Providing an adequate border around your landscape is crucial to increasing the privacy of your property. Luckily, you can achieve an outstanding level of privacy by creating a hedge using shrubs. A hedge is a series of shrubs grown close to each other to make a living wall around your home. Planting hedges will not only increase privacy but also will adorn your property with stunning colors both from the shrubs’ foliage and flowers. These colors are the primary reason why a living wall like a hedge is more beneficial than traditional walls.
You can use various shrubs to create a hedge, but three common shrubs top the list: buckthorn, cotoneaster, and dogwood. Keep reading to understand how these shrubs make good hedges for your property.
1. Buckthorn
Because hedges serve as a living wall on your landscape, it’s only wise to use shrubs that are hardy and can tolerate a plethora of conditions. You can count on the buckthorn shrub to thrive in varying soil conditions and continue providing an effective barrier around your property.
Buckthorn is a deciduous shrub that thrives when you plant it in sunny or partially shaded areas with moist and well-draining soils. Its glossy and dark green leaves start to emerge in spring, providing a stunning backdrop to the vibrant blooms of your landscape flowers. Its leaves also continue to flourish in late fall when most plants are starting to lose theirs.
Buckthorns create an outstanding hedge because they stand up to 20 feet in maturity. Their towering height provides better protection from strong winds and privacy from nosy neighbors.
Buckthorns are also deer-resistant plants due to the thorns found at the tip of their twigs.
2. Cotoneaster
If you want to create a hedge using a versatile plant, get your landscape some cotoneaster. Cotoneaster is another deciduous shrub that typically grows between 8-10 feet tall, producing bright red flowers in spring. This is a low-maintenance shrub that will thrive even without fertilizers. However, you need to place it in areas with full sun or partial shade and ensure the soil’s proper drainage so your cotoneaster hedge will prosper.
They are versatile because some varieties, like the cranberry and barberry cotoneaster, make good ground coverings. This only proves how stunning this shrub is on the ground and as a hedge. However, the hedge cotoneaster variety stands out because it envelopes your home with hues of orange and red from fall to winter. Cotoneaster has dense foliage that needs occasional trimming for better sunlight and air penetration of the plant’s interior.
3. Dogwood
Not all hedge plants are created equal, and the dogwood plant is proof of that because it can make your property stand out by creating stunning colors each season. However, one look at their famous white or pink flowers held by fiery red branches in spring will make you fall head over heels for dogwoods. As a homeowner, you get the most out of this deciduous shrub because it thrives in full sun and full shade! The vital thing to note when planting dogwoods is to grow them in soil with proper drainage.
Because of dogwoods’ unmatched charm, going the extra mile to care for them becomes more rewarding. Here are some things you can do to maintain their optimal health:
- Prune the shrubs during winter dormancy. Early spring is also a good time to prune, but make sure you do it before new leaves emerge. Avoid pruning in April when borers are most active.
- Ensure your dogwood hedge is receiving enough water to keep the soil moist during dry conditions.
- Although fertilizers aren’t necessary, dogwoods do benefit from slow-release fertilizers.
This shrub grows up to 40 feet tall, and you’ll be amazed at how it remains tall and dense to provide your property with privacy. Dogwoods and their stunning tapestry of colors also justify why using shrubs to create hedges can be a better idea than the traditional fence.
We are experts at trimming and pruning shrubs to keep them in their best state. Contact our team today!
Shrubs are excellent hedge materials, and they do a great job of making sure you have enough privacy on your property. They also produce stunning color displays around your property, so it stands out even more. However, your hedges also require trimming and pruning to ensure they are in their best state.
At Tree Keepers, our team has the experience and skills to trim and prune the shrubs on your property correctly. Property owners in Littleton, Golden, Broomfield, and surrounding Colorado communities can call (970) 465-2474 today to get an estimate for our trimming and pruning services.