What are Hedge Plants?

Decoration, security, privacy, noise buffering, urban greening… These are just a few of the many benefits of hedge plants. Not only do they look lovely but they also serve various practical functions if you want to give your home and garden a bit of a makeover this year. Hedge plants are an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to built fences and can be trimmed to perfection according to the shape, size and height you prefer — a great way to add some creativity to your outdoor space!

What are hedge plants?

Shrubs and trees with dense growth and thick foliage can be planted in a hedge formation and trimmed to form a wall around your house or a particular section of your garden. Depending on your budget and the density, height, texture and colour you desire, a wide range of hedge plants are available in Australia to upgrade your outdoor area. Dense-growing plants are a good option if security and privacy are a priority while flowering shrubs are ideal if you want to add a touch of colour to your hedge.

Before purchasing hedge plants, you need to consider the temperature and weather conditions of your area to make the best pick. Evergreen plants that grow quickly and are adaptable to various weather conditions are best suited for hedging to ensure your hedges have a dense and healthy growth throughout the year.

How to take care of hedge plants

Hedge plants can be planted any time of the year as long as their watering needs are taken care of according to the climate and the season. Hedge plants shouldn’t be planted too close to each other. This may seem counterintuitive when trying to grow a dense plant wall, but hedge plants need sufficient room to grow and develop on their own without competing for space or resources. The type of plants used will determine the optimum distance between each other. Additionally, avoid planting hedge plants directly against a wall or fence as this may interfere with root development.

Hedge plants can be planted in containers or directly in the ground, depending on the type of soil in your garden and the desired shape, size and height of the hedge. If you want to achieve thick growth over a long timespan, the best option is to plant directly in the ground to allow the roots to develop to their best ability. Fresh compost will give the plants a kickstart and a slow-release organic fertiliser can be used in early spring for an added boost.

Some people prefer neatly trimmed hedges while others favour bushy, untamed growth. Whichever your preference, regular trimming is necessary to encourage healthy growth and achieve thick growth from the ground up. Flowering hedge plants in particular need to be pruned after their blooming season to ensure continued growth.

The best hedge plants in Australia

In Australia’s warm climate, some of the most popular hedging plants include the viburnum, boxwood, murraya and lilly pilly. Viburnum is a hardy and drought-tolerant hedging plant with lush, dense and fast growth. This plant can easily grow up to four metres in height, making it ideal for medium to tall hedges. Boxwood works especially well for precise trimming since its smaller leaves and tight growth make it easy to maintain in the desired shape. Boxwood is mostly used for shorter hedges and garden landscaping. Murraya is a beautiful easy-growing flowering hedge plant with a bushy growth that is suitable for medium to tall hedges and privacy screens. Finally, the native Australian lilly pilly will instantly bring life to your garden with its medley of pink, red and white flowers.

Whichever hedge plant you pick, your garden is sure to be transformed in the blink of an eye!

Spring Colours is a plant nursery located in Sydney’s Dural neighbourhood. With over 30 years of experience in garden landscaping and delivering high-quality plants to plant lovers at great prices, we are committed to making the world a greener place and adding new life to your home and garden.

Contact us to find out about our wholesale service delivery or visit our Nursery in Dural to browse our collection of plants!