There’s something so magical about spring time. The first blooms of the season make you feel like you’re in a flowering wonderland. It’s also the time of the year where your hedges need to be maintained the most. However, if you’re like me, you’d much prefer to look at the blossoms than be out there with your pruning shears every few days. Luckily, there are some types of hedges that require very little maintenance, yet make your home look like something out of Better Homes and Gardens. Here’s the top five hedges for the lazy gardener.
Camellia Sasanqua
Camellia Sasanqua, often referred to as the tough camellia, is known for its ability to withstand harsh conditions through both summer and winter. They start to blossom white, pale pink or cerise coloured flowers generally around late autumn and early winter. A camellia can grow up to six metres, which is perfect for those looking to add a substantial amount of privacy to their homes. I know what you are thinking, six metres seems like a lot to maintain, but camellias are very self-sufficient and only require a bit of pruning after they start blossoming. To encourage a healthy regrowth, plant them in a rich soil and water them deeply every now and again to avoid waterlogging. For a bit of variety, choose different coloured camellias and line them down your driveway to create an extravagant oasis.
Photinia x fraseri
The x fraseri is great for homes that requires a lower lying hedge. Its glossy green leaves and fiery red regrowth add a burst of colour to any house, which will only be complimented when it starts to grow dainty white flowers in the spring time. To maintain this hedge all you need to do is fertilise with a slow release formula in early Spring, and prune to shape when required.
Korean Box Hedge
Topiary plants have become somewhat of an art form for gardeners in current years. One of the favourites is the Korean Box Hedge, a low lying shrub that works well as a shield for garden beds or to simply add a touch of elegance to your garden. It has the potential to turn yellow in the sunshine so it is best suited to shady areas.
Azalea
Azaleas are known for their ability to grow without little attention. Coming in all shapes and colours, most people think Azaleas are best suited as a backyard tree, but they also double as a magnificent hedge. They are for people who want to add vibrant colours like pink, mauve, orange and golden yellow to their garden. Azaleas thrive in slightly acidic soil with good drainage, but beware, they tend to attract bugs around spring time, and so make sure you attack them with an eco-friendly spray at the end of autumn.
Maintaining your hedges doesn’t have to be hard, especially with these easy to tend plants. If you are in the market for trimming tools, we found that http://www.stihl.com.au/ has a great range available for novices and experts.
Image courtesy of: catherinemuller.com.
Post a Comment