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Landscape Design Shrubs New England Gardening

Keeping a Dappled Willow in Hedge Form

2 years ago

We have an odd size bed that needs to be replaced. it measures 10 feet wide by 8 feet deep. We need to create a full privacy hedge (year round so evergreen) for the entire 10 feet. Whats throwing me off is the depth of the bed. I came up with the idea off planting a row of 3 Emerald Green Arborvitae in the back and a row of dappled willows in front of them with the idea of keeping the willows in a tight hedge form. We are in metrowest Massachusetts and the area in question is morning sun turning shade.

My concern is that the willows may become too much work to manage. What will it take to keep them in a hedge form like in the photo?

Any other ideas would be welcomed

thanks!

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Comments (6)

J Goodell
Original Author
2 years ago
Photo attached
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
Should be able to be maintained in a hedge like that by an annual pruning in early spring (like now). May look a little fuzzy by the end of the season but even in the inspiration photo it is plain to see that this is not going to be a tight and tidy hedge plant like boxwood :-)) New growth during the season may produce a bit more of a natural or ragged look. As long as you don't leave it too late, the rough edges can be trimmed back if you prefer.
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When people say "... and I'm not sure how that would look?" it means that something could look fantastic beyond all belief, but they won't know it! Here we're just talking about trees on one side of a hedge. What is not to look good about that? In theory, there's nothing wrong with that at all. But in reality, the devil will be in the details of how the trees and shrubs are maintained so as not to conflict and harm (shade) one another. The negative in arranging the hedge back from the lot line is that you are in effect giving up some of your protected/private area and handing it over to the public area. If you're OK with that, no one else is going to be bothered by it. The idea of running the hedge from tree to tree means that it will be below the canopy of the trees and subject to the shade of them. If the tree canopy is very high, it might not be a problem. How tolerant is this willow to shade? It may make a huge difference in how it performs. If it doesn't like shade I'm afraid it's going to result in a disappointing mess. If it doesn't like shade A LOT, then if could even be disappointing to have the hedge set back away from the trees. I don't know this willow so I can't say.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
My concern is that the willows may become too much work to manage.

-->>>

i suppose it depends inf you are 20 1ish ... or 60ish .... willow is aggressive.. and will need one or two trimmings per year ... its not a plant i would want to have to prune at my age ..

how about a pic of your spot.. and ask for suggestions other than those in the box you are already in ... i dont understand why you need a 10 foot hedge????

look here.. look for single non pruned plants.. frankly.. one will fit in your 8 by 10 spot .. do not fixate on the pix of many plants on an estate with a gang of 20 gardeners to prune them ..

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffcm&q=Dappled+Willow&iax=images&ia=images

ken
Sigrid
2 years ago
I'd go with red osier dogwood. You'd get winter color and spring flowers. Chances are, you can find a variegated version. And it should be native to you. Win, win, win.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
If you prune the dogwood into a hedged shape, you will not get flowers. And the shrub willow also produces dark red/wine colored stems in winter. It is no more of a chore to prune than is the dogwood.

I think some are making much more of this than is necessary :-) It is really not that big a deal!
cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky)
2 years ago
Rather than "rows" of soldiers consider doing a mixed bed planting where your arrangement is more natural. You'll still have the privacy but the maintenance would be easier and it would look nice trimmed or not.

I personally would not use willow- IMO there are too many other things better suited that do not demand that much pruning.

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