Hedge bushes have been used in landscaping for decades, creating beautiful and private outdoor spaces. They are an ideal choice for homeowners who are looking to install a natural screen or add some structure to their gardens. Hedge bushes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, making it easy to find the perfect selection for your needs.
One popular choice for hedge bushes is the boxwood. These slow-growing bushes can be pruned into formal shapes, making them a great option for creating a classic and elegant look. Another option is the buxus sempervirens, also known as the common boxwood. These bushes have dark green foliage and can be pruned into different heights and shapes.
For those looking for a taller hedge, the oleander is a great choice. With its attractive flowers and evergreen leaves, it can grow up to fifteen feet in height. Another option for taller hedges is the juniper. It has blue-green foliage and can be pruned into different shapes. The yew is another popular choice for taller hedges, with its golden yellow foliage.
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance option, the barberry is a great choice. It is a slow-growing bush that requires minimal trimming. The pittosporum is another easy-care option, with its golden foliage and slow growth.
When it comes to planting hedge bushes, it’s important to consider the local climate and soil conditions. Some bushes, like the ligustrum, can grow in both sun and part shade. Others, like the viburnum, prefer full sun. It’s also important to consider the growth habit of the bushes, as some may spread wider than others. The selection of the bushes will depend on the specific needs and preferences of the homeowner.
In conclusion, hedge bushes are a versatile and attractive option for landscaping. Whether you’re looking for a formal hedge or a natural screen, there are a variety of bushes to choose from. From slow-growing boxwoods to taller oleanders, there is a hedge bush for every garden. Consider the local climate and soil conditions, as well as the desired height and growth habit, when selecting the perfect hedge bushes for your outdoor space.
(We may receive a commission on purchases made from links)
19 Easy-Care Shrubs to Use as Hedging Plants for Outdoor Privacy
When it comes to creating a private and secluded outdoor space, using hedge bushes is an ideal solution. These green and lush shrubs not only add beauty to your garden, but also provide a natural barrier for privacy. With some proper care and pruning, these shrubs can grow into a dense and full hedge, making them perfect for creating a secluded area.
Here are 19 easy-care shrubs that you can use as hedging plants:
| 1. Forsythia: | Known for its yellow blossoms, forsythia is a fast-growing shrub that can be pruned into a hedge. |
| 2. Arrowwood: | The arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum) is a versatile shrub with attractive foliage and panicles of white flowers. |
| 3. Vicaryi Privet: | This dense and fast-growing shrub is a great choice for a formal hedge. |
| 4. Colorado Blue Spruce: | This slow-growing evergreen shrub has beautiful blue foliage and makes an excellent privacy hedge. |
| 5. Isanti Red-Osier Dogwood: | This shrub has attractive red branches and grows well in well-drained soil. |
| 6. Korean Spice Viburnum: | This shrub is prized for its fragrant pink blossoms and glossy foliage. |
| 7. Hetz Japanese Holly: | This thorned evergreen shrub is a popular choice for hedges due to its dense growth and vibrant green leaves. |
| 8. Variegated Boxwood: | This shrub has variegated foliage in shades of green and yellow, adding visual interest to your hedge. |
| 9. Marty Juniper: | This evergreen shrub is known for its low, spreading form, making it ideal for lower hedges. |
| 10. Lilac: | The lilac shrub is prized for its fragrant flowers and can be pruned into a hedge for added privacy. |
| 11. Hydrangea: | Hydrangea shrubs offer a beautiful display of flowers and their slow-growing nature is ideal for a hedge. |
| 12. Glossy Abelia: | This shrub has glossy green foliage and produces fragrant flowers, attracting bees and butterflies to your garden. |
| 13. Seedless Common Privet: | The seedless common privet is a fast-growing shrub with dense foliage, perfect for creating a private hedge. |
| 14. Health Juniper: | This shrub has blue-green foliage and can be pruned into a formal hedge or left unpruned for a more natural look. |
| 15. Warning Juniper: | The warning juniper is a slow-growing shrub with spines on its branches, creating a deterrent for unwanted visitors. |
| 16. Better Times Dwarf Laurel: | This shrub has small, dark green leaves and grows well in full sun or part shade. |
| 17. Play Viburnum: | The play viburnum is a compact shrub that produces clusters of white flowers in spring, followed by blue-black berries. |
| 18. Narrow Leaf Privet: | This shrub has narrow leaves and forms a dense hedge, providing privacy and security to your outdoor space. |
| 19. Colorado Spruce: | The Colorado spruce is a tall and narrow shrub, making it a great choice for hedges along property lines. |
These 19 easy-care shrubs offer a variety of colors, forms, and growth habits that will suit any garden design. Whether you’re looking for a low hedge or a taller privacy barrier, these shrubs can be pruned and shaped to fit your needs. Consider the size of your space, the desired width of your hedge, and the health of the shrubs when selecting the best options for your outdoor privacy needs.
For more information and resources on creating hedge bushes and maintaining outdoor privacy, you can search online on Google or consult with a local garden center or landscaping professional.
Arborvitae
The Arborvitae, or Thuja occidentalis, is a popular choice for creating hedges and privacy screens. This little evergreen shrub is a member of the cypress family and is native to parts of North America, making it well-suited for growing in various zones.
Arborvitae has a dense growth habit that can provide a natural and private space. Its foliage is soft and feathery, with vibrant green color throughout the year. The leaves emit a pleasant aroma when crushed, similar to that of the juniper plant. Because of its dense growth, arborvitae is excellent for creating a hedge that can handle pruning into various shapes and sizes.
This shrub can reach up to 19 feet in height, but there are also dwarf selections that stay much shorter. One of the most popular dwarf varieties is the ‘Golden Globe’, which only grows to about 3 feet tall. Arborvitae can be installed in both full sun and partial shade, making it a versatile choice for a variety of locations.
In addition to its aesthetic value, arborvitae also serves a practical purpose. It can act as a sound barrier, helping to block out noise from the surrounding area. This makes it an ideal choice for creating private and peaceful spots in your yard. The dense growth habit also makes it useful for creating windbreaks or for providing privacy from nosy neighbors.
Arborvitae is fairly easy to care for. It is a low-maintenance shrub that doesn’t require much pruning or special attention. It is relatively drought-tolerant once established and can handle a wide range of soil conditions. However, it is important to ensure good drainage to prevent root rot. Arborvitae is also generally resistant to pests and diseases, including deer.
When creating a hedge with arborvitae, it’s best to plant them about 3 to 4 feet apart to allow enough room for them to spread out. Regular pruning can help maintain the desired shape and size. Whether you’re a professional landscaper or a DIY enthusiast, arborvitae is a great choice for creating beautiful and functional hedges.
In conclusion, arborvitae is a versatile and attractive option for hedging. Its dense growth, vibrant foliage, and ease of maintenance make it an excellent choice for creating privacy screens, windbreaks, and decorative hedges. With a variety of sizes and cultivars available, there is an arborvitae shrub that can fit into any garden or landscape. Consider adding arborvitae to your outdoor spaces to enjoy the beauty and benefits that they provide.
Boxwood
Boxwood is a versatile shrub that is widely used in landscaping and gardening. It is a popular choice for hedges and borders due to its dense foliage and compact growth habit.
Boxwood matures to a height of around 3 to 6 feet, making it an ideal choice for creating privacy screens or defining outdoor spaces. Its small leaves and dense growth make it easy to shape and prune into various designs, such as formal hedges or topiary.
There are many different varieties of boxwood available, including Buxus sempervirens, Buxus microphylla japonica, and Buxus microphylla koreana. Each variety has its own unique characteristics and growth habits.
Boxwood is relatively low-maintenance and easy to care for. It requires regular pruning to maintain its shape and density. Pruning should be done in the late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. Boxwood can also be sheared throughout the growing season to maintain its desired shape.
When planting boxwood, it is important to consider spacing. Boxwood should be planted 2 to 3 feet apart to allow for proper air circulation and sunlight exposure. Good spacing promotes healthy growth and helps prevent diseases and pest infestations.
Boxwood is also a popular choice for formal gardens and landscape designs. Its evergreen foliage provides year-round interest, and its compact size makes it suitable for smaller gardens or tight spaces.
In addition to its use as a hedge or border plant, boxwood can also be used as a specimen plant or planted in containers for added versatility. Some popular companion plants for boxwood include arrowwood (Viburnum) and lilac (Syringa).
Boxwood is also commonly used in formal garden designs such as parterre gardens, knot gardens, and French-style gardens. Its dense growth and uniform shape lend themselves well to these formal designs.
Overall, boxwood is a versatile and easy-care shrub that can be used in a variety of ways in the landscape. Its compact size, dense foliage, and carefree nature make it a popular choice for creating formal hedges, defining outdoor spaces, and adding year-round beauty to the garden.
Dwarf Golden False Cypress
The Dwarf Golden False Cypress, also known as Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Dwarf Gold’, is a stunning evergreen shrub that is perfect for adding color and texture to your garden. This dwarf variety of False Cypress is a popular choice for hedges, as it grows slowly and stays compact, reaching a mature height of only 8 feet after many years of growth.
With its bright golden foliage and unique arching branches, the Dwarf Golden False Cypress is ideal for creating eye-catching hedges or adding a pop of color to your landscape. The foliage is a vibrant gold color that stands out against the green and blue-green hues of other shrubs and evergreens.
This compact shrub is drought-tolerant and can handle a variety of conditions, including hot and dry southern spots. It is also deer-resistant, making it a good choice if you have problems with deer in your garden.
The Dwarf Golden False Cypress can be easily shaped and trimmed into the desired size and shape, making it a versatile plant for creating privacy hedges or accenting specific areas in your garden. It can be used as a border plant, alongside flowering shrubs like roses or honeysuckle, or planted in groups for a stunning display.
This variety of False Cypress is easy to grow and requires minimal maintenance. It prefers well-drained soil and should be watered regularly during the first few months after planting to establish a healthy root system. Once established, it is relatively drought-tolerant and can withstand periods of dry weather without much trouble.
If you are looking for a low-maintenance shrub that brings vibrant gold color to your garden, the Dwarf Golden False Cypress is a great choice. Its compact size, stunning foliage, and minimal care requirements make it a popular option for gardens of all sizes.
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Dwarf Gold’ |
| Mature Height | 8 feet |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Hardiness Zones | Zones 4-8 |
| Light Requirement | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil Preference | Well-drained |
| Deer Resistant | Yes |
