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How to space viburnums used as hedge?

8 years ago

Hi,

I ordered several viburnums to use as a natural, informal hedge between my property and my neighbor. I will be planting them well within my property line so I can let them grow natural and untrimmed without them extending into my neighbor's side (which is only an easement strip of land used as a secondary access driveway - they mow the strip but never use it). What I ordered are 4 of native species arrowood dentatum and 4 of native species highbush trilobum - but they sent me 4 nannyberry by mistake - they are re-shipping the trilobum this week. They said they may have mislabeled the first set of trilobum as nannyberry - so I have no idea if I'll end up with 8 trilobum, or a mix of nannyberry and trilobum to go with the arrowood. That gives me 12 shrubs that are now 3 to 4 foot tall starts. From what I've read, most of the shrubs will be between 8 and 12 or 15 feet wide when mature. How close should I plant them if I want a barrier for privacy, but room for good air circulation? I'm hoping for no gaps between them when they are full grown (and left wild, not pruned unless I have to for their health) but not so crowded it could lead to problems for the plants. They will be planted in full sun in z6a in Virginia. Thank you in advance for any help!

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Comments (3)

PRO
Select Landscapes of Iowa
8 years ago
I would do 6' apart for a quicker hedge; up to 8' apart if you have a decent amount of time to wait. Nannyberry Viburnum here in Iowa has terrible powdery mildew every year that can defoliate a decent amount of the plant so see if it is the same for your area if you are considering including in in the hedge. Make sure to keep the hedge well mulched and grass away from it and they will grow quickly.
coatfetish thanked Select Landscapes of Iowa
coatfetish
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you! We have either hot dry summers or wet humid ones. I think I will plant the (possibly) nannyberries elsewhere until they set fruit and I can positively id them. Maybe I'll split the difference on the others and go 7' apart, although I have the time to wait for 8' spaced plantings to fill in. The line I want to make with the hedge is between 60' and 70' feet, do you feel 8 shrubs total would be too crowed when mature? I could plant some elsewhere...Thanks so much for your help!
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
what I've read, most of the shrubs will be between 8 and 12 or 15 feet wide when mature.

==>>> nothing ever stops growing ... and a lot of peeps use 10 years as maturity ... but a lot of things will be twice as big in 20 years ... nothing ever really stops growing ...

my first house was behind a funeral home ... there were 8 inch trunk Vs ... that were at least 20 feet tall ... and the line of them... ran 100 feet ... i have no recollection of the planting spacing ... nor could i speculate how long they had been there ...

one way or another.. sooner or later.. you will be pruning them to maintain whatever size you prefer ...

for shrubs its called .... rejuvenation pruning of shrubs ...

ken

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