Hedging for Privacy
For reliable year-round privacy,
evergreen foliage is generally
the first consideration.
The required screening height
and the direction of overlooking
are equally important.
Portuguese Laurel, English Yew
and Holly are useful choices
for suitable sites.
Hedging for Screening
Screening may be needed to hide
a fence, neighbouring building,
road or unwanted garden view.
Match the mature hedge height
and width to the actual sightline.
Taller rootballed plants can
provide more immediate screening
than smaller hedging stock.
Fast-Growing Hedging
Vigorous hedges can help create
a boundary relatively quickly,
although actual growth depends
on soil, water, light and
establishment.
Consider future maintenance
as well as initial growth speed.
View Fast-Growing Hedging Guide →
Wildlife-Friendly Hedging
A mixed native hedge can provide
flowers, fruit, dense shelter
and nesting habitat.
Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Holly
are valuable species, while
additional native plants can
increase seasonal diversity.
Explore Native Hedging →
Flowering Hedging
Flowering hedges introduce
seasonal colour, fragrance
and opportunities for
pollinating insects.
Escallonia 'Iveyi' produces
white summer flowers.
Hawthorn and Blackthorn
provide spring blossom.
Explore Flowering Hedging →
Low-Maintenance Hedging
No formal hedge is maintenance-free,
but selecting a manageable
species and allowing adequate
planting width can reduce
unnecessary pruning.
Yew is well suited to precise
maintenance and controlled shapes,
although establishment and
routine clipping are still needed.
