A fast-growing perennial evergreen hedge can be an excellent solution for a summer cottage or a country estate. Such landings are not only an original decoration, but also have a very practical function. They will protect from prying eyes, as well as from dust and extraneous noise. Of course, initially you will have to make some efforts, but then the fence will grow completely independently, and its maintenance will not require much work.

What kind of hedges are there?

All over the world, hedges have been used in garden art since ancient times. Both in the countries of the East and in prim England, such plantings were an integral part of park culture. This landscape design technique has many variations.

The height of the hedge is the main parameter by which they are classified. Depending on this factor, they share:

Curb hedges... Green living fences (up to 1 m) perform a purely decorative function, which consists in highlighting paths and paths, dividing lawns and flower beds.

Internal hedges... A fence with a height of 1 m to 2 m is designed to zone the site.

External hedges... Plantings with a height of more than 2 m act as a fence that limits the external space.

Green wall... An almost insurmountable park structure, reaching a height of 4 m. It is an excellent replacement for traditional fences.

By design features, internal and external fences are conventionally divided into:

open - are purely decorative barriers that perform the function of a conditional division of zones;

half-open - visually protect the object, but at the same time do not become a mechanical barrier;

closed - not only visually protect the territory, but also represent a real physical barrier from plantings.

The plants themselves can be planted in one or several rows, in a different order. Multi-row hedges are simple, that is, all plants are the same in height and variety. There are multi-row cascading plantings in which plants are of different heights.

Plant varieties

By the type of plants used to create living fences, the following groups are distinguished:

Evergreen plants... They retain their decorative effect throughout the year. This includes conifers and some deciduous plants.

Deciduous plants... Leaves are shed for the winter. At this time of the year, the hedge becomes bare and transparent, which is not always convenient. But the rest of the time pleases the owners with a seasonal change in the color of the leaves, and some also with colorful flowering. This group includes various trees and shrubs.

Perennial plants... Such hedges have been created for several years.

Annual plants... Allows you to equip the fastest growing fence. But she lives only until winter, then the plants die. Annual vines are commonly used.

Fast growing hedge

Fast growing shrubs are ideal material for creating such plantings. Shrubs grow quickly enough and in relation to trees and vines have a number of advantages, which are as follows:

it is easy to carry out zoning of the site with a shrub hedge (vegetable garden, garden, recreation area, playground, etc.);

allow you to equip curbs near paths, flower beds and in other places;

ideal for creating any shape by cutting and trimming (ball, square, pyramid, etc.);

among the shrubs there are species with different shades of foliage, which allows you to transfer accents to some details;

Due to the dense foliage, such fences perfectly protect the owners of the site from street noise and dust.

Consider some fast-growing shrubs that are not particularly difficult to care for, which do not lose their decorative effect from the first days of spring to late autumn.

From barberry, you can quickly form a perennial evergreen hedge. Due to its plasticity, it allows the formation of low hedges-curbs. Tolerates a haircut well. If you plant the bushes less often, then you can get completely impassable, impassable and very thorny thickets. Uninvited guests in the form of neighboring cats and dogs will not penetrate through such a jungle. It grows quickly, building up green mass very well.

It looks very decorative, as it changes the color of the leaves at different times of the year. Shades range from bright green to yellow-purple to almost burgundy. The dark red edible berries ripen in autumn and adorn the shrub until the very frost. It looks spectacular as a monoculture in a single-row plantation, and in compositional solutions with other shrubs.

The culture is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and good frost resistance. The most common fast-growing varieties of barberry are small-warty, box-leaved, Juliana and Thunberg. Evergreen varieties prefer partial shade, deciduous ones develop better in bright sun.

Privet is very loved by landscape designers and gardeners for its extreme unpretentiousness and very fast growth. Among perennials, it is considered practically the fastest growing. It tolerates decent frost and drought well. It grows on absolutely any soil. Feels great both in sunny areas and in the shade. They will allow you to form fairly high fences up to 4 m high.

The wall of this shrub is dense and dense, requires regular haircuts due to its rapid growth. Privet is an excellent object for creating bush garden sculptures. It can be given almost any shape.

The berries of this plant cannot be eaten, they are considered poisonous. But birds feed on them with pleasure. Various small birdies like to build nests in dense thickets and raise offspring. For the winter, privet always sheds its foliage.

Bubble

Ornamental unusual shrub, which has many varieties with different colors of leaves. It grows very quickly, over the summer its branches can stretch up to 40 cm. The culture is very winter-hardy and resistant to various diseases. Even in severe frosts, the tips of young shoots only slightly freeze near the bushes. Prefers to grow in sunny open spaces. But it will survive perfectly in the shade, although it will lose color saturation.

The leaves are very unusual and decorative, resembling maple, viburnum and currant leaves. Coloring can have dramatic differences, depending on the variety. There are varieties with yellow-golden color and purple-red. Plants with leaves of 2 colors at once: burgundy and gold look very original.

The bush has the ability to grow simultaneously in all directions, while it is usually almost perfectly round in shape. In height and width, it can exceed 3 m. It allows you to shape from itself by trimming any fancy shapes. In late June and early July, the plant is densely covered with umbellate inflorescences, consisting of a large number of small whitish-cream flowers.

Evergreen hedge

Such plantings remain equally decorative at any time of the year. They do not shed foliage and cannot please the owners with a variety of colors. An evergreen hedge always looks a little gloomy, especially a coniferous plantation. To avoid this, it is recommended to combine conifers with deciduous crops in the same plantation. Coniferous shrubs and trees will not only decorate the site, but also cleanse the air of harmful impurities thanks to the phytoncides contained in the needles.

Evergreens must be selected in strict accordance with local climatic conditions, since most heat-loving crops cannot survive harsh and snowy winters. Planting them again every year is not very reasonable, and quite expensive.

A hedge like this always looks great and goes well with other garden plants. It will suit any garden style and design. Even in winter, covered with snow, such a fence looks extremely impressive. Many owners believe that green spaces grow very slowly and require increased maintenance. But it is not so. By choosing the right evergreens, you can get a green fence in 2-3 years

Norway spruce

In the first years after planting, spruce grows very slowly, but after that they significantly accelerate their growth. A large number of decorative varieties have been bred. Most of them have very dense dense branching and impenetrability. Looks good in group plantings. The culture is resistant to extreme cold. Not very demanding on the composition of the soil, but grows poorly on heavy clay soils. Dislikes lowlands with stagnant water.

All conifers require good lighting, with a lack of it, the branches stretch and become bare. Ate with a golden and blue shade of needles grow better in sunny areas, and with dark green needles they prefer partial shade.

The crown starts right from the ground and lends itself well to shaping, which allows you to create curly hedges. The height of the plantations can reach 30 m, the life expectancy of plants is about 250-300 years. A hedge like this always looks great and goes well with other garden plants. It will suit any garden style and design.

Boxwood and thuja occidentalis

Boxwood is one of the oldest ornamental shrubs. This evergreen plant has about 30 varieties, each with its own uniqueness. This is a rather thermophilic culture, it does not tolerate frosts and requires careful shelter for the winter. It is practically not used in the northern regions. Common boxwood is a rather unpretentious shrub that grows on any soil. Easily tolerates shade and transplant at any age.

The branches are covered with small shiny leaves. When trimmed, it does not lose its decorative effect and allows you to realize any fantasies. It does not grow very quickly and does not require frequent haircuts. There are dwarf varieties, and there are varieties that can grow up to 3 m under favorable conditions. The better the conditions, the faster the boxwood will grow.

Thuja is an evergreen shrub, but it can change its color depending on the season. In summer, it is green, and by winter it acquires brownish shades. There are a lot of varieties, and they are very different from each other. There are varieties of a spherical shape of a light green color that do not require a haircut. And there are columnar thuja up to 7 m high, which have a rich dark green color. Fast growing plants of some varieties are able to create a hedge in 3-4 years.

The culture tolerates frost well and does not require additional shelter. Likes regular pruning, from which it bushs better. Densely planted seedlings look very good, growing, they turn into a solid green wall.

Hedge plants can be very different. When choosing them, many factors must be taken into account. With the right selection of planting material, proper planting and proper care, a green hedge will allow you to enjoy its magnificent view for many years.

There is a lot of talk about the benefits of hedges. But many owners of country estates and summer cottages think that the process of forming an eco-fence takes a long time, and also requires a lot of attention. Of course, you will have to work hard. But in order for the hedge to be full in a couple of years, you can pick up fast-growing perennial plants. It can be formed from shrubs, climbing plants, trees. And the year-round decorativeness of a natural fence can be ensured if it is made from evergreen representatives of the flora. A fast-growing hedge will not only decorate the site, but also provide reliable protection from prying eyes and natural disasters.

Forming a hedge: terms and conditions

For a natural hedge, you can select different types of fast-growing plants, approximately the same in foliage or needles density and height. To form it, you need to pay a lot of attention to it immediately after planting, as well as during the growth process. This is due to the fact that for the same period of time, some plants have time to stretch, while others grow in width.

From fast-growing perennials, an excellent hedge can be formed in two years. It is better to select shrubs or trees so that when they grow, they do not penetrate into neighboring areas.

Fast growing shrubs for live fencing

Shrub plants are the most popular material for hedges. And not surprising. They can be used to make an impassable prickly fence, fruitful, decorative, evergreen, which will fully fulfill all its functions. The choice is huge. It is only important to choose plants that take root well in your area. But everything is simple here. Planting material should be purchased from local nurseries. Young shrubs by the time of planting in a permanent place will be fully acclimatized and adapted to local conditions. The most popular shrubs for fast growing hedges are:

This unpretentious shrub is presented in many varieties with bright foliage of golden or bright red color. Decorativeness is also due to the lush rounded shape of the crown. The plant prefers sunny, open areas. It grows well in partial shade, but in this case the foliage loses its original color. The bladder is well tolerated by severe frosts and drought, reacts gratefully to a haircut, becoming even more magnificent and more elegant.

Dogwood

The shrub grows rapidly, is unpretentious and shade-tolerant. - a great option for external fencing. Its decorative effect is most pronounced at the time of flowering. Dogwood fruits have medicinal properties. Therefore, compotes and preserves are cooked from delicious berries, and they are also used in folk medicine. You can lay a dogwood hedge both in early spring and in autumn, before the frost begins. Plants planted in autumn are covered for the first winter.

Thorn

Compact shrubs do not require frequent and careful pruning. A dense, impassable hedge is obtained from thorns. Berries have medicinal properties, but they can be eaten after frost. Until that time, they are tasteless and very knitting in the mouth. In order for the shrub to begin to grow rapidly, during planting, it is cut off at a level of 15 centimeters. The haircut is repeated next year to add density to the hedge.

Barberry

The shrub is decorative, thanks to its bright foliage, but also thorny. It turns into a dense, impassable hedge. tolerates dry periods well, but moisture stagnation can destroy it. Among the many varieties, you can choose those from which it is easy to form an eco-fence of the desired height. Barberry fruits are used in cooking.

Evergreens for fast growing hedges

A perennial evergreen hedge can be formed from deciduous or coniferous plants. It all depends on the design idea, the preferences of the site owner and his financial capabilities. Coniferous hedges are especially aristocratic. And here it is important to choose the right type of trees or shrubs. The needles of some varieties love shade, others prefer sunny open places. In addition, ephedra do not grow well on clay soils and in places where groundwater is close to the surface of the earth. The most popular plants for fast growing evergreen hedges are:

Norway spruce

Spruce hedge

This plant has many decorative varieties. Most varieties have excellent branch density, they feel comfortable in group plantings. perfectly adapted to harsh climatic conditions. Laurel Cherry An evergreen shrub with glossy dense foliage can become a real decoration of your garden. From the cherry laurel, you can form a decorative natural hedge in the Mediterranean style. The height of the eco-fence can be up to two meters. The plant requires regular shearing, since it quickly grows not only in height, but also grows intensively in width.

Thuja western

Spherical bush of thuja varieties "Western Danica"

From this plant, hedges of exquisite beauty are obtained. It is only important to properly organize the care. prefers sunny places, but at the same time its delicate scaly needles can get burns. The soil must be nutritious and moist. This plant tolerates frost and strong winds well. For better branching, you need to cut it regularly.

Red cedar

This type of juniper has many varieties. In group plantings, it feels good and looks especially decorative. This type of juniper is fast growing. Trees usually have a low pyramidal crown. In older specimens, it becomes spreading. The bark is not subject to decay.

Plants for a climbing fast-growing hedge

A perennial climbing hedge of fast-growing plants can be blooming, deciduous, ornamental, evergreen. It all depends on the preferences of the site owner. As practice shows, the following types of plants are most often used for such eco-fences:

Campsis

From this fast-growing, unpretentious liana, even a novice gardener can grow a chic hedge. Someone will prefer rooting campsis, which quickly unravels, clinging to the surface with air roots. It has good frost resistance. Large-flowered campsis is more decorative, but suitable for cultivation in the southern regions, as it does not tolerate cold well. It will require strong supports. If this plant is not given proper attention, it will braid everything around very quickly. Therefore, you need to cut it off in time, creating the desired shape of the hedge.

Honeysuckle

Several varieties of honeysuckle can be used to form a luxurious natural hedge. This plant is undemanding to the composition and moisture of the soil, but prefers partial shade. It tolerates severe frosts well. In the first year after planting, the foliage will not completely cover all the gaps in the wall. But all this is offset by a beautiful flowering. Honeysuckle berries are not only tasty, but also very healthy.

Climbing roses

The desired effect will be achieved already in the first season after planting. Among the many varieties, you can easily pick up plants, the flowers of which will delight the eye with bright juicy shades. Most gardeners love climbing roses for their simplicity, ease of care, rapid growth and variety of colors. In the first year, the rose grows strongly, although it does not tightly cover the entire surface. But for the next season, the fence will completely hide the area from prying eyes.

With the help of fast-growing plants on your site, it is easy to realize any undertaking with a hedge. First you need to decide on the landing site and the height of the future eco-fence. And if you turn on your imagination, study the features of the region and the adaptability of plants to local climatic conditions, then it is quite possible to do without the involvement of specialists in landscape design.

All plants on the site play a certain role and are selected by the gardener in accordance with the task at hand. Fast-growing shrubs for hedges are the best suited for simultaneously hiding the garden area from prying eyes and ennobling it. For quick landscaping of the site, plants are needed that harmoniously fit into the overall composition, will not require constant care, will be resistant to frost and short hair.

In order for the hedge to turn out to be unpretentious and decorative at the same time, you first need to pick up a photo of the plants, study the descriptions of the groups, make possible combinations, and only then start planting. Gardeners prefer to purchase fast-growing varieties so that in a couple of years the green fence will acquire a presentable appearance.

Advantages of green fences:

Plants are selected very different: conifers, deciduous, decorative, flowering and even fruit. Perennials that are resistant to adverse conditions are suitable, plus they should have a dense crown, uniform growth, resistance to pests and frosty winters.

Types of fast growing shrubs

Deciduous crops are actively growing, some varieties give an increase of up to 1 m per year. Ornamental seedlings with small foliage are suitable for a living fence. Many of them delight with flowering for several months. Priority fast-growing shrubs for hedges are bladder, spiraea, turf, barberry, chubushnik.

• Bubble and spirea

Diabolo bubble

The viburnum-leaved bubble is a spreading bush up to 2-4 m in height. There are also dwarf options for borders. It is valued for its decorative foliage with a jagged edge, snow-white inflorescences and small bubble fruits that distinguish the vesicle among other plantings. Depending on the variety, the crown can change color to golden or reddish by autumn. For better growth, it is recommended to use top dressing, rotted manure, compost are suitable for it.

It is an ideal plant that requires minimal maintenance. It grows on dry soil, does not have any special requirements for sunlight, adds 40-50 cm per year, has a beneficial attitude to the haircut. A colorful combination can be achieved by alternating varieties Diabolo with a brownish-green crown and hard-leaved Luteus.

Spirea is a shrub that makes a magnificent flowering hedge. They do not form clear boundaries from such plants, but allow them to grow freely. It attracts attention with lush white flowering, which is set off by rich green foliage. Both single-row and multi-row landings are possible. In some plants, the lower part of the trunk is exposed as it grows. In this case, a number of low-growing flowers are planted in front of them, it does not hurt to use organic matter here too) for active growth and flowering.

• Cotoneaster shiny and white woodland

The brilliant cotoneaster is the best specimen for growing dense fencing. The height can reach 2 m. The decorative value of the cotoneaster in foliage, which by autumn changes from a rich green hue to burgundy. Fruits are small black or red peas that adorn the shoots at the end of the season. It has been growing in one place for more than half a century, tolerating drought, pruning and frost well. To form a dense curtain, it is recommended to remove 1/3 of the annual shoots.

Derain white - the owner of decorative leaves with light edging. Tall shrubs of deren grow up to 2.5 m. The plant is shade-tolerant, not afraid of dampness, in the spring it is covered with graceful creamy inflorescences. With proper care, re-flowering in the fall is possible. White Derain changes his outfits several times during the season, and each time they are gorgeous. At first, abundant flowering pleases, then motley foliage and autumn crimson, and in winter, reddish shoots dazzle against the background of a snow-white blanket. It will not be difficult to create balls, cubes, hemispheres and columns from the crown.

• Treelike hydrangea and chubushnik

Treelike hydrangea has a more restrained growth, but it is absolutely unpretentious, grows and blooms in almost any conditions. Its leaves are ovoid with jagged edges. The buds are formed on the shoots of the current year, so she is not afraid of a short haircut in autumn and in the spring before the juice starts to move. Inflorescences, reaching 15-20 cm in diameter, delight with their beauty from July to frost.

Adult plants in the middle lane overwinter without shelter.

Chubushnik goes well with hydrangea. On sale there are both tall varieties, reaching 3 m (Airborne landing, Flight of moths), and undersized ones up to 0.7 m (Moonlight). Beautifully flowering unformed hedges are made up of crown mock-orange, Caucasian and large-flowered. A strong aroma is characteristic of Lemoine and the Airborne assault. For single-row planting, it is recommended to place seedlings at a distance of 0.5 m. In severe winters, freezing of shoots is possible, but after pruning, the crown quickly recovers.

Evergreen shrubs: beauty all year round

Evergreen hedges are formed from coniferous shrubs and in combination with deciduous plants.

The advantage of coniferous plantations:

• tolerate pruning well;
• cleanse the atmosphere;
• have high sound insulation;
• keep decorativeness throughout the year;
• have been growing in one place for tens or even hundreds of years.

Popular types of conifers for creating a hedge:

The downside of evergreens is slow growth compared to deciduous plants, but some varieties of conifers meet the necessary requirements and allow you to grow a green fence for several years.

Popular deciduous evergreen hedge shrubs:

Thorny shrubs guarding the backyard

Thorny bushes give the advantage of protecting the site from unexpected guests and animals.

Planting options:

Video with an idea for beginners.

Newbie tips for growing hedges

It is important not only to know which plants are unpretentious, and which ones create problems as they grow. There are several factors to consider:

1. The smaller the needles and foliage, the thicker the bush looks.
2. When choosing a place for a hedge, you need to determine a possible shadow from it, whether the plantings will shade unwanted places, including in a neighboring area.
3. The optimal height of the fence for visual isolation of the site is no more than 2 m. To delimit the site into zones, the height of the bushes of 1.5 m is sufficient.
4. Over time, the landings will begin to get out of the territory allocated to them. The gardener needs to know how to contain growth and concentrate the bulk of the shrub in a specific location. The most popular technique is to limit planting trenches by burying slate sheets to the depth of the root system.
5. If the bush is well formed, it can be given not only a horizontal shape, but also cut it in the form of waves, zigzags, geometric shapes.
6. Plantations that are too dense, which do not allow the wind to pass through, have a side effect: air currents pass over them, creating turbulences, which negatively affects the trees standing nearby. For dense hedges, bushes are selected that do not limit the minimum ventilation of the site.

It is possible to grow a curtain of greenery in the country in a few years, if you know which types of plants develop most rapidly and do not require special care. A beautifully designed living fence can create a unique coziness on the territory of the garden, protecting it from neighbors, noise and excess dust.

Any site is a reflection of the owner's character, his personality, his feelings and thoughts. Therefore, it is so important to pay due attention to the design of the site, to invest a piece of your self in landscape design.

An excellent element that carries not only aesthetic, but also valuable practical function, will become a living perennial, fast-growing and evergreen hedge.

It will help divide the site into zones and sectors, fence its perimeter, arrange borders and decorate other linear structures.

But, like any living organism, the hedge requires attention and accuracy, care and concern.

We will help you with this by explaining what criteria should be used to choose the type of hedge and the plants that will be included in its structure, how to land them how to maintain the beauty and health of green spaces.

Fence options

The art of creating hedges originated in time immemorial and has come a long way, transforming in centuries and countries, absorbing a riot of oriental colors and the severity of forms of European classicism.

That is why there is such a thing in our time. variety of variations this type of landscape and many criteria by which hedges can be classified.

The first and most obvious of these is the purpose, which goes hand in hand with the height of the plants. Depending on these indicators, there are:

1. Curb hedges- low (less than 1 meter) plantations, the purpose of which is to delimit flower beds and lawns, highlight paths and sidewalks.
2. Internal hedges- medium-sized (1-2 meters), divide the site into large functional zones, serve as a natural shelter for practical elements.
3. External hedges- tall (more than 2 meters), they enclose the outer perimeter of the site, separating it from the rest of the space.

For the first 2-3 winters, plants should definitely cover with light breathable material.

One of the most crucial stages is hedge trimming... Tuyu is trimmed twice a year - in May and August.

Growing hedges in the country is a real art, and we wish you to know all of it!

Find out more about the planting scheme and rules, the features of hedge care in this video:

Hedges are one of the most practical and convenient options for fencing a site. Especially if you choose evergreen and fast growing perennials. These plants require care only at first, until they get stronger, and further care consists in periodic shearing and watering during dry seasons. It is very important not only to correctly select such plants, but also to plant them correctly, otherwise it is unlikely that it will be possible to form a beautiful and durable hedge.

Climbing perennials are the fastest growing. In just one season, they grow several meters, forming a continuous carpet of leaves. Unfortunately, not all of the evergreen vines can tolerate frost, so for regions with cold winters, the choice of such plants is small. Most often, periwinkle, euonymus and ivy are used in summer cottages.

Periwinkle belongs to evergreen climbing semi-shrubs, and can be used to create hedges up to 1.5 m high. The stems and leaves of the plant are remarkable for their amazing vitality, are not afraid of frost, and always keep a fresh look. The flowers of the periwinkle are quite large, most often blue and blue, although there are other shades. Periwinkle develops well on poor soils, can grow both in the sun and in the shade, and tolerates drought well. If the overgrown stems are cut and stuck in moist soil, they will definitely take root.

It is recommended to plant the plant in early autumn - until mid-September. To create a hedge, you will definitely need a strong trellis of the appropriate height, since without support the periwinkle will creep along the ground. To achieve the greatest decorative effect, the soil must be thoroughly loosened and fertilized with organic matter. Periwinkle grows best in loamy and well-drained soils. The optimal distance between plants is from 20 to 30 cm.

In the first year of planting, it is worth covering for the winter, because fragile stems and roots can freeze out. In the future, such measures will not be needed. Periwinkle tolerates pruning well, but it is recommended to pinch the shoots for better tillering. Once every three years, you can fertilize with organic fertilizers, add leafy soil.

Euonymus has many varieties, among which there are curly ones. Especially popular are the Fortune euonymus varieties (Blondie, Harlequin, Sunspot), which are distinguished by the decorative coloring of the leaves. The plant loves fertile loose soils and abundant watering, but does not respond well to stagnant water. Variegated varieties should be planted in sunny places, since they turn dark green in the shade, but varieties with white and yellow leaves are best placed in partial shade, as they burn in the sun.

It should be noted that euonymus belongs to poisonous plants, and if there are children in the family, it is better to find another perennial for the hedge. When disembarking, be sure to use protective gloves, and upon completion of planting work, you should thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water.

Cuttings of euonymus are pre-rooted under a film for 1.5-2 months, and only then are planted in a permanent place. The distance between the seedlings is about 20 cm. To form the hedge, it is imperative to install supports along which the growing shoots are directed. In summer, plants are fed with mineral fertilizers twice a month. Euonymus does not tolerate frosts very well, therefore it is recommended to cover it with spruce branches or dry foliage for the winter, especially in the first years. Formative and sanitary pruning is carried out in early spring.

This evergreen perennial has many advantages over other climbing plants:

• tolerates cold well and can withstand short frosts without losing its fresh appearance;
• all its varieties are highly decorative, due to the shape and color of the leaves;
• the height of the ivy hedge can be up to 3 meters;
• grows rapidly;
• goes well with all garden plants.

What ivy looks like - photo

So that the hedge does not lose its decorative effect, ivy needs to be watered regularly and periodically carry out complex fertilizing, starting in early spring. Drying of the soil and stagnation of water should not be allowed, and the dosage of fertilizers should also be strictly adhered to, since an excess of nutrients reduces the attractiveness of the vine.

Formative pruning is carried out in the fall, at the same time old or damaged shoots are removed. In regions with frosty winters, it is recommended to cover the ivy with dry foliage. The most decorative varieties are highly sensitive to cold, and therefore are more suitable for southern regions. Ivy is propagated by cuttings, which are rooted in containers before planting in a permanent place. When planting rooted cuttings, leave 30-50 cm between the plants, and the soil must be mulched.

Like euonymus, ivy is poisonous, and swelling, itching and redness may appear when the skin comes into contact with the plant. True, not everyone is sensitive to this poison. However, planting and pruning must be done with gloves, and it is recommended to wash clothes that may have been touched by the shoots after completion of the work.

Coniferous plants

Ornamental conifers grow much slower than climbing perennials, but among them there are several fast-growing species:

• Serbian spruce;
• thuja Brabant;
• fir Arizona and balsamic;
• Lawson's cypress;
• cupressocyparis of Leyland.

All these types of conifers are very decorative, resistant to cold, not too demanding on the soil and lend themselves well to formation. Coniferous hedges look great at any time of the year, and go well with any garden style and plant. When choosing varieties, one feature should be taken into account: conifers with a blue and golden shade of needles should be planted in sunny places, and dark greens feel better in partial shade.

It is not recommended to plant conifers on clayey heavy soils, as well as in lowlands where water stagnates. The optimal soil for them is a mixture of turf soil with peat and sand in equal proportions. When planting seedlings, it is very important not to destroy the earthen lump, otherwise the survival rate may decrease. The distance between plants depends on the type of hedge. When creating formed fences, this gap is 20-50 cm, and for free-growing hedges, seedlings are distributed in increments of 30-70 cm, depending on the characteristics of the variety. As a rule, coniferous hedges are always made single-row so that the plants do not shade each other. With a lack of lighting, the lower branches are exposed, and a living fence does not look so impressive.

Coniferous hedge (Leyland cypress or Cupressocyparis)

The best time for planting conifers is the end of August-September. Annual seedlings from containers can be transplanted in summer, choosing a cloudy day for this. In the heat, the plants need to be shaded, this will help them to acclimatize and take root faster.

During the period when young shoots appear, the plantations need regular watering and periodic spraying of the crown. Abundant moisture in the summer increases the resistance of the seedlings to frost. With the onset of cold weather, the trunk circles should be mulched, and the plants should be covered with spruce branches or straw.

Deciduous evergreen perennials

Among the hardwoods, there are also evergreen species that retain their decorative effect all year round. These plants grow quickly and are easily amenable to a formative haircut, which allows you to create neat hedges on the site in a short time.

Evergreen barberry

Barberry bushes are very strong and hardy, with proper haircut they form an impenetrable living wall. Among the evergreen varieties, the fastest growing are box-leaved, small-warty and Juliana barberry. The plant is great for both molded and free-growing hedges, it looks spectacular in a single-row planting and in composition with other shrubs.

Evergreen species of barberry are recommended to be planted in partial shade, in contrast to deciduous species, which prefer sunny places more. The soil can be any, but on nutritious and permeable soils, the decorativeness of the bushes is much higher. Planting is carried out in spring and autumn, the seedlings must be with a clod of earth or in a container. You should not purchase planting material with small, poorly grown roots, as well as seedlings, the roots of which are bare or affected by diseases. A strong, beautiful hedge from such plants will never work, you will only waste time, effort and your money.

When planting, the root ball must be placed flush with the soil line, and the ground around the bush should be well compacted, watered and mulched. In regions with cold winters, it is recommended to cover the barberry with a non-woven material with the onset of the first frost. Sanitary pruning is done in early spring and shaping pruning in summer.

Laurel is an evergreen perennial, although it can shed its leaves in cold regions. Many varieties are known, but only medicinal laurel grows quickly. All other species are slow-growing, so they are less in demand in private gardening. Numerous white flowers, collected in brushes up to 12 cm long, give the plant decorativeness.

Cherry laurel tolerates shade well, withstands frosts down to -25 degrees, grows on calcareous, sandy loam, humus-calcareous soils and loams. At the same time, the plant reacts poorly to a lack of moisture: it grows worse, stops blooming and ceases to bear fruit. When planting, 50-70 cm is left between the seedlings, the root circle must be mulched. Formative pruning is performed the next year, at the end of summer, in the future, the bushes should be cut twice a year.

Boxwood

Boxwood - decorative gardening

For hedges, boxwood is considered the most optimal option. This plant can be given any shape, it perfectly tolerates cold, shade, undemanding to the composition of the soil and moisture. True, most types of boxwood cannot be called fast-growing, especially dwarf varieties. If you don't want to wait long for the hedge to form, choose tall plants.

When planting, the seedlings are placed in a row with a pitch of 15 cm, watered abundantly and immediately cut off the shoots by two-thirds of the length. The soil should be mulched or covered with black agrofibre. The best time for planting is spring. In mid-June, the bushes should be fed with mineral fertilizers. In the first year, you do not need to cut the boxwood, but the next year you can already form a hedge. An adult shrub is cut once a month from April to September. After pruning, the plants must be watered and fed, which contributes to the formation of a dense dense crown.

Video - Fast growing perennial evergreen hedge