Hedges serve a very practical and aesthetic purpose in the landscape. They can be used as screening and can add to the overall value of your garden.
Regardless of what your hedge is intended for, we all want plants that are particularly low maintenance.
Here is a list of 10 low maintenance hedges. Read on to find out which one will suit you and your landscape best.
Holly Hedge
Holly, or Ilex, is a genus of more than 400 species of flowering plants.
This hedge, which is reminiscent of Christmas, is a low maintenance option that does not need too much pruning.
Their leaves are prickly, which makes holly a good choice for hedging if you do not want people to pass through a certain part of your garden.
There are several holly hedge plants to choose from, such as English Holly, Japanese Holly, and Silver Holly.
Box Hedge or Boxwood Hedge
Box hedge, or Buxus, is also a good choice as a low maintenance hedge. There are about 70 species in the genus Buxus, and most of them are slow-growing.
There are Buxus hedge species that thrive in tropical and subtropical climates, and there are also frost-tolerant varieties.
Another great thing about the boxwood hedge is that it is easy to maintain and can be pruned formally, even into round shapes.
There are dwarf varieties, varieties for either upright or round form, and as mentioned earlier, there are also frost-tolerant ones.
Viburnum Hedge
If you live in temperate climates, you may want to consider a viburnum hedge.
Viburnum is a genus of more than 100 species of flowering plants. With so many species to choose from, you will find the right low maintenance viburnum hedge for your needs.
Viburnums are very adaptable and not prone to diseases, which is a definite plus as a low maintenance hedge.
Choisya Ternata Hedge
Also known as Mexican Orange or Mexican Orange Blossom, Choisya ternata is an excellent choice for a decorative and low maintenance hedge.
This fragrant perennial has delicate white blooms and grows to about 2 metres by 2 metres.
Like most citrus-family plants, the Mexican Orange Blossom does not do well in freezing temperatures and is more suited to temperate and tropical climates.
When planting young Choisya into your garden, working a soil amendment through the bed gives roots the drainage and nutrition they need to establish quickly.
Hornbeam Hedge
If you prefer interesting foliage over flowers for your hedge, the hornbeam is a good choice.
The hornbeam's leaves are corrugated and have serrated margins. They are bright green in summer and turn golden or rust-coloured in autumn and winter.
There are 25 species in the genus Carpinus, and Asian hornbeams are ideal for low maintenance hedges.
Asian hornbeam, particularly Korean Hornbeam (Carpinus eximia) and Japanese Hornbeam (Carpinus japonica), grow to about 9 metres maximum height. They can be trimmed to maintain a smaller size for screening.
Callistemon Hedge
Callistemon, or bottlebrush, is native to Australia and is also cultivated in different parts of the world with temperate climates.
It gets the name bottlebrush from the form of its blooms, which resemble this cleaning tool.
The flower spikes of the callistemon are mostly red, but some varieties come in various colours such as purple, pink, yellow, white, or green.
Bottlebrush is suitable as a low maintenance hedge and is also very attractive to birds and insects because of its nectar. When establishing young bottlebrush plants, a tree guard protects new growth from browsing animals and wind damage while roots take hold.
Murraya Hedge
Murraya paniculata, orange jessamine, or orange jasmine is another good option for a low maintenance hedge.
The orange jessamine grows mainly in warmer climates and may not be suitable for areas that experience very low temperatures.
Murraya may be the right hedge for you if you enjoy fragrant flowers. Murraya blooms for most of the year, except during colder months in winter and early spring.
Conifer Hedge
Conifer hedges are popular low maintenance hedges in cooler regions.
Conifers, or Pinophyta, are evergreen shrubs or trees that produce seed-bearing cones.
Though conifers do not grow flowers, their verdant foliage still brings a pleasant fresh scent. Because they are evergreen, they provide greenery even through the cold seasons.
There are many varieties to choose from when selecting a conifer hedge, with different types of foliage and growing habits available. Conifers can grow to various heights depending on the variety.
Secure young conifer plants with a soft plant or tree tie during establishment to keep stems straight against wind without damaging bark.
Lilly Pilly Hedge
Lilly Pilly, or Australian cherry, is hardy and low maintenance.
In addition to being ornamental, lilly pilly also bears edible fruits.
Once established, you can largely leave your lilly pilly hedge to its own devices, aside from trimming to keep its shape and height and checking on its general health.
Lilly pilly hedges prefer more temperate climates, so keep a closer watch on them during very cold seasons.
Pittosporum Hedge
Last in this list of low maintenance hedges is the pittosporum, also called mock orange.
Pittosporum is hardy, fast-growing, and dense, making it perfect for use as a fence hedge.
Once planted and established, pittosporum hedges require minimal care. Pruning is needed only to keep their form and height, and pittosporum does not respond well to more aggressive pruning.
Plant pittosporum in temperate, subtropical, or tropical climates and it will largely look after itself.
Choosing any of these low maintenance hedges is a great way to add privacy, structure, and beauty to your garden without a great deal of ongoing effort. Explore our plant support and protection range to help your new hedge establish well from day one.
