What should I plant next to hedge
William Taylor
Updated on April 05, 2026
Choose plants that have subsequent flowering seasons such as daffodils for early spring, tulips for late spring, zinnias and cosmos for summer, chrysanthemums and asters for fall. If all green non flowering plants are your choice, select plants that have contrasting leaf shapes and colors to the hedge.
What can I plant under my hedge?
- Snowdrops. The demurely nodding flowers of snowdrops (Galanthus) brave the coldest weather in late winter. …
- Hepaticas. The European, woodland forms of hepatica love dappled shade, producing pink, blue or white flowers in early spring. …
- Lungwort. …
- Wood anemones. …
- Bloodroot. …
- Primroses. …
- Bluebells. …
- Epimedium.
Can you mix plants in a hedge?
Unless you are extremely patient, you probably don’t want to mix hedging plants in a single hedge that won’t reach your optimum height within more than two, possibly three, seasons of each other. Different growing rates can be compensated by planting larger specimens of slower growing plants.
How can I make my hedge more interesting?
- Play with the shape. …
- Choose artificial, for easy maintenance. …
- Alternate the styling. …
- Use them for security. …
- Have a variety of plants. …
- Create secret garden areas with them.
Can you plant flowers under hedges?
Primroses and snowdrops are the traditional plants for hedge bottoms. Remember to water the hedge every week for the first year, until it gets established.
What is good ground cover?
While grass is typically the best way to fill out empty space, sometimes low-growing plants are a better — and prettier — option. There are so many options to choose from, including old favorites like Pachysandra and Vinca, as well as small shrubs, perennials, and annuals.
Will grass grow under a hedge?
If you’re looking to grow grass underneath trees, or by hedgerows, you have to deal with your grass competing for nutrients with trees and low-sunlight. … However, you absolutely can grow beautiful grass in shaded areas. It just takes a few extra steps and making sure you have the correct shade tolerant grass seed.
How do you thicken a hedge?
Trimming a hedge in a wedge shape that is wider at the bottom will make it grow thicker by enabling more even regrowth. Cut back the hedge at the top to steer growth to the sides of your bushes and use organic fertiliser to encourage the plant’s development.What flowers make good hedges?
- 1 | Camellia hedge. …
- 2 | Rose of sharon. …
- 3 | Crapemyrtle. …
- 4 | Azaleas (Rhododendron)
Not all hedges require hours of labour-intensive care. If you choose slow-growing plants that need little pruning, your hedge will almost take care of itself. A loose hedge, allowed to flower, is perfect for wildlife gardens but low-maintenance doesn’t have to mean informal, or unkempt.
Article first time published onHow close to a boundary can I plant a hedge?
In situations where you cannot agree with your neighbour to jointly plant a hedge on your property boundary, it is prudent to leave a gap of at least two to three feet between the boundary and your hedge.
Can I plant honeysuckle in a hedge?
It is a popular choice of hedge plant for a medium height evergreen hedge (up to about 2m). Its densely packed leaves, borne on long stems are tiny, so it forms a very dense hedge. Lonicera nitida is very easy to trim and has a high tolerance of clipping, which makes it ideal as a neat, formal hedge.
How do you keep a privet hedge healthy?
Grow privet in moist but well-drained soil in sun to shade. Keep plants well watered in the first two years and the area around the plants weed-free. Prune once or twice a year to maintain a traditional ‘hedge’ shape.
What should I plant in front of Ligustrum?
Pair the fine-textured foliage of ‘Sunshine’ Ligustrum with the course leaves of ‘Black Ripple’ Colocasia for striking color and contrasting textures that create interest and depth in the garden. Other textural partners include ‘Poquito’ Banana and ‘Design-A-Line’ Cordyline.
What is an area where grass won't grow?
- Lay bricks, wood or cement over the area to make a patio.
- Swap in artificial turf where grass won’t grow.
- Add woodchip mulch, particularly in grassless areas under trees, for a cleaner look.
- Create a small garden with flowers or shrubs. …
- Cover the area with rocks or pebbles.
What is the best grass for shady areas?
Fine fescue (particularly of the Creeping red or Chewings variety) is the most shade-tolerant among the Fescues, followed by Tall Fescue (e.g., turf-type, dwarf-type varieties). Both grass species can thrive in lawns that get at least four hours of partial or dappled sun a day.
What can you put down instead of grass?
- Groundcovers. Groundcovers sprawl across the ground but don’t grow tall, eliminating the need to mow, providing the perfect alternative to grass. …
- Corsican Mint. …
- Creeping Thyme. …
- Clover. …
- Ornamental Grasses. …
- Evergreen Moss. …
- Native Perennial Beds. …
- Artificial Turf.
What is the hardiest ground cover?
Under even the most unforgiving of conditions, lamium prevails. This vining plant, also known as dead nettles, can tolerate cold, heat, drought, and is deer-resistant. There are more than 40 species of lamium, but the best are those that are flowering perennials like the Pink Chablis.
What ground cover will choke out weeds?
The Dragon’s blood sedum or Schorbuser Blut is considered the most versatile and toughest ground cover that can choke out weeds. Similar to creeping jenny, this type of ground cover also has stems that easily root, so it’s fast to proliferate. A dragon blood sedum is an all year-round charmer.
What is a good ground cover that blooms all summer?
- Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) …
- Canadian anemone (Anemone canadensis) …
- Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) …
- Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) …
- Creeping Thyme (Thymus serphyllum) …
- Deadnettle (Lamium maculatum) …
- Hosta (Hosta sieboldiana) …
- Horned Violet (Viola cornuta)
Does Rose of Sharon make a good hedge?
FeatureValueZones:5-9
Does forsythia make a good hedge?
Forsythias make an excellent choice for those wanting a fast-growing flowering hedge. For best results, plant forsythia 4-6 feet apart when creating your hedge.
Do azaleas make a good hedge?
Draped in bright blooms every spring, Azaleas make gorgeous hedges. In the right environment, they are low-maintenance and easy to grow, making Azalea hedges an accessible option for home gardeners to create an attractive and practical border.
What is the best time to plant hedges?
- Evergreen and semi-evergreen hedges: Early autumn is ideal for hedging plants such as box, privet (semi-evergreen) and yew. However, they can be planted at any time from late autumn until late winter.
- Deciduous hedges: Plant beech, hawthorn and hornbeam any time from leaf fall.
What do you feed hedges?
Although shrubs and hedges are not quite as hungry as Roses, they do benefit from an annual feed. In early spring, use an all-purpose, organic fertiliser to feed your trees, shrubs and hedges. This will aid healthy growth and will especially benefit new, weak or recently pruned plants.
What is the best fertilizer for hedges?
We recommend a 6-7 month slow release fertilizer for most climates. Apex makes a 16-5-9 slow release 6-7 month release, which works great for our hedge varieties. In the Pacific Northwest, you can use a longer-release fertilizer of 8-9 months. For longer release, Osmocote Blend 18-5-12 is a great choice.
Can you hedge bottlebrush?
Growing up to 7.5m tall and 6m wide, Crimson bottlebrush is drought-tolerant. It makes excellent hedges and shrub border.
How many plants do you need to make a hedge?
In general, 3 plants per metre is the ideal spacing: this will give you a thick hedge quickly. If you planted any closer together, you wouldn’t really get any benefit and the plants would compete with their neighbours too much.
What is the fastest growing hedge for privacy?
Leylandii (Green) The Leylandii is a conifer that’s the fastest-growing, evergreen hedge and will create one quickly.
Can I plant a hedge next to my Neighbours fence?
Your Rights. You do not usually need to obtain permission to plant a hedge in your garden if it is solely within your property’s boundary. However, you do need to obtain permission from your next door neighbour if you’re considering planting a hedge to separate the adjoining properties right on the boundary line.
Does my Neighbour have to cut my side of his hedge?
The ownership of the boundary hedge itself is defined by where the main trunk is growing at. An owner of a hedge is responsible for it not damaging their neighbour’s property. … You do NOT have to cut your hedge on your neighbour’s side unless the growth is threatening to damage their property.