A well kept hedge can do much for your landscaping. Used in the front of the house and on the sides of your yard, hedges are a barrier against traffic, pollution, noise and all things unsightly; at the same time hedges enhance the overall proportions and general appearance of your house and lawn. Within the boundaries of your property, hedges define paths and walks, demarcate various areas, as well as help to screen service areas and vegetable gardens.
The plant materials generally used for hedges are mentioned in other posts. They include the tall background hedges of holly, thorn or wattle; the informal flowering hedges of rose, bridal wreath spirea or barberry; Such evergreens as mugho pine, globe arbor vitae, box or eunonymus (most of which are used as low edgings) and the colorful fruit and-nut hedges of thorn apple, hazlenut, cherry, beach plum, cranberry and quince.
And, of course, there are the formal clipped hedges. Of these, the Amur privet is by far the most widely used. In fact, the privet is used so universally that it is original to choose any of the above for hedging.
Front Yard Landscaping
Technorati Tags: bushes, hedges, landscape hedge
IN general, trees and shrubs are planted and cared for in the same way, the difference between them is chiefly one of height. One definition of the difference, however, is that while a tree has only one trunk, a shrub has several stems or trunks.
Not so long ago the number of reliable shrubs was quite limited, but today the many new hybrids have lengthened the list and the gardener’s choice is almost endless. No matter the region, it is now possible to plant shrubs that will satisfy color needs, bloom at various seasons, cover bare spots where grass won’t grow, or grow in such profusion and depth that screening purposes are served.
Shrubs are valuable to the gardener because they bridge the gap between trees and flowers. As do trees, they serve as boundary markers, soften the lines of buildings, act as a decorative background for flower beds and hide unsightly views. Like flowers, they add character and shape to the garden, blooming forth with colorful blossoms and attracting birds with their berries. One big item in their favor is that they mature rapidly, yet remain as hardy and long-lived as trees.
Front Yard Landscaping
Technorati Tags: hedges, shrubs, trees, vines
