low hedges

9 years ago

Any one see Barberry used as a low hedge in zone 3, I don't want die back and no pruning to get 4,5,6 ft. without issues. Other options would be Korean lilac, cotoneaster ,ninebark... Thanks

This post was edited by wayne61 on Tue, Jun 10, 14 at 11:17

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

FrozeBudd_z3/4
9 years ago
I have a rather very protected backyard and the most hardy and reliable variety has been Berberis thunbergii Atropurpurea, it generally comes through winter with little damage compared to other varieties I grow. The dwarf 'Concorde' is not a hedging type, rather a very attractive border accent plant that has rarely sustained any dieback due to being under a deep blanket of snow. But, I would not recommend barberry for an exposed location and those that do not receive reliable snowcover.
weeper_11
9 years ago
I wouldn't go with barberry, personally. I'm in 2b, but I can barely get it to overwinter, let alone be tip hardy. Cotoneaster might need some trimming. I don't have any Korean lilac, but that might be nice.

My favorite out of those picks is the ninebark, I have lots of them in my yard and they are very hardy. They are quite slow to leaf out in spring, though.
Related Discussions
Boxwood variety for very low hedge
Q
Comments (3)
Before investing your money, efforts and time in a boxwood hedge, I would recommend reading up on a new, and very aggressive, pathogen affecting boxwood - boxwood blight. A close-trimmed boxwood hedge is most susceptible, and certain varieties are more susceptible than others. Since the fungal spores do not travel far in the air, it is most often introduced into plantings with infected plants or equipment (think landscape truck beds as well as pruners, even gloves and clothing). Once in the soil, they can persist for a very long time, apparently. There are several university sites with information. One is linked below. Here is a link that might be useful: Cornell Boxwood Blight Fact Sheet
...See More
Suggestions for low hedge
Q
Comments (7)
Just a question, but do you prune off the Spirea before it leafs out in spring? I shorten mine to about 10 inches, just as the leaf buds appear. The benefits are lush new growth, puts the bloom time back a few weeks, so everything looks nice at a different time. Mine are Limemound and Goldmound, so the colors are quite different, contrast well. Other varieties might give you different leaf colors as well. The short, Japanese Spirea, bloom on new growth, so your shearing them short, should help increase the bloom quantity too. My flowers last a couple weeks, as they gradually all get opened. I love the little Spirea, they are always colorful, RELIABLE, no work except that yearly cutting back. So an idea for you to consider. Change out the bushes if you only have plain green. Doing an every other variety, with two very different colored leaves, could be quite striking.
...See More
Help choosing gardenia for a low hedge
Q
Comments (8)
Delayed follow up. I planted a ton of gardenias. Different varieties in different locations, just to see how they'd do. Lowe's and Home Depot had a sale and I got them for about $3 a piece. 5 August beauty in my east facing back yard. They're thriving. Even though I'm overwatering new sod... 1 grafted Miami supreme in the west facing but heavily shaded front yard (along the south side of it). Surprisingly it has survived four months so far despite strong shade and my poor planting practices. I played something fierce with the rootball when I planted it to make sure it wasn't root bound. My wife later told me that the instructions said not to disturb the rootball for fear of killing the plant... 1 veitchii there too. Living. Looks good. 1 mystery there too. Ditto. 1 frost proof. Ditto. 1 radicans Ditto. I expect it to be the first to go when the others grow over it... I don't actually have room for most of the ones I bought. The 5 August Beauties have a great location as a backyard foundation planting. The others... well, I stuck them in the only patch of dirt left... just to see if they'd live and how'd they do. So far, no white flies but this is Florida and inevitable. I used horticultural oil on them to prevent anything. We have opted not to replace the hedge in the front yard. We had varigated ptisporum on the north side of the property line and unvarigated pitisporum on the south side... previous homeowner had interesting taste... it looked horrible. We ripped that all out, cleaned up the yard and installed emerald zoysia sod instead. Yard looks much neater now. Huge improvement.
...See More
Searching for mowable, fine blade OG for low hedge
Q
Comments (3)
Greenlee's Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses is an excelllent book, but it's getting a little long in the tooth. There are so many new cultivars, which are not in the book, you need to do further research online to supplement. Another good one is Rick Darke's Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses (ISBN 0881924644) Finally, Darke's most recent book, and my favorite resource, The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes (ISBN 9780881928174). It a fantastic large format book with tons of information and photos. There are a multitude of online resources as well. Two of my favorites are Bluestem.ca( http://www.bluestem.ca/grass-comparison-chart.htm ) and Mobot (http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Alpha.asp?start=M&end=M ).
...See More
ostrich
9 years ago
I would never use barberry as a hedge, whether it's hardy or not. When I was in my last house in zone 5, I had a Rose Glow Barberry hedge... OK, so it was very pretty, but it was dangerously thorny! Also, it was popping up in different places too. Since that time, I would never use barberry again, as a hedge or as a specimen plant.
Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden
9 years ago
Maybe Caragana? They are fast growing and very hardy, tall and bushy with upright growth habit. Some pest issues I think but maybe something to look into. :)

Ginny
wayne
Original Author
9 years ago
Ginny, I have caragana hedges already, lots around this part of the country, my biggest gripe about them is how large they get. The bees like them. Ostrich, are you saying they sucker or is it from seed. I guess it really doesn't matter, thorny things growing where you don't want them would not be nice. Thanks all. I am leaning towards Korean lilac or maybe hardy roses but would have some pruning with them.
northspruce
9 years ago
I would probably go with dwarf lilac. Cotoneaster needs pruning and ninebark is really nice but in my yard it isn't a dense shrub at all. I think it's better as a specimen than a hedge.
northspruce
9 years ago
Oh, also you could consider a larger spirea like bridal wreath. Or evergreens such as globe cedars (if you don't have deer!) or mugo pine. The only thing I don't like about mugo pine is how the snow knocks it flat.
wayne
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes there is deer, some years worse than others. I would like a cedar hedge but would have to fence the whole yard. One winter they ate the Virginia Creeper to the ground, usually they don't touch it.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES 9 Low-Growing Hedges That Make Good Neighbors

By Frank Organ

Define garden areas or borders without blocking the view, with these evergreen shrubs that take kindly to trimming

Full Story

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How Low Can Hedges Go? Discover Unusual Garden Borders

By Frank Organ

Short enough to step over, high enough to be a stretch ... check out these radically different hedge styles and tell us your opinion

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES These Hedges Can Add Interest to Your Winter Garden

By Frank Organ

Evergreen trees and shrubs provide structure and color in the winter months — and can attract wildlife too

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Low-Maintenance Calliandra Eriophylla

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Pink, puffy flowers of pink fairy duster transform the lacy foliage of this desert native in spring

Full Story

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Great Design Plant: Parry Manzanita Stands Out in Low-Water Gardens

By Debbie Ballentine

Make a dramatic architectural statement and feed wildlife in woodlands and more with Arctostaphylos manzanita

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Rosa Banksiae a Low-Maintenance Beauty

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

This thornless, disease- and insect-resistant rose brings showers of white or yellow flowers to the spring garden

Full Story

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Touches of Grandness for the Garden

By Laura Gaskill

You don’t need a king-size yard to add a little formality to your landscape with fanciful hedges, topiaries and paths

Full Story

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Houzz Survey: See What Homeowners Are Doing With Their Landscapes Now

By Annie Thornton

Homeowners are busy putting in low-maintenance landscapes designed for outdoor living, according to the 2015 Houzz landscaping survey

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Try Blue Bells for Blooms in Dry Soil

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

This shrub’s violet-blue flowers and silvery foliage brighten low-water gardens all year long

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Velvety Dwarf Bottlebrush Beckons a Touch

By Steve Asbell

Brilliant red blooms and inviting textures will capture your heart, but the low maintenance and small size will win over your practical side

Full Story

low hedges

Comments (8)

FrozeBudd_z3/4

weeper_11

Related Discussions

ostrich

Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden

wayne
Original Author

northspruce

northspruce

wayne
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

low hedges

Comments (8)

FrozeBudd_z3/4

weeper_11

Related Discussions

ostrich

Ginny McLean_Petite_Garden

wayneOriginal Author

northspruce

northspruce

wayneOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

wayne
Original Author

wayne
Original Author