Have you tried to use hedges to get more privacy in your garden?
One of the downsides of living in a home is that sometimes the neighbors get a bit nosy. And while hedges have gone down in popularity in the past decades, we believe they need to have a resurgence.
After all, there’s no need to invest in bulky fences that will take up space in your yard when you can grow your very own one that will serve more purposes than just bringing you privacy in your own yard.
Hedges are great natural fences that will ensure people do not take peeks at you, and they also add as noise buffers and windbreakers.
You can generally see them planted along the border or periphery of a house, but in recent years people have added them as bushes to landscapes as well.
We believe that you can achieve the level of privacy you need with a hedge, and the best part about it is that you can also get a variety that blooms, which will bring even more vibrancy and life to your yard!
Keep on reading to discover the best hedges for your yard!
Have you ever considered a hedge fence? What would deter you from growing one? Share your opinions in the comments!
Boxwood (Baxus)
- Growing zone: 5 through 9
- Expected height: 1 to 10 feet
- Light needs: partial shade to full sun
Despite not being native to North America, Boxwood has made a name for itself in the privacy hedge business. Being one of the most popular and chosen varieties of hedges, boxwood has a lot of perks that make it come on top of the list.
The plant has various heights and sizes, and it can be trimmed to fit your privacy and gardening needs.
They are the perfect choice if you have a small space where other shrubs would be too large, and they are the best plant when it comes to narrow spots since they will mold themselves to the space they are given.
While a lot of people are worried about choosing a natural fence since it could lose its leaves and thus lose privacy during the winter months, boxwood is not one that would cause such an issue.
Boxwoods retain their leaves all year round, and you do not have to worry about losing screening due to the cold seasons or having to deal with a ton of fallen leaves in the fall.
One thing to be careful of if you are going to be opting for boxwood is to choose the variety you need. The plant comes in taller varieties that are perfect for hedges but also come in dwarf sizes, which stop growing at about 3 to 4 feet tall!
Otherwise, they are easy to maintain once established, and in spring and summer you can enjoy their yellow flowers that have a fragrant scent; these attract bees, so you can be happy more pollinators are visiting your yard.
Buttonbush
- Growing zone: 5 through 11
- Expected height: 6 to 12 feet
- Light needs: partial shade to full sun
If you have been thinking about a hedge but are worried it will just end up being deer feed, do not worry!
Buttonbush is the perfect hedge shrub that also keeps away deer since they do not enjoy the taste, so they are more likely to skip on your yard if it is surrounded by this hedge choice.
They have gorgeous deep green glossy foliage that will be vibrant and full of life all year round, and from June to September you will be able to admire it in full bloom.
Buttonbush produces clusters of tiny flowers, which are all unique, and they attract birds due to their sweet nectar.
If you have been thinking about getting more pollinators and wildlife like birds into your yard, this hedge option may just be hitting all the spots!
Hydrangea
- Growing zone: 6 through 9
- Expected height: 6 feet
- Light needs: loves morning sun and afternoon shade
Everyone loves these bouquet-like flowers, so why not check more boxes and use hydrangeas as your privacy hedge too?
What many people do not know is that hydrangeas are hedge plants, so they will easily be able to grow to the size you need to be able to keep nosy neighbors away from your yard.
What’s more, since they produce these clusters of big, showy, and gorgeous flowers, you will be able to bring more color to your garden without much headache.
Even better, you can easily cut some in their blooming period and bring them inside, which can mean you will never be without fresh flowers in your home.
Another perk of Hydrangeas is that they come in a wide array of colors that range from pink to blue and even white, with all the other combinations you can think about.
The balloon-sized flower clusters are a joy to look at, and they make for perfect pick-me-up flowers!
Even better, the hedge is low maintenance once it has been established, and you will not have to worry about pruning it too often, making it a perfect choice for those who do not have enough time for a demanding hedge!
If you want to have luck when you grow your hydrangea, you need to document yourself as much as possible. This is why we recommend that you read this book: Success With Hydrangeas: A Gardener’s Guide.
Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense)
- Growing zone: 7 through 10
- Expected height: 6 feet
- Light needs: full sun to partial shade
Another foreign plant to North America, yet another perfect hedge option for those of us who want to bring more color and vibrancy to the yard.
Native to China, Loropetalum is also known as the Chinese fringe flower, known for its red to purple foliage! The hedge makes for a striking view, and depending on the variety you will be getting, it can guarantee you a myriad of colors across the yard.
This plant is one that is perfect for those who live in parts of the country that are susceptible to droughts and those who desire a low-maintenance plant.
Loropetalum is a fast-growing plant, as it can grow up to one foot each season. It is pest-resistant, and much like another plant on our list, it is also a deer deterrent, so you will not have to worry about it becoming a buffet for wildlife or insects!
What’s more, you can be surprised all year round, as you will not know when it will bloom sporadically, producing some amazingly red flowers!
Ilex Screen Play (Ilex integra x latifolia ‘Screen Play)
- Growing zone: 7a through 9b
- Expected height: up to 30 feet
- Light needs: partial shade to full sun
Last on our list, but definitely not least, the Ilex screenplay is a hybrid hedge, which makes it more unique than the other ones we have discussed so far.
It is a cross between two plants, and they have managed to come up with a perfect hedge option.
The plant has green leaves that resemble the ones the holly bush has, yet it comes without the spines, so you can rest assured no one can get injured in the hedge.
What makes this hedge so special is the fact that it can grow up to impressive heights and that it achieves it in little to no time.
If you have always wanted really tall hedges but have not found a variety that pleases you, the Ilex screenplay may just be the one to research further.
Some people prefer the Ilex screenplay since it is versatile, as it can be planted and grown as a device, along with the necessary printing, or it can be left as a stand-alone screen that will bring about privacy as well.
Despite being a huge plant, it also produces white flowers, and much like other bushes, in winter you can expect to see red berries form, which will be a great source of food for the birds in the area.
These are some of the additions to your yard that can give you some privacy and bring some color to your yard. However, if you have been thinking about growing roses but are scared they will be finicky, no worries. Gardeners and Plants brings you the toughest roses you need to know about here!
