Who doesn’t love a good hedge around their garden? It adds a natural boundary wall that provides privacy, keeps animals away, and makes your garden look elegant. But hedges can be a lot of work because you have to prune them and trim them regularly.
But what if we told you: you could plant a hedge that doesn’t require a lot of work and doesn’t need trimming all year round. We have made your life easy and made a list of the top low-maintenance hedging plants you can easily buy – so you don’t have to worry about constantly taking care of them.
Read on and find out which plants will make the best hedges with as little maintenance as possible.
Top 7 Hedges You Can Plant And Maintain Easily
Potentilla
Potentillas are great flowering hedges that are extremely easy to plant and care for. They don’t even require you to change the soil in any way because they can tolerate poor soil conditions, which means they can grow pretty much anywhere.
There are many varieties available, but the most known one is the shrub Potentilla, which makes for a great hedging plant. They have beautiful flowers that will bloom during springtime and last till summer.
The only downside with planting Potentillas is that they will look hideous during winters, as they lose their leaves during that time. But overall, it’s a great option for a low-maintenance hedging plant, and you won’t be disappointed with Potentillas.
Holly Hedge
Another great option for a hedging plant is Holly. It is one of the most decorative plants that are easy to manage and extremely low maintenance. Hollies are associated with Christmas because of their usage in making wreaths and other Christmas decorations. But you can plant them in your garden and make it cheerful all year round.
One very practical use of Hollies is that they are great at keeping animals and intruders out of your garden because of their prickly nature. They also produce berries but don’t try to eat one as Holly Berries are toxic for humans. These berries are non-toxic for animals though and birds, especially, love feasting on them. That means you can expect some pretty birds hanging around your hedges.
There are three different kinds of Hollies you can choose from English Holly, Japanese Holly, and Silver Holly. Each one has its unique characteristics and features. When buying your Holly plant, you should research which one suits your needs. So deck your garden with Hollies and keep it festive the whole year!
Hornbeam Hedge
Hornbeam is a hedge plant for all those who require foliage and no flowers in the hedges. There are 25 species of Hornbeams to choose from, and each one has its features. They don’t add the beauty that flowering hedges add to a garden, but they serve the purpose well – providing privacy and creating a boundary around gardens.
They also require fertile soil that can hold moisture. This is good because then Hornbeams can withstand long periods without any watering. They also shed their leaves later than other plants during autumn, so you’ll have some foliage around the garden while other plants would have shed their leaves. Hornbeams are a great option for anyone looking for lots of greenery around their garden or backyard.
Fagus
One great option is the Fagus plant when talking about low-maintenance hedging plants. It is available in two varieties, depending on what kind of color you’d like to add to your garden. One comes in green leaves, while the other option is in purple leaves. Both will change colors through different seasons.
One great thing about Fagus is that even though they are deciduous, which means they shed during autumn, their leaves don’t fall out till new leaves start growing. So you won’t be left with an ugly-looking hedge during autumn and winter, just a very dry-looking hedge. It will still serve the purpose of privacy though.
Murraya Hedge
This is a hedge for those who prefer flowering plants and like color around the garden. Their flowers don’t just add color but also have a sweet fragrant scent. You can expect it to bloom almost all year round except for wintertime.
Murraya hedge does not survive well in colder regions and is more of a warm climate plant. It is a great option for anyone who is looking for hedges that have sweet-smelling flowers all year round.
Lilly Pilly Hedge
This is a very interesting option in the list of low-maintenance hedges because Lilly Pilly produces fruits that can be eaten by humans. They are better suited for slightly warmer climates and may not do so well in colder regions though.
They are hardy and only require trimming from time to time. You won’t have to worry about your Lilly Pilly hedge once it’s mature. Lilly Pilly’s are native to Australia, so it’s no surprise that they grow best in Australia. If your climate is similar to the climate in Australia, then you can expect your hedge to thrive.
Lilly Pilly’s grow well in just about any environment but will thrive in moist and warm soil. There are many varieties available to choose from, so when you buy your Lilly Pilly plant, make sure to do your research, so you know which one is suitable for you.
Conifer Hedges
These are great hedges for anyone who doesn’t want to see their hedges being without leaves during winter. Because Conifer is an all-year plant, they stay green even during winters. They are non-flowering plants, so they will only add greenery to your garden, but they make for a great option, especially for people living in colder climates.
Conclusion
So there you go: we have completed the list of the top 7 low-maintenance hedging plants for your convenience. You can pick any one of these according to your needs, and you won’t have to worry about taking care of your hedges. Make sure to research the varieties available as we haven’t covered those for each plant, and pick the variety most suitable to you. We hope this list was helpful and that now you’ll plant your hedge and create that private space in your garden that you’ve always wanted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I live in a colder climate, will any of these plants work for me?
A: Not all of the plants on this list will work well in cold climates. Make sure to research the variety available before you buy your plant.
Q: Are any of these plants poisonous?
A: No, none of these plants are poisonous.
Q: What type of soil do these plants grow in?
A: Make sure to research the variety available, as different varieties of the same plant will grow in different types of soil. Most of these plants prefer moist and warm soil.
Q: How often do I need to trim/mow my hedges?
A: This will depend on the type of hedge you choose. Make sure to research the variety available so that you know how to take care of it. Generally, most hedges only require trimming from time to time.
