Plant a conifer hedge, too!
Beautiful conifer hedges: You used to see them everywhere…
Unfortunately, you don't see them nearly as often these days.
As far as we're concerned, that's unfair!
Conifers are beautiful evergreen plants that form a classic, neat hedge.
They provide a peaceful, green backdrop that really makes your border plants stand out.
Conifers provide plenty of privacy and help muffle distracting noises. Birds also love conifers. They enjoy taking shelter in them, and with a little luck, they’ll build their nests in your conifer hedge.
There are many different types of conifers that you can use as hedge plants.
An overview of well-known and attractive coniferous hedge plants
Thuja occidentalis (western arborvitae)
Thuja (arborvitae) is one of the most beautiful evergreen conifers for a hedge. This bright-green hedge plant instantly gives your garden a classic look.
Thuja It provides year-round greenery in the garden and offers plenty of privacy. It is a hardy plant that isn't very particular about its location. These plants grow well and benefit from being pruned twice a year.
Would you rather prune less often? The Thuja Smaragd is a lovely, compact variety that grows more slowly (pruning once a year is sufficient). Ideal for small gardens!
Taxus baccata (yew)
One of the most well-known hedge plants is still the yew. Its beautiful dark green needles are densely packed, giving your garden a classic look. Yew hedges are also ideal for low hedges and even for topiary.
Yews usually only need to be pruned once a year and can be planted in many locations. However, yews don't like wet feet.
Conifers for low hedges
Would you like to create a low-growing hedge with conifers?
A yew hedge is ideal, but you might also consider juniper (Juniperus). This genus includes many dwarf varieties, such as procumbens, squamata, and horizontalis. Juniper has short, gray-green or gray-blue needles that can be quite prickly. Unlike the columnar (chinensis) varieties, the low-growing species are often characterized by somewhat erratic and natural-looking growth.
Conifers for tall hedges
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (California cypress)
The California cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) is also known in Dutch as the “dwarf cypress.” However, this is a rather misleading name, as it is actually a fast-growing tree that can reach considerable heights. Depending on the cultivar, this cypress ranges in color from bright green to blue-green. Well-known cultivars include ‘Columnaris’ and ‘Ivonne’.
Cupressocyparis leylandii (Leyland cypress)
The Leyland cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii) is often referred to in the Netherlands as a fast-growing hedge conifer. Leylandii does exactly that: it grows very quickly. Young plants are narrow and often not yet very dense. By pruning several times a year, you encourage side shoots to create a nice, full hedge. If you want privacy quickly, this hedge plant is a great choice.
Keep in mind, however, that you’ll need to prune it at least 3–4 times a year to prevent this conifer from growing too large. You wouldn’t be the first person to have to hire a landscaping company to remove specimens that have grown out of control.
Thuja plicata (giant arborvitae)
The giant arborvitae closely resembles the common arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis), but grows much faster and reaches a significantly greater height. If you’re looking for a beautiful, tall hedge with the same classic look as its smaller counterpart, Thuja plicata is ideal. This way, you can quickly create a stately, tall hedge.
Do you have a conifer hedge in your garden, too?
Then you're sure to enjoy a beautiful, privacy-providing hedge—one that birds will happily make use of!
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