Hedging Plants

A wide variety of plants are used as hedging in the garden and they all have different characteristics. Size, density, growth habit, flowering and evergreen or deciduous are all factors that need to be considered when buying plants to use as a hedges. Bare root hedge plants are available for sale in winter and are generally cheaper than potted plants, however potted plants are available throughout the year.

Selecting the right hedging plants

Position is also important, some plants will cope well with sun or shade, others may struggle in a shaded position, of suffer in full sun or coastal conditions. One of the biggest mistakes when planting a hedge is to choose the wrong plant for the conditions, although a plant may be 'all the fashion' at Chelsea, or 'on sale' at 'cheap prices' the question is, will it be the right choice for your situation and climate in the long term.

Style is also important, are you looking for a formal style that will be pruned or clipped regularly, or an informal type that requires little maintenance. Considering buying mature or advanced plants, this can create an 'instant hedge' but will cost a lot more to buy than smaller plants.

Hedging plants perform many tasks, they work as privacy screens, and also function as wind breaks. They can also be used as an informal fence. Box (buxus) and Laurel plants are two popular species in the UK.

Advanced Hedging

You may choose to buy more advanced plants, larger and older, to create a more immediate effect, these will be more expensive but can be worth the cost depending on the situation. A wide variety of plants both small and large growing are suitable for hedging and are available for sale online from growers and nurseries in the, UK.

Varieties and Plant Species suitable for Hedging

• Buxus
• Camellia
• Carpinus (Hornbeam)
• Cypress
• Escallonia
• Grisellinia
• Ilex (holly)
• Lavender
• Ligustrum (Privet)
• Magnolia
• Taxus (Yew)