Grow Natural Fences

The most natural boundary you can have in your yard is a thicket or hedge comprised solely of shrubs or trees with texture lined up in a row. This natural fence can filter out noise, deflect wind, add privacy, and provide habitat for small birds and other creatures.

Use your house’s style as a starting point in deciding what kind of boundary you want to plant. Clipped branches all at the same height in a straight row like boxwood, for example, give a more formal look. For a more natural, relaxed look try using several different types of shrubs, even mixing up evergreens with deciduous. The advantage of this type of boundary is that it will need little maintenance except for the yearly pruning and mulching.

For more depth in your boundary you can plant two layers of shrubs with the forward row shorter in height. Try evergreens in the back with flowering shrubs in the front for interest. Another interesting effect is to weave evergreens and deciduous shrubs together like braids of contrasting color and texture. Some shrubs will take awhile to fill in and look full. The spaces can be filled in the meantime with fast-growing ornamental grasses.

The three major groups of shrubs used in borders are needle evergreens that remain green all year, broadleaf evergreens that loose their leaves when the winter is unusually cold, and deciduous shrubs that turn yellow and red in the fall and are a network of twiggy branches throughout the winter.

Some dependable evergreen shrubs are boxwood, Japanese holly, juniper, dwarf hemlocks and dwarf arborvitaes. Boxwood used in more formal types of landscape design, should be kept pruned three times a year. Japanese holly is very tough, flexible, and tolerates drought. Most have shiny dark green leaves and some have reddish leaves. Junipers come in a variety of sizes ranging in color from greenish blue to greenish yellow.

Some broadleaf evergreens are privet, nandina and abelia. Border privet is fast-growing and virtually indestructible. Because they grow so vigorously, they should not be used in a formal clipped hedge.

Some deciduous shrubs used in borders are burning bush, rosa rugosa and lilac. Burning bush is famous for its leaves turning red in the fall. Their leaves will turn a more bright red in the fall if planted in a place where it will get more sun than shade. Rosa rugosa bushes are thorny and root suckers. They bloom heavily in early summer and grow colorful rose hips in the fall. Lilacs grow tall and should be planted in the background if used in a tiered hedge.

Any one or combination of these will work as your living fence to border your property or be used in groupings throughout your overall landscape design.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reel and keeping your home garden looking attractive and healthy.