergreens have. However, I very rarely plant a monoculture when screening. I tend to use a combination of different plants, and arborvitae could be in the mix.’

Growing tips: This Thuja is best in well-drained, retentive soil in sun or semi-shade. Place plants 5-6ft (1.5-2m) apart to create a hedge.

Hardiness: USDA 5-8 (UK H6).

Height: 6-10ft (2-3m) as a hedge.

2. Best privacy hedge for semi shade

Skip laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’) is a hardy variety of cherry laurel that quickly forms an upright evergreen hedge with fragrant flower racemes in spring.

‘Skip cherry laurel is a great evergreen,’ says Pennsylvania-based landscape designer Nathan Tuno, who works at Roots Landscape Inc. ‘It is a go-to for us when we are trying to buffer or hedge certain areas. It has a shiny bay-leaf-like shape and white bottlebrush flowers that are great for pollinators.’ 

Growing tips: Best in humus-rich, deep, well-drained soil in semi-shade. Cut the hedge after flowering, unless there are birds nesting in it, in which case wait until August. 

Hardiness: USDA 6-9 (UK H5).

Height: 6-10ft (2-3m).

3. Best privacy hedge for security

Firethorn (Pyracantha) is a fast-growing shrub akin to living barbed wire, since its stems have very sharp spines. It is such an effective security barrier that the Metropolitan Police in London recommend planting it to keep intruders out. 

But its biggest selling point is that it’s a superb wildlife plant: humming with bees in May and June, when its ivory flowers bloom; and a larder for birds in the fall, when it is a breathtaking wall of yellow, red, or orange berries. The variety Saphyr Orange has fabulous flame-colored berries that light up the season. 

Growing tips: This dark-leaved evergreen shrub can be grown against a wall or as a free-standing hedge. Plant in well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade. Firethorn will grow in shade, but produces a pathetic amount of berries. 

Hardiness: USDA 6-9 (UK H6).

Height: 12ft (4m).

4. Best privacy hedge for color

Copper beech forms a sophisticated hedge that can be clipped into neat lines. In summer, the claret-colored leaves form an elegant barrier; then, throughout fall and winter, the spent rust-orange leaves remain on the hedge, rustling wonderfully on the breeze, and preserving your privacy.

‘Cooper beech hedges are handsome,’ wrote the late great Christopher Lloyd, who created the legendary garden at Great Dixter in East Sussex, ‘especially after their annual trim, when the secondary young growth is almost pink and in striking contrast to the mature dark background.’ 

Growing tips: An established hedge must be cut in August in order to retain the leaves over winter. Unlike dense evergreen hedges, which can be damaged by strong winds, beech is able to filter wind well, meaning it could be used in an exposed site; this creates lovely sound when the wind blows, but means the leaves are shed sooner, in turn reducing privacy. In a more sheltered location, it will retain its fox-red leaves well over winter. 

Hardiness: USDA 4-7 (UK H6).

Height: 6-10ft (2-3m) as a hedge.

5. Best privacy hedge for soft shape

Pacific wax myrtle (Morella californica, Myrica californica, or California wax myrtle) is an upright, fragrant evergreen shrub, native to the west coast of the US, that is fast-growing and long-lived, making it ideal for hedging. 

‘As an alternative to more rigid and formal hedges, I love the evergreen Pacific wax myrtle for its dense yet wispy form,’ says Oregon-based landscape architect and garden designer Bethany Rydmark. ‘Its berries support birds and the leaf texture is a pleasant alternative to boxwood.’

Growing tips: ‘It grows quickly, withstands pruning and shearing or can be let to range as a softer, informal hedgerow,’ says Bethany Rydmark. ‘Pacific wax myrtle is likewise climate adaptable and more drought resistant than traditional hedges.’ Grow in an open position in well-drained soil, in sun or semi-shade. As its name suggests, it is happy in coastal conditions.  

Hardiness: USDA 7-10 (UK H5).

Height: 6-30ft (2-9m).

6. Best privacy hedge for winter color

Juniperus scopulorum ‘Blue Arrow’ is a conifer with dense ice-blue foliage that looks good all year, but is particularly dazzling during the cold months when it glows in the pale light and has a magical winter-wonderland look. 

‘Juniper is an alternative to the ubiquitous arborvitae for creating a privacy screen,’ says Illinois-based landscape designer Carolyn Gange. ‘It is native to the eastern half of the US, very hardy in zones 2 to 9, and a significant source of food and shelter for wildlife. The species J. virginiana can spread invasively, so opt for other juniper forms, such as ‘Blue Arrow’.’ 

Growing tips: Plant in well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade. It does not require a lot of pruning, but can be clipped in early autumn. Purchase larger plants in order to create a hedge in less time, and – since its form is columnar – plant them closer together than you would most hedging shrubs. 

Hardiness: USDA 2-9 (UK H6).

Height: 5-15ft (1.5-4.5m).

7. Best privacy hedge for wildlife

Mixed hedging is a great option for a contemporary wildlife garden, creating a tapestry-like wall of different colours and textures and offering birds and bees a range of food sources. 

‘I don’t like the uniformity of traditional hedges, so I prefer to mix shrubs and grasses with perennials for privacy screens,’ says Irene Kalina-Jones, landscape designer at Outside Space NYC in New York City. ‘It is livelier, better for the environment, and easier to maintain. The Japanese do the same: they mix shrubs and hard prune them into hedges. Some of the evergreen shrubs I like to use in a hedge include skip laurel, Myrica pensylvanica, Ilex glabra, Prunus lusitanica, yew, euonymus, and andromeda. I add deciduous ones into the mix (for example, Viburnum x burkwoodii), as well as tall grasses, such as miscanthus.’ 

Growing tips: ‘Don’t start with seedlings or baby plants,’ advises Irene. ‘We mostly plant substantial-size plants, as they will grow faster, since they already have large roots that will establish better in the ground.’ 

8. Best privacy hedge for topiary

Yew is the most ultimate plant for topiary hedging, used in formal European gardens for centuries. Its dense growth creates total privacy and allows it to be clipped into incredible lines; topiarists even use a spirit level. Its dark-green growth, which can look black from a distance, dramatically frames the garden. 

Nathaniel Lloyd, who created the iconic topiary hedging at Great Dixter in East Sussex, deemed yew the ultimate evergreen hedging plant: ‘Common yew, Taxus baccata, is superior to all,’ he wrote in his book Garden Craftsmanship in Yew and Box. ‘That yew is slow of growth is one of those popular fallacies the origin of which is difficult to imagine, for it is actually one of the quickest growing of all the hedge plants. The small leaves or needles do not look unsightly when cut as do those of big-leafed plants like laurel, and if properly clipped the plants do not become lean and stalky near the ground like privet.’ Once mature, yew is slow growing and can live for hundreds of years. 

Growing tips: Yew hedging is most suited to large gardens, as it can be too dark for a small space. Plant in well-drained soil. It is vital to water regularly until plants establish. NB All parts of yew are poisonous – particularly the scarlet berries.

Hardiness: USDA 5-8 (UK H7).

Height: 6-8ft (2-2.5m) or more.

9. Best privacy hedge for sound

Bamboo creates a superb dense hedge with a contemporary look and has the added advantage of making a wonderful swishing sound when the wind blows. 

Arguably, the best type to use in the average small garden is Fargesia (F. rufa or F. murielae), which won’t block out too much light and can be clipped into a hedge shape. Taller bamboos (such as Phyllostachys aurea and Pseudosasa japonica) are an option in larger gardens and can be left as they are, if you love the look of bamboo, without being clipped and will still create privacy. 

Growing tips: Fargesia doesn’t spread much, but Phyllostachys and Pseudosasa do. ‘Every time bamboo sends any shoots out beyond its designated area, chop off the runner as close to the main plant as possible,’ advise the bamboo experts at Architectural Plants in West Sussex. ‘Nothing like using a spade with a nice sharp edge that you’ve just created on an electric grind stone. This way you’ll keep the plant under control and it will never have a chance to develop enormous root systems that can render bamboo extremely difficult to control.’ It’s also a great idea to put down a bamboo barrier. 

Hardiness: USDA 4-9 (UK H5-6); range varies according to type. 

Height: 10-15ft.

10. Best privacy hedge for scent

Pittosporum are tender evergreen shrubs grown for their glossy leaves and ability to create good structure; some also have deliciously scented flowers. 

‘Pittosporum tenuifolium is a good choice as a fast-growing hedge,’ says London-based garden designer Claire Mee. ‘It is easy to prune and hardy, with many varieties to choose from – my top pick being ‘Abbotsbury Gold’. Many pittosporum give off a beautiful, sweet, honeyed scent at night, perfect for evenings in the garden.’ 

‘Anderson’ is fantastic form of the New Zealand P. tenuifolium for hedging that was discovered by Architectural Plants. The Japanese P. tobira is a great scented hedging evergreen, but is even more tender than P. tenuifolium. 

Growing tips: If growing pittosporum for tall hedging, ensure you select one of the larger forms. Plant in well-drained soil. In sun, the flowers will be better; in shade the foliage will be more impressive, so semi-shade is best. If you don’t live in a mild area, winter protection is necessary, as is planting in sheltered full sun. 

Hardiness: USDA 7-10 (UK H3-4) depending on the species. 

Height: 4-15ft (1-4.5m).

What is the best fast-growing privacy hedge for wildlife? 

‘For the home gardener who wants a quick solution to a privacy issue, I recommend buying larger, more mature native specimens,’ says Jessica. ‘There are many ways to gain privacy along a fence line without settling on a single species of plant. For instance, you can create a layered effect with arborvitae, grasses, and shrubs (such as red osier dogwood), providing color for the entire year, as well as a variety of all-season benefits to different animals and pollinators.

‘The use of "fast-growing" as a trait for plant selection is something that I tend to flinch at,’ says Jessica Soulliere, owner of Potager Garden Design, LLC and The Ferry Street Nursery Project in Detroit, Michigan, ‘because when you require fast growing as a selection criteria, it often results in non-native plants, which aren’t as good for wildlife and the environment, or – in the case of trees – ones that tend to suffer breakage easily as they age.’ When it comes to hedging, breakages can be problematic to correct. 

What is the best privacy hedge long-term? 

A mixed hedge is the best privacy hedge long-term. Not only does it provide a wealth of different food sources for birds and pollinating insects, it also looks contemporary. Once clipped, it is a glorious wall of different colors and textures that morphs in every season, providing you with an ever-changing display. The other advantage is that – should a part of the hedge succumb to disease or weather breakage, it is easy to replace without damaging the look of the hedge.

‘I cannot stand the look of a partly dead hedge,’ says Irene Kalina-Jones, landscape designer at Outside Space NYC in New York City. ‘This is one of the reasons I dislike traditional uniform hedges. I prefer to mix shrubs and grasses with perennials for screening. It is livelier and more eco-friendly, but also much easier to maintain. When you have a solid uniform arborvitae hedge and then a bunch of the plants die, good luck finding the right size to match what needs replacing!’ 

Fast-growing hedges can rapidly transform your backyard. In a short space of time, quick-growing plants can help define the boundaries of your property, while also enhancing privacy and supporting local wildlife.

If you are looking for backyard landscaping ideas, fast-growing hedges can quickly add structure and shape to your yard. Fortunately for gardeners, some of the best hedging plants are quick-growers, adding height and visual interest to any plot.

'Fast-growing hedges can be sheared into geometric shapes or allowed to grow naturally,' says garden expert Melinda Myers. 'If you like the formal clipped look consider plants that tolerate this type of pruning, such as yew. For an informal or natural look that would befit cottage garden ideas, keep pruning to a minimum.' Here, we share some of the best fast-growing hedges that will add impact to any yard.

Best fast-growing hedge ideas

Fast-growing hedges are an ideal solution for gardeners who have recently moved into a new home. Your only challenge will be to keep them in check, as many of these hedges can quickly take over. However, with regular pruning and shaping, you can keep your hedge looking good and under control.

When considering how to plan a garden, hedges should be a key consideration. 'Planting fast-growing hedges at your boundaries is a great idea,' says Period Living garden expert, Leigh Clapp. 'They are good for wildlife and the environment by absorbing pollution. I recommend using mixed wildlife hedging in rural areas and dense evergreens in the urban environment.'

1. Purple fast-growing hedges

Often known as 'the purple bush', loropetalum shrubs make for eye-catching fast-growing hedges. With striking purple leaves, this plant offers a stunning contrast to the traditional green hedging.

Growing best in US hardiness zones 7 to 11, this hedge is a low-maintenance option for gardeners. Plant this hedge in full sun, which will enhance the purple coloring of this plant. Loropetalum will also be more likely to thrive in gardens subject to long, hot summers.

Loropetalum shrubs are available to buy online from Perfect Plants.

2. Fragrant fast-growing hedges

Mock orange plants, also known as Philadelphus, are celebrated for their fragrant summer blooms. If you are seeking sensory garden ideas, mock orange shrubs should be a consideration.

These plants typically grow best in US hardiness zone 4 to US hardiness zone 7. Growing more than two feet per year, mock orange plants are exceptionally fast-growing hedges.

'Mock orange is a deservedly popular medium-sized shrub renowned for its scented white flowers that bloom from May through to July,' says Leigh Clapp. 'It will grow best in full sun or part shade, with a preference for well-draining soil.'

Mock orange plants are available from Nature Hills.

3. Fast-growing hedges for winter color

A favorite plant that is ideal for those seeking winter garden ideas, the red twig dogwood plant, Cornus sericea, makes for a vibrant display when grown at the boundary of a yard. This dogwood looks just as good in winter as it does in the height of spring.

Cornus sericea, has a dense twiggy structure, and so can be used by gardeners seeking garden privacy ideas. This hardy dogwood can be grown in cooler regions down to US hardiness zone 3.

Cornus sericea plants are available from Nature Hills.

4. Hedges for year-round privacy

If you are wondering what the best trees for privacy and screening in a backyard are, then choosing a dense, evergreen hedge is important. Yew, for example, as seen in the image above, is an ideal option, that will maintain its foliage throughout the year, screening your boundaries from passersby.

Yew plants can be grown in US hardiness zone 4 to 7. What's more, they are a versatile hedge, able to grow in full sun or full shade. Yew shrubs are available from Nature Hills.

5. Best fast-growing hedges for statement blooms

Lilac is a beautiful addition to the garden with its sweet fragrant smell and large lilac blooms that bring joy every spring. Lilac plants can be grown in US hardiness zones 3 to 7. They can be grown as hedging, preferring a fertile, well-draining soil in a full sun position.

The trick with growing lilac as hedging is knowing how to prune lilac to maintain good shape and compact, dense growth. Eventually, these plants can reach 10 feet tall if they are happy.

Lilac shrubs can be bought online from Nature Hills.

6. Prettiest fast-growing hedges

If you want fast-growing hedges that also bring beauty to the garden, then camellia hedges are the plant to pick. Camellias are also some of the best winter plants for pots and borders, largely because they are evergreen with stunning winter flowers.

As with any addition to your garden, knowing how to care for this brilliant winter flowering shrub is vital. Particular care should be given to learning how to prune camellia, as this will keep these fast-growing hedges under control and looking their best.

Camellia plants are available from Nature Hills.

7. Best fast-growing hedges for early spring color

Forsythia is a great choice for fast-growing hedges. When considering how to grow forsythia, it is one of the hardiest fast-growing hedges, growing best in US hardiness zone 5 through to zone 8. It will reach heights of up to 10 feet and will grow approximately two feet per year.

Knowing how to prune forsythia is essential for impressive blooming next year. It is best to prune as soon as the blossom fades, typically around mid-spring, giving your plant lots of time to regrow during the growing season.

Forsythia shrubs are available online from Perfect Plants.

8. Best fast-growing hedges for greenery

Laurel is the quintessential green hedge for any yard. Laurel shrubs have large, glossy green leaves, and when planted as hedging can create a dense border. Lauren plants grow best in US hardiness zone 8 to US hardiness zones 10 and above.

Smartly clipped laurel hedges and topiary specimens are characteristic of English garden ideas and offer a good alternative to the slower-growing box hedges.

Laurel shrubs are available to buy online from Nature Hills.

9. Best fast-growing hedges for wildlife

'One of the most popular and prevalent hedgerow shrubs that grow throughout the UK but also will grow well across much of North America is hawthorn,' says Leigh Clapp. The hawthorn will grow between one and two feet per year meaning it will quickly form a dense hedge at the edge of your plot.

The hawthorn is part of the rose family and is loved by gardeners for its pretty nectar-rich flowers and bright red-orange fall berries. 'The Hawthorn provides food for some 150 different insect species and is tolerant of pollution and exposed sites,' continues Leigh Clapp. This makes hawthorn the ideal plant for those gardeners seeking wildlife garden ideas.

10. Best fast-growing flowering hedge for color

Callistemon, or bottlebrush shrubs, are striking plants with beautiful blooms. Growing approximately 1 foot per year, this stunning plant explodes in an array of vibrant, feathering flowers in spring, and makes for the perfect accompaniment for other tropical garden ideas.

Using plants with stunning flowers as part of hedging can help to soften your boundaries, by creating a more natural backdrop in your yard as well as offering beneficial food and habitat for wildlife.

Bottlebrush plants can be purchased online from Nature Hills.

FAQs

What is a good privacy hedge?

Camellia, laurel and hawthorn are all good privacy hedges. These fast-growing hedges are all evergreen, which will help to screen your yard and home. These fast-growing options will ensure that you are not waiting several years to achieve the level of privacy you desire.

When should you plant hedges?

It is best to plant hedges in the fall when the ground is still warm. Different plants will have different planting times, so you should always double-check the planting directions for your specific plant.

Selecting fast-growing hedges for your yard can help you quickly create shelter and privacy for your boundaries. For additional hedge care and growing advice, see our guide on how and when to fertilize hedges, to give your plants a boost this year.

While the thought of cool autumnal mornings may seem distant for many,they remain on Monty Don’s mind this July. Why? Because the preservation of our hedges from future frosts begins at the peak of summer. 

Monty’s garden ideas not only help us preserve our hedges but also reassure us of the best time to trim without harming the birds who nest amongst the greenery. In his recent blog post, Monty reveals that with this advice timing is everything.

He explains that July is the safest time to approach our hedges, as young birds will have flown their nests, meaning they are safe to cut. 

'A trim now will allow any subsequent regrowth to harden off before possible autumnal frosts,’ he says. 

The Monty Don fans amongst us may already follow his advice from an episode of BBC's Gardener's World, which also addresses bird safety. Monty pointed to advice from the RSPB, suggesting we should refrain from cutting between March and August. 

'That's because birds are still nesting; there are young in the nest. If you start getting a hedge cutter out, you're almost certain to disturb them, and the results will not be good,' Monty shares. 

But what makes this tip different? In this case, Monty is referring to small birds, who usually leave their nest in June. Therefore, it is unlikely that baby birds will remain in your hedge at this point in July.  And, don't forget to feed birds during the colder months ahead. Feeding birds in winter is essential for keeping our feathered friends healthy during the coldest season

When chasing that hedge cutting technique, Monty suggests starting by cutting the hedge's sides while making sure the bottom of it remains wider than the top, whatever the size. 

‘This "batter" allows light to reach the bottom half and ensures full, healthy foliage down to the ground. Then cut the top, using string as a guide to keeping it straight and level. If it is an informal hedge, curve the top over, so it is rounded,’ Monty explains.

However, Monty’s tips are not for every hedge. He warns us to step away from the shears if we have a hedge that needs revitalizing.

‘If you have an overgrown hedge, now is the best time to reduce it in size, whereas if you have a hedge that needs reinvigorating, wait until winter and trim it hard when it is dormant. This will promote more vigorous growth next spring,’ he says.

After giving your hedge a healthy trim Monty offered some eco-friendly garden ideas for reusing cuttings and putting hedge trimmings to good use. ‘If the hedge trimmings are not prickly, they will be soft enough to chop up with a mower and added as a useful contribution to the compost heap,’ he says.

Now is the time to trim your hedges safely, and make sure your garden edging ideas are still flourishing come October.

With their spiky bodies and snuffly noses, there is something undeniably cute about the humble garden hedgehog. While they were once a common sight in UK gardens, they are now increasingly rare. 

See: Gardens – from inspiring spaces to plant know-how

So rare in fact that they were recently classed as vulnerable to extinction - so it's never been so important to help them. According to the Wildlife Trusts there were 1.5 million hedgehogs in 1995 while today it is believed that there are fewer than 500,000. 

The sharp decline in numbers is due to myriad factors, from loss of habitat due to urbanization and deforestation, as well as a loss of food because of the increased use of pesticides both in commercial farming and in domestic gardens. 

'Hedgehogs are becoming incredibly rare,' says gardening guru Monty Don. 'If you find one in your garden you must look after it.' 

'Building a hedgehog house provides a safe, warm space for a hedgehog to sleep, give birth or hibernate' says expert Sally Coulthard in her book  The Hedgehog Handbook

Do hedgehogs use hedgehog houses?

Hedgehogs to use hedgehog houses, and they offer them offer valuable protection, whether they are hibernating through winter or just sleeping through the day. This is particularly important given the loss of natural habitat they've been facing, which leaves them vulnerable to the elements and prey. 

Hedgehogs are great for the garden – they eat a wide variety of garden pests, slugs and snails being favorite meals. Using slug pellets not only eradicates this vital food source, but can also prove fatal to hedgehogs if consumed, so instead protect plants overnight by covering them, creating beer traps, using copper tape or eggshells. With time, the hedgehogs (and other predators like birds) will be all the slug control you'll need.

See: How to create an eco-friendly garden – with tips from experts

What is the best house for a hedgehog?

There are lots of options for choosing the best hedgehog house.

It is very easy to build your own. There are lots of hedgehog house plans available online to teach you how to create a wooden house. Alternatively you can quickly create a hedgehog house by cutting a door and two rectangular air-vents in an old plastic storage container and filling it with dry leaves.

If you want a more professional addition there are countless styles available in garden centres and from wildlife charities. Whether you want a cute wooden hedgehog house or a more naturalistic twig igloo, you'll be sure to find the perfect fit for your garden.

See: How to grow garlic – a step by step guide to growing from cloves

How do you attract hedgehogs into hedgehog houses?

'Place the house near plenty of nesting material – the hedgehog will want to build her own nest, so site the box next to lots of leaves, straw, hay, grasses or fine twigs – the more unkempt the better' says Sally Coulthard in her book The Hedgehog Handbook.

Don't clear or cut back the plants around the hedgehog house – you need them to feel as protected as possible. 'Leave it in a quiet corner of the garden, and it will house successive hedgehogs – who might stay for just one night or hunker down for weeks over winter.'

Other ways to attract hedgehogs to your garden – and keep them there – is to stop using chemicals, to be careful when you are strimming or clearing parts of the garden, to ensure your pond has a safe exit for them and that any netting is well clear of where hedgehogs might room. Finally, put out food (at first) and water for them – but not in the hedgehog house – hedgehogs don't eat where they nest, so put it near the house but not inside.

How do you attract hedgehogs but not rats?

You can encourage hedgehogs into the garden by creating a hedgehog-highway. 

'Make holes in your fences so that they can travel between gardens,' says gardener Kate Bradbury. 'It is thought that they can travel up to a mile a night in search of food so one garden is never enough for them.'

'Don't be too tidy,' advises Monty Don in a recent entry in his blog. 'Try not to disturb natural hibernation spots, especially if you are vigorously tidying up after a long winter. These creatures all make a slow start and will be lethargic and weak – be mindful of them.'

To ensure you're not attracting rats, put the hedgehog's food in an open area next to the hedgehog house so that the hedgehog can get to it first – rats tend to run along boundaries and are rarely brave enough to dart out into open areas. 

Hedgehogs are mostly nocturnal, so put the food out just before you go to bed – that gives them a better chance of getting to it first. Finally, only put a little food out at a time – they like cat food, although ideally you want them to eat your garden's pests. More on this below.

See: How to grow potatoes – a step-by-step guide

What do hedgehogs eat?

Never leave milk out for hedgehogs as they are lactose intolerant, instead cat or dog food (tinned or kibble) is a popular supermarket option that will definitely go down well with visiting hedgehogs. Be sure to use a heavy bowl or a terracotta saucer as hedgehogs have poor eye-sight and are prone to knocking things over. 

As well as slugs and snails, hedgehogs love earthworms. Encouraging earthworms into your garden not only provides your hedgehogs (and any visiting birds) with a tasty meal but 'they're also important for the health of your soil,' says Sally Coulthard in her book The Hedgehog Handbook.

'Encourage earthworms to flourish by spreading rotting organic materials such as compost, dried leaves or manure along your beds'

Do I need to clean out my hedgehog house?

You need to clean out your hedgehog house once a year towards the middle to end of spring to prevent pests taking advantage of the cozy box. However, make sure that you don't still have a hedgehog inside before you start clearing out.

See: Wildlife garden ideas – more ways to make your backyard a haven for nature

Other than that, a hedgehog house is a very low maintenance addition to the garden but one that can make a world of difference to wildlife.

Esteemed gardener Carol Klein has shared her expert box hedge pruning advice to ensure your garden is ready for the warmer months ahead. 

In her new two-part series, Gardening with Carol Klein, the presenter encouraged her viewers to begin preparation for spring and summer, hinting that there are still jobs to complete before the brighter seasons arrive. 

See: Small garden ideas – maximize a compact gardening space

Following this treasured gardener's expertise will guarantee your garden looks pruned and tidy before the many garden parties we will all inevitably hold once the restrictions ease.  

 Carol Klein's box hedge pruning advice

Before focusing specifically on box hedges, Carol Klein first set the scene by sharing her general pruning advice. She added that a looper is the best tool for the job. 

'Judicious pruning is an important way to keep shrubs healthy and in good shape,' Carol began.

'First of all, take a really good look at it, look at its silhouette, I can see most of these branches are endowed with these lovely pink flowers, but here and there, there's dead growth.'

Targeting the root of her tree's branch, Carol shared her general tips for pruning shrubs and trees: ‘Begin to make a nice clean cut… Once you've cut out the larger dead branches, snip out the smaller twigs with some secateurs,' she shared.

However, the technique for pruning box hedges is notably different from other shrubs, as Mrs Klein demonstrated on a box hedge in her own garden. 

See: Garden path ideas – create a beautiful walkway with the right materials, edging and plants

‘It's one you don't prune in the usual way,’ announced the gardener. ‘Trim the new growth [like this] using sharp shears or garden scissors. If you do it twice a year – in June – then again in the autumn – it will keep your box neat.'

The gardener then emphasized the freedom one enjoys while pruning, saying: 'People usually want to change their box into a topiary, just by clipping away to create all sorts of forms and structures. You can really let your imagination run wild. 

'I've got a good friend who used to be a hairdresser, but he gave it all up because he went into topiary,' she jokes. 'And really, the two are the same. They both re-grow, so if you make mistakes, you can always have another go at it.' 

Carol Klein's tips on cloud pruning

After explaining the broader technicality of pruning, the gardener focused more specifically on the Japanese art of cloud pruning – a method of training trees and shrubs into shapes that resemble clouds (see below). 

'The Japanese are very interested in observing nature, and they often let it inform the way they garden. It is a question of trying to emulate those lovely, soft, billowing shapes,' Carol began before explaining how to bring cloud pruning into our own gardens. 

See: Garden wall ideas – create a boundary or define a space with a vertical structure

'You can start your own box hedge with a tray of smaller plants or by taking cuttings in an opened position, and with well-watered soil, it will grow steadily, year by year,' she concluded.

Is your box hedge due a prune?