Containing large areas of your properties boundary with fencing can be really expensive.
For a far more economical and natural solution you could look into using hedging plants. Plants are capable of providing excellent privacy and security for your home, once established. They can also be used to hide unsightly areas that don't want to overlook such as roads, and ugly buildings.
Clever planting, instead of fences is typically much cheaper than fencing and gives your home extra curb appeal as natural planting is far more attractive and appealing to look at.
There are lots of plants you can choose from to create a hedge on your property. It is a good idea to select evergreen plants that are native to your area as they have the best chance of being resistant to local weather conditions. Find out what type of soil you are working with, as this will be vital in assisting you to choose the best plants.
Great plants for hedging include yew, privet, boxwood, laurel and lastly photinia, although this list is not exhaustive.
Native to the UK and a popular choice for a boxed hedge is the yew which lends itself very well to being clipped. This plant can be grown just about anywhere with sufficient soil drainage.
An extremely tough plant is privet. It is capable of thriving in poor quality soil and grows rapidly. Adding nutrients to poor quality soil will give your plants the best start and good preparation of the soil pays off.
If you are planting in a shady position then boxwood is a great choice. This plant provides fabulous protection and is a sturdy shrub. Boxwood does however grow quite slowly compared to other plants.
Laurel is a good choice to create a fantastic windbreak because it is a large leafed, glossy plant capable of growing as tall as fifteen feet.
Photinia grows to a similar height of approximately twelve feet , forming a dense barrier which produces stunning red foliage in the springtime before turning green.
Smaller shrubs are a great choice for a small budget but take longer to get big enough to act as a screen. Larger plants can be used to create a practically immediate hedge.
To keep costs to a minimum, you can plant your hedge yourself instead of getting a professional in to carry out the task. It is a lengthy task which requires you to be strong enough to dig the required trenches, but it is reasonably straightforward to do. Don't forget to water your plants regularly to begin with or you may lose some.
A mixture of different plants can be combined to form a more natural effect. Beautiful evergreen hedging plants lend themselves well as an attractive, economical alternative to fence panels.
