CREATE A PRIVATE BACKYARD OASIS WITH A PRIVACY HEDGE
A while back, we talked about how to create more privacy in your backyard. There are so many options for hedging, whether you want to keep out prying eyes, block out noise, or just to create a quiet backyard escape. In our previous post, we mentioned Boxwood and Arborvitae, two classic and beautiful evergreen hedge options. These are excellent choices for the Indianapolis area, but they don't necessarily fit with the landscaping style of every yard.
You don't have to have the classic immaculately manicured evergreen wall. You can grow a hedge out of a variety of plants, including deciduous or flowering shrubs like lilacs and roses, prickly shrubs like Holly, and even with evergreen trees like Cedars or Junipers. When you are looking at plant options, make sure you choose varieties that will be hardy through our Indiana winters. Indiana varies from USDA zone 5b to 6a, so shrubs will need to withstand cold to -15F.
CARING FOR YOUR NEW HEDGE
The first few years will be essential for establishing the overall shape, look, and the amount of privacy that your hedge will provide. Growing new hedge plants is fairly similar to new trees, and the care requirements are not too different.
New plants should be watered twice per week, or more if its a really dry year. Using a soaker hose is ideal so the water soaks in slowly. It can be a bit tricky to figure out how long you need to run a soaker hose to water your hedge properly. Our staff can help you decide which watering system is best for you, and how to use it to ensure the best health.
Weeding is vital to support new shrubs. Weeds and grass should be yanked out as soon as possible, and 4-5 inches either side of the base of the shrubs should be kept weed-free. Your shrubs don't need to compete with grass and weeds for water and nutrients.
HEDGE SHAPING & PRUNING
If you're considering adding hedging, it's a good idea to keep maintenance in mind. Most plants used for hedging are relatively low maintenance. However, they'll all require a bit of pruning now and then. Depending on the look you prefer, you may only need to prune once a year or every few years. If you like a more deliberately shaped and manicured look, you'll need to commit to pruning a minimum of once per year, possibly more.
How you prune depends on the type of plants you choose. Classic boxwood will tolerate a hedge-trimmer quite well once it's established. Options like lilac or roses will need a little more attentive pruning with shears. If you're not interested in doing the pruning yourself, you can always call our team; they'll do it right so you won't have to worry about it.
As a general rule of thumb, spring-flowering deciduous shrubs should be pruned immediately after they finish flowering, summer-flowering deciduous shrubs should be pruned in early spring, and evergreens can be pruned anytime from late winter to mid-summer. Avoid pruning evergreens in fall because they won't have enough time to recover before freezing.
Deciduous shrubs will grow more densely if new growth on top is cut back a bit each year. Evergreens generally won't need pruning until the second year, when you can start shaping them. To ensure an evergreen hedge stays healthy and dense from top to bottom, you'll need to taper the pruning slightly. The top of your hedge should be a bit narrower than the bottom, allowing sunlight to reach down to the bottom branches.
If you'd like to achieve those classic straight lines, use stakes and string to make sure you're keeping a straight line. Don't eyeball it, or you're likely to end up with wonky lines and uneven pruning. A hedge with a rounded top will better survive heavy snow than one with a flat top.
An evergreen hedge, even with very vigorous growth, doesn't need to be much more than 2 feet thick for optimal health. Once your hedge has reached a nice height, you'll need to top it each year.
It's also important to monitor for dead branches or crowded branches inside the hedge. Air must circulate through the inner branches to keep the plants healthy.
Keep an eye on your new plants after storms. If we get a storm with heavy winds, some of the plants may shift in the and could grow crooked if not adjusted. It is much easier to straighten them up again while they're still young.
TIPS FOR WINTER PROTECTION
Once they're well established, your hedges shouldn't need too much winter protection. If it's been an especially dry summer, it will be important to give it a few good deep waterings through the fall.
For a young hedge, or anything less than three years old, you'll need to do a little more maintenance to help them through the first few winters.
Watering is super important to help new shrubs establish themselves well. If you've been following the twice a week watering pattern through the summer, your shrubs should be strong heading into the winter. Give them a couple of extra deep soaks before the ground freezes to ensure they don't dry out.
Adding a two-inch layer of mulch around the bases, but not actually touching the trunks of the shrubs, will also help insulate and protect plants roots through the winter. If your hedge is fully exposed to the prevailing winds in winter, you may want to consider covering it or building a winter wind barrier, for the first few years. Those cold, dry Indianapolis winds will be tough on your young plants.
There are a variety of options for covering your shrubs. Our staff can help you find the best option for your situation. A wind barrier can be constructed on the windward side using stakes and heavy material like burlap. You can also spray your evergreens with a desiccant to help it retain water through the winter.
If you put in a little bit of extra care in the first few years, it will pay off. Once your hedge is established, it should be strong and healthy and require very little maintenance. If you'd like to add some more privacy to your yard, come have a chat with our experts at our garden center. We'll help you find the right solutions to create a peaceful oasis in your yard.