The great hedges of times past that once screened houses from neighbours and buffered the noises from busy streetscapes are disappearing from today’s modern gardens due mainly to the fact that our gardens now are getting smaller, and the trimming and maintenance of large hedges are becoming more and more expensive.
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However, small dense hedges still have their place in some situations and, if well-trimmed, are aesthetically pleasing and functional.
Hedges can be used as living fences to conceal unattractive sights and can make a garden look larger as the eye is drawn above the hedge to the views beyond.
A small hedge can be used along the edge of a terrace where there is no railing or along the top of a retaining wall. Dwarf box, lavender or rosemary make the traditional border for flower gardens if kept trimmed to a height of a metre or less.
There are two types of hedges, formal and informal. The formal ones are kept trimmed and neat with not a leaf out of place. This takes time, a great deal of patience and a sound knowledge of pruning.
An informal hedge is one that is allowed to grow more or less naturally, and may be clipped once or twice a year just to keep it under control.
If the hedge is made up of flowering shrubs, it should be trimmed after it has finished flowering.
When you trim a hedge always stand side on and hold your clippers sideways. Don’t face the hedge and hold the clippers upwards or you will finish up with an unevenly clipped hedge. A stringline is useful to achieve the perfect face.
Many native plants make really nice hedges especially in coastal areas where tea tree, grevilleas, acacias, pittosporums and callistemons are good choices.
For inland areas in Tasmania the plants that can be used successfully include camellias, rhododendrons, photinias and ericas for informal hedges, and for clipped, formal hedges use coprosma, veronica, euonymus and escallonia.
The soil pH requirements must be met if you want a healthy hedge. Rhododendrons need an acidic pH while box and yew would be suited to an alkaline soil. Euonymus, rhododendrons, box and privet will all grow under trees.
For tall windbreaks, the Lawson cypress and macrocarpa are two good trees.
The Irish strawberry tree and varieties of Thuja and berberis are suitable medium-height plants. The common olive is versatile and can withstand heat and dryness.
Now is the time to start preparing and choosing plants for a hedge. Your local nursery will be able to help with any inquires.
DIARY
March 26: ‘WestFest’ at the Exeter High School Farm, Main Road, Exeter from 10am-3pm. Family fun day with refreshments, live music, wine and olive oil tasting, local crafters, free activities for the children. See alpacas shorn. Sled dogs in Sport will feature. Entry $5, 6-12yrs $2.
April 18: The Australian Plant Society meet at the Max Fry Hall on Gorge Rd, Trevallyn, Launceston at 7.30pm. Visitors are most welcome to attend the meeting to gain expert advice on gardening with native plants from the members over a cup of tea or coffee. For Information on APS visit www.apstasnorth.org
April 19: The Launceston Horticultural Society meets at the Windmill Hill Hall, High Street, Launceston at 8pm.
April 20: The Launceston Orchid Society meets at the Newnham Uniting Church Hall, George Town Road, Launceston at 7pm.
Daily: The Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden, 55 Breffay Road, Romaine, Burnie is open from 9am to 5pm. Plan a visit soon to see the spectacular autumn foliage display.
