Planting A Hedge

 Why Plant A Hedge

• Living privacy fence to provide privacy from street traffic and neighbors
• Sound barrier to reduce noise
• Windbreak to reduce harsh winds
• Snow fence to reduce snow accumulation
• Wildlife sanctuary and feed birds

Planning

Select vigorous disease-free and pest-free and resistant plants that suit your region. Wise plant choices make a healthy hedge that's easy to maintain. Slow- and moderate-growing shrubs and trees are best. Fast growing plants require more pruning (hedging).

Your choice of shrubs or seedling trees also should be guided by the style of hedge you want. Formal hedges, with a solid architectural form, neatly frame a yard or rooms within it. Deciduous flowering shrubs, such as lilac, spiraea, forsythia, and evergreens, such as boxwood, arborvitae, holly, develop into effective hedges although much of the flower power is loss. Set the height and depth of the hedge according to the vigor of the plants chosen.

Planning, Measuring and Staking the length of the planting area is next up, followed by shopping for plants, digging, and watering. 

Planting...

1. Stake and mark the planting area, whether in a straight line or a curved one. Use a measuring tape as a guide. Be sure to consider underground utilities when selecting the planting location. Avoid planting over utilities if possible.

2. Space plants set potted shrubs in place, allowing room for the plants to reach their mature size. Stagger plants in two rows for a thicker hedge that will fill in more quickly.

3. Space accordingly based as on the mature width of the shrub as the spacing between the plants' root balls.

4. Dig the planting holes and remove the shrubs from pots and set them at the same dept. Space according to what shrubs you are setting and refill in the planting holes.

5. Water shrubs as needed throughout the first growing season.

6. Mulch - Spread a 2 to 3 inch layer of shredded pine bark mulch between the plants. Keep the mulch away from the plants' stems to allow water to reach the roots.

Plant Choices For Hedges:

Evergreens: Emerald arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’), Western arborvitae (Thuja plicata), Green Giant arborvitae (Thuja standishi x plicata), Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), Schip or Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis'), Glossy abelia (Abelia × grandiflora), Japanese holly (Ilex crenata), Inkberry holly (Ilex glabra), Boxwood (Buxus spp.), Hicks yew (Taxus x media), Junipers (Juniperus chinensis), Cedars (Juniperus virginiana), Japanese Euonymus (Euonymus japonicus).

Deciduous: European beech (Fagus sylvatica), Linden (Tilia spp.), European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), Hedge Maple (Acer campestre), Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum), Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea), Forsythia (Forsythia spp.), Various spireas (Spiraea spp.), Flowering quince (Chaenomeles x), red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima'), Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii).

Landscaping With Goldenrods

Goldenrods at Dawes Arboretum

Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) represent about 100 species of perennials that grow ubiquitously along U.S. roadsides, prairies, open woods, and riverbanks. (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). A small number of species are also native in South America and Eurasia. Goldenrods are grown for their bright yellow or golden flowers that form late in the summer. They are easy to grow, and the tiny yellow flowers are a bountiful source of nectar for bees and butterflies, including Monarchs; seeds are eaten by songbirds fall and winter.

Goldenrods grow in almost any soil that is well-drained and in full sun. Removing spent flower clusters will encourage more blooms. Deadhead the old spent flowers to avoid prolific self-seeding. Every 3-4 years, divide plants in spring or fall.

Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) is an eye-catching selection with abundant tiny, bright yellow terminal flower clusters atop stiff, narrow-leaved, reddish stems; 2-3 feet tall starting in mid- to late-summer.

Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia), aka blue stem goldenrod grows 1.5- 3 feet tall on arching, glabrous, wiry, greenish-purple stems which are covered with a silvery-white waxy covering (zones 4-8). yellow clusters of tiny flowers  bloom along the purplish stem in early autumn. Lance-shaped, medium green leaves (2-5 inches long) are toothed with sharply pointed tips.

‘Fireworks’ rough-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) is probably the most popular variety, 3-4 feet tall clump-forming plant is covered with stiff bright yellow inflorescences starting in early autumn, reminiscent of exploding fireworks. 

‘Golden Fleece’ goldenrod (S. sphacelata ‘Golden  Fleece’)  grows 18 – 24 inches tall and 24-36 inches wide forms showy sprays of golden yellow flowers starting in mid-September into October.. Its heart-shaped leaves are semi-evergreen.

Ultra-dwarf varieties:

·         Little Lemon® (‘Dansolitlem’) - light yellow flowers on ultra-compact (14 inches tall / 18 inches wide plants.

·         ‘Cloth of Gold’- deep yellow flowers on 18-24 inch tall stems.

·         ‘Crown of Rays’ - bright yellow flowers on 2-3 feet tall stems.

No serious insect or disease problems trouble goldenrods and are moderately deer tolerant. If summer weather is unusually wet or planting is too crowded, expect minor disease problems.

Oyama or Siebold Magnolia

Oyama sieboldii

Oyama magnolia (Magnolia sieboldii) is a 10-15 feet tall (and equal spread) deciduous tree or large shrub from eastern Asia. It prefers to grow in partial sunlight and in moist, well drained loamy soil (USDA zones 6 -8). Why are not more gardeners are not growing this small tree/shrub magnolia. Spring bloom is in May, avoiding the threat of frost injuring the flower buds of this later blooming magnolia.

White nodding egg-shaped flower buds appear in late June, and blooms appear intermittently thru most of the summer. The 1-3 inch wide saucer shaped flowers are white, centered by crimson stamens within. Oyama begins to flower at an early age.

The 3-6 inch long medium green foliage is first to appear in April, coated with a silvery pubescence. Leaves turn pale yellow before abscising in mid-autumn. Small pink fruits appear in late summer, and split open to reveal orange-red seeds in late September. Branch bark wood is light gray.

Feed magnolias with a slow release fertilizer in early spring. They benefit from annual mulching.  Pruning shrub to desired shape and size, and to remove dead or broken branches.

Oyama magnolia is an excellent pick for a small garden. It is available from  a few on-line specialty nurseries.

Evercolor® series of Japanese sedges

Carex 'Everillo'

Japanese sedges (Carex oshimensis)  are fine-textured variegated sedges that typically grow in a low, grass-like mounded clump to 10-16” tall and wide. This tough colorful sedge was originally found growing in dry woodlands and rocky slopes throughout Honshu Island, Japan. Brownish floral spikes are mostly inconspicuous.

Japanese sedge are evergreen across the southern U.S. They’re long-lasting and easy to grow! Evercolor® series of variegated Japanese sedges are the result of breeding from Pat Fitzgerald, at Fitzgerald Nurseries in Kilkenny, Ireland. This collection of seven cultivars (to date)have been introduced so far. They are hardy in zones 6-8, but are being evaluated in USDA zone 5. Plants are evergreen through most of their growing range.

Sedges are grass-like plants, and prefer moist, organic rich soil and partial shade. Once established sedges tolerate dry shade, accompanied by intermittent watering during dry periods. Foliage colors are richer in partial shade than in full sun. Plants spread are propagate by rhizome division in early spring.

Evercolor® series make exceptional ground covers, as well as bedding and specimen plants. They are planted in mixed containers and window boxes, as billowy plant mounds spilling over the edge into a path or billow up (mound) in a container or window box. Spacing varies with cultivar. Utilize sedges for edging along pathways, streams or ponds, and in rock gardens.

'Evercolor' sedge

Evercolor® sedges grow 12 inches high and 12-18 inches in spread in shade or part shade in moist to average soil with good drainage. Water well after planting and regularly until established after one year. Trim back all last year’s growth in late winter. No serious insect or disease problems trouble sedges and are deer resistant

‘Evergold’ - (original variegated form) - narrow leaves with broad, creamy, yellowish-white center stripe and bordered by thin dark green margins.

‘Everillo’ - a cascading mounding fountain of lime green leaves deepen to yellow-gold later in the summer.

‘Everest’ - more vigorous sport of ‘Evergold’ with green center and crisp snow-white edging.

‘Everlime’ – a mound of leaf blades with deep green centers flanked by lime green margins.

‘Eversheen’ has distinctive lime yellow striped foliage, all in a neat flowing mound.

‘Everoro’ – leaf blades emerge lime-green and turn golden yellow late in the season.

‘Everlite’ – rich green leaf blade edges and broad white center stripe.

Willow Oak - A Fine Street / Landscape Tree

Willow oak (Q. phellos)

Willow Oak (Quercus phellos) is medium to large, deciduous tree, part of the "red oak" group (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). It is distinguished for willow-like oak foliage. Growth rate following a 2 year establishment period is moderate (12-16 inches annually).

Willow oak grows 50-75 feet tall and 30-35 feet wide with a rounded top or canopy. Young trees tend to be pyramidal in form. Individual specimens may reach 90 or more feet under ideal site conditions. Its small ¼ – ½ inch nearly round acorns form almost every year, are not a major maintenance headache, and serve as an important food resource for wildlife.

Long stringy yellow-green long catkin flowers appear in April, a few days before leaves emerge. Unlobed 5-inch long leaves mimic those of willow trees (Salix spp.). Leaves are tipped with a single 1-inch wide bristle. Green summer leaf color turns an undistinguished yellow-brown or dull gold very late in autumn. A young tree has a smooth grayish bark which darkens and becomes furrowed with age.

Native to the Southeastern U.S., willow oak prefers a moist bottomland, organic-rich, well-drained soil. This landscape tree tolerates light shade, but performs best in full sun. Willow oak can handle a wide range of soils including clay. Once established, it copes with summer drought well. Foliage is tolerant of urban air pollution.

narrow leaves of Willow Oak

Willow oak demonstrates good disease and pest resistance and is a long-lived and low-maintenance tree. In a landscape willow oak fits into large sites, such as in public parks or along wide roadways and avenues with good soil mass for adequate moisture. The narrow leathery leaves abscise very late in the fall and make a great loose mulch scattered under other landscape plants.

Kingpin® - new selection of willow oak introduced by Bold Spring Nursery. It offers uniformity in street tree plantings along with these improved traits: darker leaf color, strong central leader (trunk). Kingpin is large 60 x 45 feet shade tree.

New Fragrant Landscape Roses

Over a century of rose breeding has rewarded gardeners with so many gorgeous garden roses: hybrid tea, grandiflora, floribunda and shrub types. Rose breeders have concentrated on plant vigor, flower color, disease resistance, and greater numbers of flowers over the growing season. Over the years, floral fragrance has been mostly ignored.

In the past two years Brindabella rose series have arrived at garden centers with incredible fragrance along with improved disease resistance.

Brindabella™ roses is a series of shrub roses from Australia. They exhibit a bushy habit, 3-4 feet  tall and wide and possess excellent disease resistance to black spot and powdery mildew. Their colorful blooms are doubled and highly fragrant. Blooms are produced in flushes from spring into fall, and no deadheading is required. The plants have a bushy, upright and sometimes semi-weeping habit. They reach at maturity, making them ideal for low hedges, spots at the edge of a mixed border, and containers.

Brindabella® roses are low maintenance and vigorous in a small package. They are well suited to home gardens and commercial landscapes. For beauty and fragrance Brindabella roses know few rivals. Roses are selected for their beauty, disease-resistance and vigor. Roses require 6 or more hours of direct sun per day and fertile, reasonably moist soil. They benefit from an occasional feeding during the growing season. Extra hardiness (Zones 4 – 9). Introduced by Suntory Flowers.

Currently (May 2021), six Brindabella varieties are available:

Dawn™ - fragrant salmon colored blooms with hints of apricot. 

First Lady™ - lavender pink double flowers  

Purple Prince™ - purple double flowers 

Pink Princess™ - frosted pink double flowers 

Red Empress™ - crimson red to dark fuchsia double flowers 

Touch of Pink™ - pale pink centers & white outer whorled doubled flowers