Hedges perform all kinds of functions. From windbreaks, screening unsightly fences and buildings, creating boundary lines, dividing a garden into specific spaces, highlighting lines or to provide a backdrop for a contrasting foreground.
When thinking of hedges, they can be easily relegated to two groups - formal and informal. This can usually
be defined by the species used and how it is kept (pruned and clipped or natural form)
A formal hedge will usually use a certain tree or plant, species with small leaves will give a denser and overall neater appearance due to the ease of defined pruning.
Architecturally, the use of straight lines, symmetry and repetition defines a formal garden.
An informal hedge will have a free growing form, so any vigorous growing shrub can be used
When designing a garden, often the initial starting point is the structural elements, like retaining walls, decks & pergolas, hard surfaces etc. Hedges, whilst still part of the planting offer a structural element to the design. I like to have hedging at the front of mind during the conceptualisation process, while drafting the functional analysis
Some tall trees that work well as hedges are:
Acmena smithii (lilly pilly)
x Cupressocyparis leylandii ‘Leighton Green’
Ficus microcarpa var. Hillii ‘Hill’s fig’
Prunus laurocerasus ‘cherry laurel’
Waterhousea floribunda ‘weeping lilly pilly’
Medium size:
Camellia sasanqua
Laurus nobilis ‘bay laurel’
Murraya paniculata ‘orange jessamine’
Photinia x fraser (red robin)
Viburnum odaratissimum (Sweet viburnum)
Smaller hedges:
Buxus microphylla var. Japonica (Japanese box)
Buxus sempervirens (English box)
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’
Lonicera nitida (box leaf honeysuckle)
