Building A Hedgerow With Native Plants

Hedgerows were used in medieval Europe to mark the boundaries of fields and farms.  The English, in particular, would plant rows of Hathorn seedlings and let them grow to about six feet tall.  The canes were then bent over and weaved together to cover the gap between the trees.  Over time, the hedgerow grew strong enough to keep livestock confined.  Hedges were not used a lot in the United States, but as sustainable living has become a focus, they are being used more and more here.   

Advantages of Hedgerows 

Screen or Hide Views 

A hedgerow can hide your neighbors from site.  Things like phone boxes and transformers can also be hidden by a properly planted hedgerow.  Hedgerows are usually cheaper than fences, although it may take a few years for the hedge to mature.  The height of fences is regulated, but a hedgerow can grow much taller, as long as it doesn’t threaten overhead power lines. 

Reducing Noise, Wind, and Dust 

Even a thin hedgerow will help to reduce noise from adjacent properties.  When planted on the north side of a house, hedgerows will block the winter wind and help keep homes warmer.  You would need evergreens in your hedgerows to be effective.  Hedgerows also block dust from adjacent places.   

Enhancing Wildlife 

Lawns are food deserts for critters.  Planting a hedgerow that is a minimum of twenty feet across provides food, shelter, and travel corridors for wildlife.  Most of us don’t have twenty feet to plant that way, but even a smaller hedgerow helps.  Birds nest there, insects shelter there, and smaller mammals will build homes there. 

Reducing Soil Erosion and Enhancing Water Quality 

We have all seen the photographs of the Dust Bowl with dust covering houses.  Hedgerows help prevent that from happening again.  They slow water down so the soil has a chance to absorb the water.  Rushing water carries sediments and everything else down into streams and rivers, making them cloudy and dirty.  Any water the soil absorbs keeps it from washing things away.  The sediment in the water falls out in the grasses and improves the soil. 

Building a Hedgerow 

Building a hedgerow requires thinking ahead to the size things will be when mature.  Often times we see a tree or shrub in a 5-gallon pot and forget it may grow to spread thirty feet on either side.  When planting a hedgerow, the width of the hedgerow depends on where you are putting it.  In a farm setting, a hedgerow should be at least 20 feet across.  In town, one or two rows of plants will have to suffice. 

Pick trees that will grow taller than a fence but not so tall that they interfere in overhead power lines.  The center of your hedgerow is made of trees.  These trees are one or two rows wide.  The rows should be about ten feet apart.  If you need to keep cold winds out, make sure one row is evergreen.  Flank the rows of trees with two rows of shrubs per side.  On the outside rows, plant native grasses, perennials, and annuals. 

You may not have this much space.  If this is the case, plant only one side of the hedgerow, or start with shrubs in the middle flanked with native grasses, perennials, and annuals. 

Tips for a healthy hedgerow 

Using native plants is crucial to sheltering wildlife.  Don’t use plants that tend to get out of hand because some natives will crowd out other native plants.  

Plant a mixture of species in each part of your hedgerow.  Try to select flowering plants that bloom in different times so there is always food for the insects and other animals to eat.   

You should plant evergreen plants on the north side of the property and deciduous plants on the south side of the property in areas that have cold winters.  In warm areas, you can use all deciduous trees but won’t get the same wind break as a mixed hedgerow. 

You will have to supplement the water the hedgerow gets the first two or three years.  A soaker hose is an effective method of irrigation, but drip irrigation lasts longer.  In drought, you will also need to provide supplemental water. 

Most hedgerows need pruning to maintain their shape.  You can prune the trees and shrubs to be a certain shape for a formal hedge, or you can only prune weak, broken, or diseased limbs and have a more informal hedgerow. 

Picking Native Plants 

Which native plants you buy will depend on the function of the hedgerow, whether it is sunny or shady there, and the climate.  Pick trees that don’t get over 25 feet if your power lines are overhead.  Here are several trees and shrub that will work well in a hedge. 

If you live in the South, redbud trees look wonderful covered in lilac buds early in the spring.  They get 20-30 feet tall and about that wide.  An understory tree, if grows with larger trees around it or by itself. 

If your soil is too acid for redbud trees, consider growing a dogwood tree.  These trees are native to the South but can be grown in most places.  The pretty white flowers can be seen all over the East Texas piney woods. 

Witch hazel blooms out in showy yellow booms in early spring before it even has leaves.  These trees are excellent for screening unsightly places and their extensive root systems stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.  Witch hazel grows along streams and tolerates wet areas well.  It will grow in full sun to partial shade. 

Paw Paw trees produce a unique fruit that is edible.  The trees have unusual droopy leaves that shield the fruit from the sun.  The leaves turn yellow in the fall, much earlier than other trees.  In spring, they produce purplish-red flowers. 

Innovative Approaches to Planting Hedgerows

The multiple uses of hedgerows make them valuable because they offer visual beauty, environmental advantages, and clear property borders. These natural barriers provide animals with habitats, prevent soil erosion, and mark property boundaries. Hedgerows have typically been arranged in straight lines using the same types of shrubs. Establishing hedges through unique and creative methods can enhance their visual appeal while increasing their ecological diversity. These inventive planting methods for hedgerows integrate classic benefits with modern design elements.

Use a wide range of plant species instead of depending on only one shrub variety. Combining hawthorn with blackthorn, dog rose, hazel, and elder creates diverse structures that attract higher levels of wildlife activity. Throughout the year, different plant species produce blooms and fruit, giving birds and pollinators a steady supply of nourishment and supporting other helpful animals. Adopting this method simultaneously improves environmental quality and adds visual appeal to the hedgerow.

Consider implementing a staggered or zig-zag arrangement when planting. Arrange plants by positioning each one at random intervals rather than in straight rows. The uneven plant spacing transforms the hedgerow into a natural-looking habitat that provides sheltered spaces for small animals and insects. The staggered planting approach enables additional sunlight penetration, which proves advantageous when certain plant species need varied light exposure.

Utilizing climbing plants provides an excellent method to increase vertical structure and visual appeal in your garden space. Ivy and honeysuckle vines can intertwine with shrubs in hedgerows to produce a multilayered display of leaves and flowers. The additional vertical space creates better bird nesting options and expands the habitat area for pollinators to thrive. Choose climbing plants that work well alongside your shrubs so they won't compete with them for essential resources.

To achieve a formal garden aesthetic, a multi-tiered hedgerow design is recommended. Position low shrubs like lavender, rosemary, and boxwood at the front, followed by larger deciduous shrubs or evergreens towards the back. The multi-tiered structure creates landscaped visuals yet keeps the standard functionalities of a hedgerow. Microhabitats develop from various plant heights, and these spaces support diverse insect populations and small mammal species.

Another unique approach is the "hedge-with-gaps" concept. Break up the continuous shrub line by planting gaps about a foot wide between selected bushes. Tiny gaps within the hedge should be planted with wildflowers, ornamental grasses, or native plants to form small meadow-like spaces. These open spaces enable ground-dwelling animals to move freely and introduce vibrant colors and textures.

Sufficient space allows the creation of unique hedgerows by weaving living willow fences. Willow rods remain alive during planting and can be woven into a living fence structure that grows as it matures. This creative approach enables gardeners to mold the structure into arches or other shapes, turning the boundary into an evolving piece of living art.

Apply mulch around young shrubs to maintain soil moisture and control weed growth while ensuring they receive regular watering throughout their initial years. After reaching full maturity, a hedge needs only occasional trimming to maintain its shape and density. Through creative experimentation with planting patterns, mixed species, and decorative elements, you can establish a hedgerow that stands out visually and provides ecological advantages while lasting in the landscape.