Hedges are probably the most common species in gardens. This is because their function is not only to decorate, but they are useful for other things. With hedges, we can organize the different spaces of our garden without introducing any artificial elements. Additionally, we use them to fence our property for privacy.
Therefore, we know how essential it is to keep hedges in good condition if we want to have a perfect garden. Today we tell you some tricks to achieve it.
Tips for caring for your hedges
Hedge care is a fundamental aspect of garden maintenance . At least, we should prune them twice a year, although it is advisable to do more. Otherwise, we will cause them to lose shape, expand too much, age and lose leaves.
The care of these plants depends a lot on their age and species, we give you some general advice:
Pruning
Pruning our hedges is the most basic and important maintenance action. Pruning is not the same in all cases: it depends on the species of the hedge, whether it is young or old… Some tricks to know how and when to prune your hedge are:
- If your hedges are deciduous , they need at least two or three prunings a year.
- If your hedges are evergreen and do not grow very tall, you could maintain them with a yearly pruning.
- The time of year to prune your hedges is when the shoots are mature. In general , February-March is a good time for a first pruning, while late August and autumn are good times for a second or third pruning.
- Choose a day when the sky is cloudy , but there is no humidity (rain, frost…).
- The stronger the pruning, the stronger and more vigorous the hedge will generally grow. But be careful, this is not the case for all species. Some, such as conifers, will be weakened by deep pruning.
- An old hedge is recognized because it becomes wider, loses shape and becomes empty inside. If your hedge is old, you can do a renewal pruning (cut the branches deeply in winter, so that they rejuvenate with spring) or directly a radical pruning: we cut the hedge near the widest part of the trunk, and it grows almost right from the start.
Irrigation
Irrigation is another fundamental aspect of caring for our hedges . During the first two years of the hedge's life, it is very important that we water it frequently, since its roots are not yet deep and it could fall victim to drought .
As with all plants, the rule for watering is simple: in the evening in summer, in the morning in winter. It is done this way to prevent the water from evaporating in the hottest months, and from freezing in the coldest ones.
Avoid phytophthora
Also called hedge disease , it is a very common problem in gardens. Phytophthora is a fungus that is transported through water and enters through the root. Its symptoms are the yellowing of the leaves , which dry out, until eventually the plant dies.
Its cause is usually excessive watering, or that the soil does not drain water well. To avoid this disease we must:
We can use a potassium phosphate fertilizer , which increases the plants' defenses.
- Choose soil with good drainage
- Frequently fertilize the plant
- Avoid excessive watering
- We can use a potassium phosphate fertilizer , which increases the plants' defenses.
As you can see, taking care of your hedges requires some dedication
