Choosing and caring for hedge plants is an easy when you get the basics right. Importantly, when they are done well, they bring elegance, privacy, and formality, whilst also serving to provide wonderful aesthetics. The Plant Company is proud to bring you tips for hedging plants so you can make the correct decisions and achieve a fantastic hedge in your NZ garden.
Caring for a new hedge has several key elements to ensure the hedge grows healthily and looks amazing. The most important part starts with planting, and our article, How To Plant A Hedge, provides sound advice on how to do this properly. So, let’s now assume your plant is growing well and you want to keep it that way!
The most critical element often missed is to protect the plants from wind. The Plant Company generally stakes young plants to avoid them being blown over or broken.
Weed control is vital. Therefore, mulch should be applied at outlined in our article, How To Mulch Around A Hedge. Hand weeding is also effective if you have the time.
Fertiliser is also essential. Too often The Plant Company sees hedges that are weak and looking sparse because the plants are short on nutrition. Our articles at, Fertiliser For Hedges, provides advice on the best way to go about this task.
Trimming the hedge during early spring and late summer is key to achieving a dense hedge. Our articles under How to trim a hedge, provide great insight into how to grow amazing hedges.
Finally, the plants should be checked for pest or disease issues during spring, summer, and autumn. If anything is looking a little bit unusual, refer to our articles under Hedge Issues And Troubleshooting.
Maintaining a hedge has several key elements to ensure the hedge grows healthily and looks amazing. The most important part starts with planting, and our article, How To Plant A Hedge, provides sound advice on how to do this properly. So, let’s now assume your plant is growing well and you want to keep it that way!
Weed control is vital. Therefore, mulch should be applied at outlined in our article, How To Mulch Around A Hedge. Hand weeding is also effective if you have the time.
Fertiliser is also essential. Too often The Plant Company sees hedges that are weak and looking sparse because the plants are short on nutrition. Our articles at, Fertiliser For Hedges, provides advice on the best way to go about this task.
Trimming the hedge during early spring and late summer is key to achieving a dense hedge. Our articles under How to trim a hedge, provide great insight into how to grow amazing hedges.
Finally, the plants should be checked for pest or disease issues during spring, summer, and autumn. If anything is looking a little bit unusual, refer to our articles under Hedge Issues And Troubleshooting.
An easy-care hedge is one that requires little trimming and does not suffer from pest and disease issues. The Plant Company has a few options that fit this brief nicely. Our recommendations for low hedges are Euonymus and Teucrium fruticans. For medium-sized hedges the recommendations are Choisya ternata, Ficus Tuffy, or Corokia Geenty’s Green.
The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
The fastest growing hedges are Cupressus Ovensii and Cupressus Leighton's Green which will increase in height at about 1m per year. These hedging plants are perfect for areas where space is not limiting such as lifestyle blocks, and are usually trimmed to heights of 3-5 m.
Getting the right hedging plant can be a challenge. To solve this problem, The Plant Company has produced a suite of articles on hedging and the articles in finding the right hedge variety should make the job a lot easier. Further, we have a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
There are numerous NZ native plants suitable for hedging and The Plant Company has made it easy to find fast-growing options. Simply use this link, Hedge Options, and select NZ native on the left-hand-side menu to bring up a selection.
The fastest growing NZ native hedges are: Melicope ternata, Pittosporum crassifolium, Myoporum laetum, and Pittosporum eugeniodies. The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
There are numerous fast-growing plants that are suitable for screening and The Plant Company has made it easy for you to find the right one with our hedging options which also includes screening plants. From here you can determine which one best suits your needs.
The most popular fast growing screening plants are: Pittosporum eugeniodies, Syzygium Resilience, Bamboo, and Pittosporum crassifolium. The Plant Company has a range of screening options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
The most common hedges that also deliver fruit are Feijoas, Blueberries, and Olives. Each can be trimmed and shaped with the added advantage of fruit. The secret to getting reasonable crops from such plants is to not trim them too aggressively. Doing that removes the flowers, and therefore the future fruit.
The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
Planting a mixed hedge in one way to break up a vista and introduce both colour and variety. The most common combination is with Photinia Red Robin and Griselinia Broadway Mint. They are either planted as groups of three or five, or alternating through the hedge line. These two varieties work well together because they grow similarly. Corokias can also be mixed up in a similar manner to afford different colours.
The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them so you can mix and match as you choose.
Finding hedges for a white garden is made easy by The Plant Company. Simply follow this link, White Garden Plants, then click on “Hedges” in the “usage” filter. That will bring you up multiple options.
Camellia Setsugekka, Gardenia Professor Pucci, and Escallonia Snowbud are the most popular plants for white garden hedges. The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
The Plant Company has made it easy to find suitable hedge options for a coastal climate. Simply use this link, Coastal Plants, and then select “Hedging” on the left-hand-side menu under the “Usage” filter. That will bring up the different hedge plant options and you can add more filters as you wish.
The common hedge plants for coastal areas are Griselinia, Corokia, and Coprosma. The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
There are numerous plants that are suitable for using as a hedge around borders and The Plant Company has made it easy for you to find the right one with our hedging options. From here you can determine which one best suits your needs.
The most popular border hedges are: Buxus, Lonicera nitida, and Euonymus. The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
There are only two species that make a great mid-sized hedge on clay soils. The most robust is Coprosma and is closely followed by Corokia. A word of caution, however. If the soil is boggy or becomes water-logged easily, these species will struggle. If this is the case, fixing the drainage issue or forgoing the idea of a hedge may be prudent.
Where a larger hedge is required, The Plant Company will use Willows or Poplars. These species have the advantage of tolerating heavier soils than Coprosma and Corokia. The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
There are only two species that make a great mid-sized hedge on wet soils. The most robust is Coprosma and is closely followed by Corokia. A word of caution, however. If the soil is boggy or becomes water-logged easily, these species will struggle. If this is the case, fixing the drainage issue or forgoing the idea of a hedge may be prudent.
Where a larger hedge is required, The Plant Company will use Willows or Poplars. These species have the advantage of tolerating wetter soils than Coprosma and Corokia. The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
There are numerous options for hedging around pools and The Plant Company has made it easy for you to find the right one. Simply use this link, pool areas, and select “Hedging” from the left-hand-side menu to see the various options.
The most popular hedges for pools are: Ficus Tuffy, Buxus, Escallonia, Thuja Smaragd, and Syzygium Resilience. Pleached hedges are commonly created using Titoki and Syzygium Resilience. The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
Growing a hedge that is difficult to pass through or climb over can have advantages for security. The Plant Company typically uses Berberis or Pyracantha in such circumstances due to their thorny nature. They both make for elegant hedges that intruders won’t want to mess with!
The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
The most popular hedges for shaded areas are Camellias, Ilex, Buxus, Pyracantha, and Choisya ternata. These plants perform well in partial shade or with good amounts of dappled light through the day.
The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
There are numerous low growing plants that are suitable for hedging and The Plant Company has made it easy for you to find the right one with our hedging options. From here you can determine which one best suits your needs.
The most popular low growing hedges are: Buxus, Lonicera nitida, and Euonymus. The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
A low maintenance hedge is one that requires little trimming and does not suffer from pest and disease issues. The Plant Company has a few options that fit this brief nicely. Our recommendations for low hedges are Euonymus and Teucrium fruticans. For medium-sized hedges the recommendations are Choisya ternata, Ficus Tuffy, or Corokia Geenty’s Green.
The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
There are numerous medium-sized plants that are suitable for hedging and The Plant Company has made it easy for you to find the right one with our hedging options. From here you can determine which one best suits your needs.
The most popular mid-sized hedges are: Abelias, Choisya, Escallonia, Ficus Tuffy, Griselinia, Photinia, and Viburnum. The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
The most aesthetic hedges typically have beautiful flowers and foliage. The Plant Company considers the most beautiful flowering hedges to be Camellia Setsugekka, Michelia figo, Viburnum Eve Price, Gardenia Fragrant Star, and Escallonia Apple Blossom.
The best foliage hedges tend to have lush foliage and colourful foliage. The Plant Company considers Syzygium Resilience, Ficus Tuffy, Viburnum Hedgemaster, and Photinia to be the best.
The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
The most popular hedge plants typically have beautiful flowers, fantastic foliage, or both. The Plant Company considers the most beautiful flowering hedges to be Camellia Setsugekka, Michelia figo, Viburnum Eve Price, Gardenia Fragrant Star, and Escallonia Apple Blossom.
The best foliage hedges are Syzygium Resilience, Ficus Tuffy, Viburnum Hedgemaster, Griselinia Broadway Mint, and Griselinia Broadway Mint.
The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
There are numerous NZ Native options suitable for hedging around pools and The Plant Company has made it easy for you to find the right one. Simply use this link, pool areas, and select “Hedging” and “NZ Natives” from the left-hand-side menu to see the numerous options.
The most popular NZ native hedges for pools are: Corokia, Griselinia, Coprosma, and Titoki. The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
There are numerous NZ native plants suitable for hedging and The Plant Company has made it easy to find different options. Simply use this link, Hedge Options, and select “NZ native” on the left-hand-side menu to bring up a selection.
The most popular NZ native hedges are: Griselinia Broadway Mint, Pittosporum Stephens Island, Pittosporum crassifolium, Purple Ake Ake, and Corokia Geenty’s Green. The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
There are numerous plants that are suitable for privacy hedging and The Plant Company has made it easy for you to find the right one with our hedging options. From here you can determine which one best suits your needs.
The most popular hedges for screening are: Titoki, Syzygium Resilience, Portuguese Laurels, Thuja Smaragd, and Bay Trees. Pittosporums can also be used but tend to be less common than the earlier options. The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
There are numerous tall plants suitable for hedging and The Plant Company has made it easy for you to find the right one with our hedging options. From here you can determine which one best suits your needs based on the size you are wanting.
The most popular tall hedges are: Titoki, Syzygium Resilience, Portuguese Laurels, Bay Trees, and Pittosporums. Very tall hedges are Cupressus Ovensii and Cupressus Leighton's Green which will increase in height at about 1m per year. The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
There are a few plants that make exceptional hedges but are less commonly known. These include Myrtus ugni, Lophomyrtus, Metrosideros Maori Princess, Corokia Mangatangi, Berberis Rose Glow, Carpodetus serratus, Coprosma Lobster, Fagus sylvatica purpurea, Pittosporum Wrinkled Blue, and Westringia Aussie Box. Landscape Designers will often include such species as they opt for less main-stream plantings.
The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
The Plant Company has made it easy to find suitable hedge options for your climate. Simply use this link, Hedge Options, and select your “location” on the left-hand-side menu. That will bring up the different hedge plants that will grow in your climate.
The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
The best tree for a hedge is very much a personal preference, particularly as most plants can be trimmed into a hedge. Some of the more popular hedging options include: Griselinia Broadway Mint, Pittosporum Stephens Island, Pittosporum crassifolium, Purple Ake Ake, and Corokia Geenty’s Green. The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
Hedges require feeding to keep them growing optimally. The Plant Company's Shrub Fertiliser has been blended to give plants the boost they need and then sustained nutrition for the next 12 months. We recommend the fertiliser is applied to the soil surface in spring just as the plants start to grow actively. More importantly, we advise that no fertiliser is placed in the hole at planting, but rather spread around the soil surface so it can wash through the roots as it releases. The Plant Company's Shrub Fertiliser ensures that nutrients remain in the soil around the plant rather than being lost through the soil profile to where the plant cannot reach it. This also applies to plants grown on sandy soils. The Plant Company's Shrub Fertiliser is therefore very environmentally friendly and longer lasting than most other products in the market.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if Shrub Fertiliser has been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush.
Native hedges require feeding to keep them growing optimally. The Plant Company’s native fertiliser has been blended to give plants the boost they need and then sustained nutrition for the next 12 months. We recommend the fertiliser is applied to the soil surface in spring just as the plants start to grow actively. More importantly, we advise that no fertiliser is placed in the hole at planting, but rather spread around the soil surface so it can wash through the roots as it releases. The Plant Company’s native fertiliser ensures that nutrients remain in the soil around the plant rather than being lost through the soil profile to where the plant cannot reach it. This also applies to plants grown on sandy soils. The Plant Company’s native fertiliser is therefore very environmentally friendly and longer lasting than most other products in the market.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if Native Fertiliser has been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush.
Hedge plants are showy plants that require feeding to keep them looking amazing. A lot of articles have all sorts of advice on this subject which often requires multiple applications so you use more of their products. The Plant Company prefers to take a simpler and more environmentally responsible approach. We believe the best organic option is The Plant Company organic fertiliser which is applied in spring and again in autumn and will keep them well fed. You can safely apply generous amounts of this fertiliser without risk of injuring the plants. More details about this organic fertiliser are provided with the product.
The distance between plants for a hedge depends on how fast you want the hedge to fill in and the plants being grown. The faster you want the hedge to fill in, the closer they should be planted is the general rule.
Some general guides for hedge spacing are:
Border hedges such as Buxus, Lonicera nitida, and Euonymus should be spaced at 15-20 cm apart.
Medium-sized hedges such as: Abelias, Choisya, Escallonia, Ficus Tuffy, Griselinia, Photinia, and Viburnum should be spaced 40 cm apart.
With these spacings the plants will close in quickly and also push each other upwards as they compete for light. The result is a fabulous hedge every time. You can go out to wider spacings if the budget is tight but that will often result in a gap at the bottom between plants which is hard to fill. The gap results from the natural vase shape with which these plants grow. In this situation opt for smaller grade sizes and plant more of them rather than going with bigger plants as this will make the money go further and produce a better result in the longer term.
If you purchase plants in 25L bags (or bigger) which are lush to the height of the roots, you can space these 75 cm apart (and wider) without issue. These grades have generally been manicured to ensure they are bushy to the base and will therefore branch and fill in more easily.
The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
Getting a hedge to grow quickly relies on getting a few things right from the start. That is:
Buy bigger sized plants as discussed in, What To Consider When Buying Hedge Plants.
Space the plants closely so they push each up, as highlighted in How Far Apart To Plant A Hedge.
Plant the hedge plants into well-drained soil that has been loaded with organic matter.
Stake the plants so they are not impacted or damaged by wind.
Fertilise the plants correctly as discussed in Fertiliser For Hedges.
Water the plants during dry periods
Finally, don’t trim the hedge too aggressively. Our articles in How To Trim A Hedge provide great advice on this subject.
If you follow this advice, your hedge will thrive!
The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
Placing mulch around hedge plants helps keep the soil moist and significantly reduces weeds. The Plant Company recommends an organic mulch is used as this breaks down over time to provide nutrients and improves the soil. It is also better for the environment than the plastic-based alternatives. Whatever type of mulch is used, it needs to be free draining so the soil can “breathe” and allow water to penetrate quickly and easily. Heavy rates of lawn clippings are therefore not a good option as they hold too much moisture. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommends stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes.
Compost is not considered an effective mulch as weeds germinate easily and it is only short lasting. It is, however, a very good method of adding organic matter to the soil and should be applied before the mulch is put down.
Choose a full sun or partial shade position with good drainage for your hedge plants. The holes should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. A planting spade makes the hole digging a lot easier. The Plant Company uses a string-line to guide planting accuracy. The Plant Company also recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread that on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.
Remove each plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag or container, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. If the roots have been growing in a circle or are all bound up you can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. Similarly, you don’t need to remove any of the growing media. The Plant Company does not recommend cutting the roots, even if the plant is root-bound as this offers no benefit. This is explained in our article, Managing Rootbound Plants.
Now place the plant in the hole and make sure it is level with the soil surface before filling in around it. If it is above the soil surface, dig more out. If it is below, put in more soil and retest the level. Once the plant is set level with the soil surface, add more soil gradually and firm it around the plant using gentle pressure as you go. Scatter Shrub Fertiliser across the soil surface after planting and the give the plant a good watering.
Planting a hedge beside a fence is very common and the question is always, how far out from the fence should I plant? The Plant Company will typically plant hedges up to 20 cm from the fence, particularly if it is a solid fence, and even closer if low hedge options are chosen such as Buxus. The hedge plants are then trimmed on the top and front only. The fence will keep the plants contained on the back side.
The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
Hedge plants are best planted any time from mid-autumn until late spring. During this time, they can cope with the stresses associated with planting (root damage mainly) more easily than if they have to also cope with heat and moisture stress as well. They can be planted in summer provided they are well-watered and the roots have plenty of growing media attached when planted. If watering is a challenge, The Plant Company advises planting any time from late-autumn through until early-spring. Make sure you have a good planting spade to make this job a lot easier.
Growing a little hedge around a pool, alongside a path, to create formality, or to frame a garden can really transform a space. Even across the front of a property, the desire is generally for a hedge growing no more than 1-1.5 m tall. However, choosing a plant that stops growing at 1 m tall just doesn’t happen. Rather, if a hedge 1 m tall is desired, we select plants that are going to grow taller than this, knowing that they will be trimmed to the 1 m height. Therefore, a plant that grows to 3 m tall in its natural environment can still be planted as a hedge as it would be kept at 1 m through regular trimming. This leaves the door wide open for an array of hedge plants. The articles in our series provide expert advice from both experienced gardeners and our nursery staff so you can get the results you’re wanting.
There are a host of different options for low growing, New Zealand native hedge plants. The key thing to understand is that most plants can be kept small with trimming. For example, a shrub that would normally grow to 4 metres tall, can be kept to just 50 cm if it is trimmed and maintained properly. Therefore, for hedging you simply want plants that will grow densely, taller than the desired hedge height, and look amazing. On this basis we have selected a few of our more popular NZ native hedging plants to get you inspired!
Corokia are New Zealand native shrubs that come in a range of varieties, with bright green, silver, and even chocolate foliage. They are fast-growing, low-maintenance, and can be kept anywhere between 50 cm and 2 m tall.
The most popular varieties of Corokia for hedging include:
• Corokia Geenty’s Green
• Corokia Frosted Chocolate
• Corokia Geenty’s Ghost
• Corokia Bronze King
When planting a Corokia hedge, space the plants 40-50 cm apart. They naturally grow with a narrow and upright habit, hence whey they are planted closely so they fill in and merge at the base to form a uniform hedge.
Coprosmas are another popular NZ native hedge plant and feature small and glossy leaves. They are quick-growing and need regular trimming, but are tolerant of most soil types including clay soils. They can be kept at heights between 40 cm and 1.5 m tall.
The most popular varieties of Coprosma for hedging include:
When planting a Coprosma hedge, the plant spacing is 50-60 cm apart. They naturally grow with a broad and upright habit, hence whey they can be spaced a little more widely than other species, and they will still fill in and merge at the base to form a dense and even hedge.
Hebes are a popular NZ native plant that are often used for hedging owing to their glossy leaves, dense foliage, and pretty flowers. They are quick-growing and can tolerate most soil types provided they are free-draining. They can be kept at heights between 30 cm and 1 m tall, depending on the variety.
The most popular varieties of Hebes for hedging include:
When planting a Hebe hedge, space the plants 40-50 cm apart. They naturally grow with a broad and upright habit, and they will fill in nicely at the base with this spacing.
The main pests of hedges are aphids, thrips, scale insects, mealy bug, and borer beetles. All of these can result in the leaves to discolour, and often have a mottled appearance. Where such pests are present there will often be a black mould on some of the leaves and stems. This is a mould that feeds on the sugars released from the plant by these insects feeding. While the mould is unsightly, it does not hurt the plant and will dissipate with time. All of these pests are easily controlled with a general insecticide. Please always read the label before using any agrichemical.
Borer Beetles usually cause weakening and ultimate death of the stem. Holes through the insides of the stems are a tell-tale sign. To control this pest the stems can be cut and painted with an insecticidal paint. The Plant Company recommends cutting stems back to below any of the boring and then applying wound paint.
Leaf yellowing in hedges can result from over-watering, being grown in poor draining soil, or both. This can promote the disease, Phytophthora, and is discussed in the article, Why Is My Hedge Dying? Other common causes are too much shade, or the plants have not been fed for a number of years. A liquid fertiliser can be used to correct issues quickly and should be supported with Shrub Fertiliser during spring if you think this is the cause.
On dense bushes the internal leaves will often yellow before being shed. This is due to a lack of light and is normal. On the other hand, when plants that have been grown in the shade or very low light conditions, then suddenly exposed to full sun, they can become bleached. In this instance, the sun has damaged some of the leaf pigments. The good news is the plant will survive, but it will look terrible for a time.
Pests sucking on the leaves can cause a yellowing but this is often mottled and varied across the plant. The article, Hedge Pests, discusses these and their control.
There can be many reasons why a hedge looks sick or is dying and it is often an iterative process to determine why. The most common reasons are presented below and organised from most likely to least likely based on The Plant Company's experience.
Root rot disease is the most common. The leaves will wilt even when there is plenty of moisture in the soil. The article, Why Is My Hedge Dying? gives further detail on this subject.
Buxus Blight affects only Buxus and is common with this species.
Fertiliser placed in the bottom of the hole at planting. Doing this can draw moisture away from the roots and cause root burning. The best solution here is to generously water the plant every day. See the article, Best Fertiliser For Hedges, for more information.
Wrong fertiliser or too much fertiliser applied. Killing plants with kindness is very common. The best solution here is to generously water the plant every day and flush the soil with water repeatedly. See the article, Best Fertiliser For Hedges, for more information.
Herbicide misadventure. Spraying too close with glyphosate is quite common and plant death is often imminent.
Plants have not been watered or watered too infrequently. See the articles on Watering Hedges, for more information.
Pest infestation. You will see this as small insects on the plant and often has the tell-tale signs of sooty mould. A general insecticide can be used for their control. Please always read the label before using any agrichemical.
Planting on clay soils with extremely poor drainage. If water cannot escape from the holes the plants are in, the plants can drown and succumb to root rot. Drainage must be addressed to resolve this issue.
Excessive shade – most hedges require good amounts of sunlight or large amounts of dappled light to grow well. If you think this is an issue, simply move the plant to a spot with better light. Do not move it into direct sunlight from heavy shade as this can also damage the plant. Rather, transition the plant to the brighter light by placing it is semi-shade for a week first.
When some hedges are grown in wet soils or exposed to prolonged wet through over-watering, the disease, Phytophthora, can take hold. Phytophthora attacks the roots and causes the plant to eventually die. The tell-tale symptoms are yellowing of the leaves, drooping foliage even when the soil is wet, discolouring of the stems, and plant collapse. This can happen over several months during any season and progressively gets worse. This is all resulting from the root system being progressively weakened by the pathogen. Gardeners will often mistakenly think the plant needs more water. Unfortunately, adding water only accelerates the problem prolonged wetness was generally the cause in the first place.
Often the disease will start to show several weeks after a prolonged rain event. It can also occur when plants are regularly over-watered, or planted in soils that are poorly drained or that hold too much moisture (e.g., clay soils). Therefore, good drainage is essential and sites where drainage is poor should be avoided. The article, Fixing Poor Drainage On A Clay Soil gives good advice on how to correct drainage.
Treatment for Phytophthora can be a hit and miss exercise as there are no silver bullets. However, if picked up early, The Plant Company has experienced some success using Transformer. Transformer has fungicidal properties and when used as a soil drench 2-3 times, plants can sometimes recover. However, if the plant is too far gone, The Plant Company recommends removing the plant entirely, and using Transformer as a soil drench before putting in a new plant. Of course, the drainage or watering issues will need to be addressed so the problem does not manifest again.
A wilting hedge will be caused by one of two reasons. The most obvious is that it needs water! However, if you know the soil has plenty of moisture, but is still wilting, there is a high probability it has root rot disease. When Photinia are grown in wet soils or exposed to prolonged wet through over-watering, the disease, Phytophthora, can take hold. Phytophthora attacks the roots and causes the plant to eventually die. The tell-tale symptoms are yellowing of the leaves, drooping foliage even when the soil is wet, discolouring of the stems, and plant collapse. This can happen over several months during any season and progressively gets worse. This is all resulting from the root system being progressively weakened by the pathogen. Gardeners will often mistakenly think the plant needs more water. Unfortunately, adding water only accelerates the problem prolonged wetness was generally the cause in the first place.
Often the disease will start to show several weeks after a prolonged rain event. It can also occur when plants are regularly over-watered, or planted in soils that are poorly drained or that hold too much moisture (e.g., clay soils). Therefore, good drainage is essential and sites where drainage is poor should be avoided. The article, Fixing Poor Drainage On A Clay Soil gives good advice on how to correct drainage.
Treatment for Phytophthora can be a hit and miss exercise as there are no silver bullets. However, if picked up early, The Plant Company has experienced some success using Transformer. Transformer has fungicidal properties and when used as a soil drench 2-3 times, plants can sometimes recover. However, if the plant is too far gone, The Plant Company recommends removing the plant entirely, and using Transformer as a soil drench before putting in a new plant. Of course, the drainage or watering issues will need to be addressed so the problem does not manifest again.
This series of articles looks at several of the more popular hedging plants grown in NZ gardens. New Zealand boasts a diverse range of hedge plants, each with unique characteristics and suited for various purposes. Some of these are native to NZ and other exotic, but each serves a specific purpose and has its own specific needs.
Griselinia are the most popular hedge plants in NZ with ‘Broadway Mint’ being the standout variety. The lush and dense, fresh green, glossy foliage is what makes Griselinia Broadway Mint so popular.
The popularity of Griselinia for hedging is not just the foliage but also because they are also fast growing. An attractive privacy screen can be created in just a few years. Once established, they require minimal watering and infrequent trimming. They can be kept at heights between 75 cm and 2 m tall, depending on the variety. Adding to that, they are NZ native plants that can tolerate wind, salt spray, and a wide range of soil conditions.
The key to an amazing Griselinia hedge is good drainage. They will fail or perform poorly if they are in prolonged wet conditions. If you can get the drainage right, they are pretty much bullet proof! If drainage is an issue, opt for a Corokia or Coprosma hedge.
When planting the hedge, space the Griselinia plants 40-50 cm apart. If you try and go any wider, you will struggle to fill out the bottom of the hedge properly. Also, at this spacing, the plants will push each other upwards, so you end up with a dense hedge faster.
The Plant Company has several Griselinia Varieties and based on our experience the most popular are presented below in order of popularity:
With their combination of beautiful and dense foliage, hardy nature, and ease of care, Griselinia littoralis varieties are a fantastic choice for hedging in NZ gardens.
Griselinia lucida is often grown as an informal Griselinia hedge. That is, it is not trimmed in the same manner as a normal hedge, but more pruned to shape. This is because the large and glossy leaves can look untidy if cut in half which would occur with trimming.
To trim Griselinia lucida, simply cut the stems off to achieve the shape you are wanting. A somewhat “formal” hedge can still be created in this manner if that is the desired outcome, but it will take more time than with other hedges.
Lonicera nitida, also known as Box Honeysuckle, is a popular choice for hedging in NZ. It is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub with small, dark green leaves. Best of all, Lonicera nitida can be trimmed to any height or shape, and is tolerant of a variety of soil and environmental conditions. This makes it perfect for growing as a hedge in urban and other challenging locations such as in gardens around commercial or retail businesses. Once it becomes established, Lonicera nitida is largely drought and wind tolerant.
Lonicera nitida is often used for both formal and informal hedges. As a formal hedge, it can be used to define a border, or used to add structure and formality to a garden. It is also often used instead of Buxus sempervirens because it is both faster growing and less susceptible to diseases such as Buxus blight. As an informal hedge, it is often used to provide screening and privacy to a space. In either scenario, it’s rapid growth rate and dense foliage makes it a great option.
The optimum spacing for a Lonicera hedge is generally 20-30 cm apart. With this spacing the plants will compete with each other and push upwards to grab as while competing for light. At the same time, they will fill out nicely at the base so you are not left with an annoying gap between the plants. You can space plants wider but that will have two effects. The first is the hedge will take longer to fill in and you may end up with a gap at the bottom of the hedge between the plants that often bothers people. For the sake of 1-3 extra Lonicera plants, go with the recommended spacing to avoid future headaches! If you have purchased large and bushy Lonicera plants, these can be spaced up to 60-70 cm apart as often they are already 50 cm wide with dense foliage already. Check with The Plant Company if you are in doubt here as we want you to have a hedge your neighbours will envy!
A secret to an amazing Lonicera hedge is fertiliser, even if you have put lots of compost and organic matter into the soil. Lonicera require nitrogen and magnesium for foliage, and good amounts of phosphate for root and new foliage development. The Plant Company has developed a fertiliser for Lonicera hedges (and other trees and shrubs) that will give the plants sustained nutrition for 12-months and it that has everything the plant needs to remain healthy. More importantly, the nutrients don’t get lost past the roots when it rains, so this is more environmentally friendly than most other fertilisers. Our vigorous and healthy plants, as well as those of our clients, proves we have developed the best product. If you want the best feed for your Lonicera hedge, The Plant Company Shrub Fertiliser is the only product you’ll ever need.
Lonicera nitida has a rapid growth rate, making it a popular choice for hedges that need to fill in quickly. It typically grows 40-60 cm per year, and can even grow 1m per year in exceptional conditions. It can reach its full size within 3-5 years. As a hedge, Lonicera nitida is generally trimmed to sizes anywhere between 30 cm and 1.5 m tall.
Regular trimming encourages bushier growth and this is important if you are wanting to grow a narrow and dense hedge. If trimming is left too long, the hedge can become quite broad. Trimming in spring and autumn is perfect. Similarly, using the correct fertiliser is also important for a great hedge and we strongly recommend you use The Plant Company Shrub Fertiliser. It has everything the plants need for 12-months and the plants absolutely thrive with it. If you want you Lonicera to grow faster, ensure you have put down mulch to supress weeds and retain moisture. Also make sure the plants are well-watered during dry periods and as they establish.
There are a number of cultivars of Lonicera nitida and we have listed them below in order of popularity.
These cultivars are all tolerant of a variety of conditions, including full sun to partial shade, drought, and coastal environments. They are also resistant to most pests and diseases.
If you need any help, feel free to contact us or check out our Lonicera options and the detailed information that accompanies each.
Photinia Red Robin is a popular evergreen shrub in NZ and is favoured for its new foliage which is colourful and bright red. The leaves age to become dark green which creates a dual colouring on this amazing plant. Moreover, the large and glossy leaves afford both a lush and elegant appeal.
Photinia Red Robin is a stunning choice for hedging. It grows moderately fast and can reach 4 metres in height and 2 metres in width if left untrimmed. As a hedge, it is generally clipped to 1-2 m tall and 1 m wide. Trimming is usually undertaken in late spring and late autumn and this results in a stunning hedge that is both manicured and stimulates new growth.
The most important thing to get right with Photinia in NZ is soil drainage. A well-drained soil is essential, otherwise plants will struggle and often fail. If this is a problem that can’t be solved by either raising up the height of the soil or putting in drainage, better options will be either Corokia or Coprosma.
The ideal spacing or planting distance for a Red Robin hedge is 40-50 cm apart in NZ. With this spacing the plants will compete with each other for light and push each other upwards in the process. At the same time, they will fill out nicely at the base so you are not left with an annoying gap between the plants. You can space plants wider but that will have two effects. The first is the hedge will take longer to fill in and you may end up with a gap at the bottom of the hedge between the plants that often bothers people. For the sake of 1-3 extra plants, go with the recommended spacing to avoid future headaches! If you have purchased large and bushy Red Robin plants, these can be spaced up to 1 m apart for a hedge as often they are already 60 cm wide with dense foliage already. Check with The Plant Company if you are in doubt here.
There are many benefits to growing a Red Robin hedge. Firstly, they create privacy in the form of a dense and colourful screen. This has the added advantage of blocking noise from either traffic or noisy neighbours! The second benefit is they provide year-round interest. The vibrant new growth in spring and red berries in autumn serve to complement the beautiful foliage. Finally, they are low maintenance and relatively easy to care. You can trim them as you little or as often as you like, and they will generally recover well.
The growth rate of Photinia Red Robin can vary depending on several factors, but it's generally considered a medium-fast growing shrub. The average growth rate is about 30-40 cm per year. With exceptional growing conditions, however, they can grow up to 1 m in a year. It typically reaches its full size in 3-5 years. The growth rate will be influenced by the climate, soil quality, and the care it receives. In warmer climates Photinia grow at a faster rate. Similarly, on a well-drained and fertile soil the plants will grow incredibly well and fast. If the plants are watered during dry periods, given an annual dose of fertiliser, and not trimmed too aggressively, they will respond with quicker growth. We recommend you use The Plant Company Shrub Fertiliser as it has everything the plants need for 12-months, and the plants thrive with it.
The most popular Photinia hedge varieties are presented below along with their characteristics:
Trimming a hedge so it looks amazing is quite easily achieved with some attention to detail. It does, however, start soon after planting if you want a truly awesome hedge.
As the hedge is establishing, keep trimming the outer branches lightly. Removing the tips of the branches during this process encourages more branching and a denser hedge overall. It is essential while doing these light trimmings to keep in mind what width you want the hedge to be when fully grown. Given close to 10 cm of growth will be removed at each trimming when it is fully grown (depending on the variety), the light trimming needs to occur inside the maximum width of the hedge by about 20 cm. Only when the hedge thickens should it be taken out to its maximum width.
Trimming typically occurs in early spring and again in late summer with a little and often philosophy. Taking off too much will make the hedge look bare, but it will grow back. To get straight lines better than trimming by eye, you can use a string line after the initial cut is complete. When The Plant Company trims hedges, we will often do a light cut over, then stand back and look along the lines to determine the high points. Good luck!
Trimming a hedge so it looks perfect is quite easily achieved with some attention to detail. However, it all starts soon after planting if you want a truly awesome hedge.
As the hedge is establishing, keep trimming the outer branches lightly. Removing the tips of the branches during this process encourages more branching and a denser hedge overall. It is essential while doing these light trimmings to keep in mind what width you want the hedge to be when fully grown. Given about 5-10 cm of growth will be removed at each trimming when it is fully grown, the light trimming needs to occur inside the maximum width of the hedge by at least 10-15 cm. Only when the hedge thickens should it be taken out to its maximum width.
Trimming typically occurs in early spring and again in late summer with a little and often philosophy. Taking off too much will make the hedge look bare, but it will grow back. To get straight lines better than trimming by eye, you can use a string line after the initial cut is complete. When The Plant Company trims hedges, we will often do a light cut over, then stand back and look along the lines to determine the high points for removal. Good luck!
The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
Informal hedges are simply those that are minimally trimmed and often feature their natural, rounded shape. Hebes and Hydrangeas are often grown in such a manner.
To create an informal hedge, firstly determine the spacing needed between plants. Our article, How Far Apart To Plant Hedge Plants gives a good indication of the closest the plants should be spaced. As we are after a more natural shape, those spacings can easily be increased. The Plant Company will often space plants for an informal hedge at half their mature width. They will be planted closer if the client wishes to have the hedge fill in sooner. You can find that information with each of our Hedge Options. The Plant Company has taken great care to provide accurate information and detail about how each plant grows.
The hedge can be trimmed as little or as much as you want given it is the informality you are wanting. The Plant Company typically trims informal hedges with a little and often approach so they become bushy yet still contained.
Wire is only needed for pleached trees where branches need supporting. This typically occurs when branches need to be tied horizontal, such as when trees are planted against a fence. It is also a great way to ensure the branches are spaced evenly and held with a formal or architectural style.
Pleached trees may also need supporting with wire (or wire rope) if they are grown in a wind prone site. Unfortunately, a pleached hedge can act like a sail and be blown over by strong winds. Installing posts at either end and running wires through the hedge is one method of reducing this risk. It also has the advantage of reducing the need for stakes beside each tree.
The answer to how far apart to plant trees for a pleached hedge depends on how quickly you want them to fill in, the variety, and your budget. The other (and most important) consideration is how you want the hedge to look when it is fully grown. When The Plant Company is working this through with clients, we always start with what the mature hedge is expected to look like. This determines which species is going to be selected. We then turn our attention to how quickly the client wants it to fill in and their budget. Planting larger trees closer will achieve a full hedge faster than if they are spaced out and costs a lot more. However, it can become a garden with a lot of tree trunks as the plants age if you’re not thinking ahead. The Plant Company recommends putting thick stakes in the ground to mimic the trunks of the trees and checking that the tree will grow to the width expected. As a general guide, Titoki are spaced about 1.75 m apart. Flowering Pears are planted 2.5 m apart, and Ficus Tuffy are spaced 1.25 m apart.
The Plant Company has prepared some other articles you might find useful: Trees For A Pleached Hedge and How To Create A Pleached Hedge.
Creating a pleached hedge starts with having trees with a straight trunk. A crooked trunk will never straighten and will always look out of place. The Plant Company recommends buying trees that have already been standardized to the desired height to save years in the process.
The trees are planted at even spacings as discussed in How Far Apart To Plant Trees For A Pleached Hedge. A string line ensures they are planted in line, and a spirit level is used at the same time to get them perfectly aligned.
The Plant Company recommends using a second string line is used with standardized trees to ensure the lowest branches on the tree are all starting at the same height. That usually means holes are made slightly deeper or shallower to achieve this. The trees are then well staked and left to “bush”. They are progressively trimmed as discussed in the article, How to trim a hedge. Remember to fertilise the hedge correctly and keep an eye out for any issues. Should anything look unusual, refer to our hedge troubleshooting articles.
Trees commonly used for pleached hedging include Titoki, Portuguese Laurels, Syzygium Resilience, Ficus Tuffy, and Flowering Pears. Each one differs considerably for their growth rate, appearance, and final size. The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
A pleached hedge is simply a hedge on stilts. That is, trees are cleared of their branches up to about 1-1.5 m tall (and more sometimes) to leave a naked trunk. The foliage that remains above this height is then clipped into a hedge. Some common plants that are pleached include Titoki, Portuguese Laurels, Syzygium Resilience, and Flowering Pears. The Plant Company] has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
Pleached hedges are perfect for narrow gardens, for pool areas, courtyard gardens, or for growing against a fence. Their purpose is usually to provide privacy and screening, whilst also providing great aesthetics and an element of “formality” to a space. This can be particularly important when the hard landscaping is geometric shapes, as is often the case with pools. The Plant Company has a range of hedging options and we invite you to check them out. We have taken great care to provide detailed information with each of them.
Sometimes you just don’t want to wait for a plant to grow, and you want the instant display now. The Plant Company has large grade hedge plants available, and often has even larger grades available that are not listed for sale on our website. Please contact us and our amazing team will let you know options and pricing for delivery to your desired location.
The Plant Company will provide quotes for hedge plants. We operate a large-scale production nursery and grow large numbers of hedge plants. If you are after bulk lots of plants, please be sure to contact us for pricing and availability. Our talented staff can not only manage all aspects of getting the plants to you, but any other plant related enquiries you may have. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are good at what we do!
Cheap hedge plants usually means plants in a very small pot with small foliage and small roots. The small plant can be appealing when you are on a budget, however, think of such plants like babies. They only have a small root system so they need careful attention for watering as well as weed control. They are also more vulnerable to disease such as Phytophthora, which can devastate young plants. The Plant Company therefore recommends you only buy plants in a 1.5L pot (preferably bigger) to have the greatest chance of success, even if you are on a budget. Any savings by buying small are lost when they die and you have to replace them! Moreover, the plants need to be “chunky”, have a strong root system, and show no signs of disease. Be sure to check out our competitively priced hedge plants.
Buying quality plants can be a challenge at times. However, The Plant Company makes this job easy by offering high quality hedge plants. We appreciate that buying online is somewhat of a leap of faith given you are putting your trust in us. Therefore, we only ship plants that we would happily buy and plant ourselves. We propagate and nurture plants ready for their new home, and take pride in exceeding our customers expectations. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are good at what we do!
The Plant Company has a large-scale production nursery and produces large numbers of hedge plants. If you are after bulk lots of plants, please be sure to contact us for pricing and availability. Our talented staff can not only manage all aspects of getting the plants to you, but any other plant related enquiries you may have. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are good at what we do!
The Plant Company has great stock of high quality hedge plants. We appreciate that buying online is somewhat of a leap of faith, given you are putting your trust in us. Please rest assured that we only ship plants that we would happily buy and plant ourselves. Trust in The Plant Company to supply your hedge plants needs and allow us to impress you both with our quality and service. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are good at what we do!
Hedges require good levels of soil moisture to stay fresh and keep growing actively even though most can tolerate dry periods. They require watering both during establishment and when conditions turn dry. The Plant Company recommends a generous watering every third day during summer, or every fifth day if the soil is a bit heavier as a general rule. If plants start to wilt, you need to water immediately. The Plant Company advises watering in the morning or in the evening for water conservation purposes.
Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.
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