Every hedge plant usually has to be cut, because the plants grow every year and form new shoots. But there are also hedges that hardly or not at all need to be trimmed. This list provides information about them.

In a nutshell

  • since each plant has a certain amount of growth in the year, the uncut hedge will naturally grow larger
  • narrow hedges often only have to be trimmed in height if a specific hedge height is anchored in municipal ordinances
  • from time to time rejuvenation pruning is unavoidable, before growths are bare from the inside
  • to avoid pruning, hedge plants are planted far enough apart to allow enough light to fall in the middle
  • it may make sense to remove faded flowers from some hedges, while others are still growing fruit that attract birds

Narrow green hedge plants

If you want an easy-care hedge and want to largely do without cutting, you should opt for the plants with a narrow growth. In such a case, there is no need for lateral cutting at all. If it bothers you or if it was imposed by the municipality, you only have to correct the height with a small cut from time to time:

Garden bamboo (Fargesia murielae)

  • very fast growing
  • not rampant
  • hardy
  • very easy to care for
  • Privacy screen up to two meters
  • well drained humic soil
  • sunny location
  • Flowering only every sixty years

Notice: If you set a garden bamboo as a hedge, then you should pay attention to young plants here. Because if it comes to a flowering, the plant dies afterwards. The last time this happened was in the 1990s when many plants bloomed and died around the world.

Photinia x fraseri, photinia

Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin'
  • grows up to three meters high
  • forms red leaves
  • hardy
  • evergreen
  • humic, loose soil
  • sunny location

Tip: A hedge in mixed cultivation, which you can put together with the narrow-growing plants, is particularly beautiful. Pay attention to the desired soil conditions and the location of the various plants.

Arborvitae 'Smaragd' (Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd')

  • cypress plant
  • particularly beautiful variety for hedges
  • very narrow growth
  • bright green color of the needles
  • evergreen
  • does not get brown spots in winter
  • hardy
  • Location sunny to semi-shady
  • normal soil conditions
  • can grow very tall

Tip: Especially the narrow-growing plants show their beautiful growth in a hedge. So if you don't like the "cut to the board" hedges under any circumstances, you can set natural hedges with the plants presented here.

privet (privet)

  • easy to care for and adaptable
  • Dwarf privet suitable for hedges
  • deciduous only in frost
  • nutrient-rich, light soil
  • sunny location
  • hardy
  • faster growth

Column yew (Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata')

Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata Robusta'
  • upright growing shoots
  • Branches grow particularly dense
  • grows very slowly
  • about four inches a year
  • then grows up to five meters high
  • nutrient and calcareous soil
  • hardy
  • sunny to partially shaded location
  • evergreen

Notice: The hedges that do not have to be trimmed are particularly suitable for natural gardens and cottage gardens, as they fit very well into the overall picture thanks to their independent growth.

Holly (Ilex)

Ilex crenata 'Green Luster'
  • has nothing to do with the genus of palm trees
  • evergreen
  • hardy
  • produces beautiful red berries in winter
  • acidic, humic soil
  • bright but semi-shady or shady location
  • there are varieties that only grow two meters high

Notice: Beware of the leaves of the Ilex. It is not for nothing that the tree is called holly, because there are many small thorns on the edges of the leaves.

Flowering narrow hedges

Even among the flowering hedge plants there are some specimens that grow narrow and only in height. These plants also only need a cut if they have become too tall overall:

Blue rocket juniper (Juniperus scopulorum 'Blue Arrow')

Source: Alex Hauner, Juniperus scopulorum jalovec skalní blue arrow, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • narrow, columnar growth
  • grows very slowly
  • can then grow up to six meters high
  • blue-green needles
  • evergreen
  • permeable soil
  • Plant very adaptable
  • sunny location
  • has no branches to the side
  • hardy

Notice: Actually, every juniper species is well suited for hedges that should not be trimmed. But this extraordinary variety was presented here.

False Jasmine (Philadelphus)

  • also known as mock orange
  • upright taut growth
  • all soils are tolerated
  • hardy
  • up to three meters high
  • simple white flowers
  • Flowering period from May to June
  • strongly scented
  • barrel throwing
  • Location sunny to semi-shade

Notice: There are many different plants in the mock orange tree, also available under the name garden jasmine, which are all suitable for a hedge that remains narrow and therefore hardly needs pruning.

Hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus)

  • also known as garden marshmallow
  • many different varieties
  • also hardy
  • Growth height up to two meters
  • blooms all summer
  • many different flower colors
  • filled or unfilled
  • Location sunny to semi-shady
  • needs a lot of water
  • soil rich in nutrients

Tip: If you choose a hibiscus hedge, you should pay attention to hardy varieties. There are already various hybrids here that have been bred to be hardy for the local weather conditions.

Japanese lavender heather (Pieris japonica)

  • puts out red leaves in spring
  • evergreen
  • pink-white panicles from March to May
  • up to three meters high
  • Soil texture fresh and acidic
  • does not tolerate lime
  • poisonous in some parts
  • hardy
  • sunny to partially shaded location

Notice: Even if you want to avoid cutting the hedges, it is sometimes essential that you remove the faded flowers that do not produce any fruit worth mentioning for a better look.

Rose Deutzia (Deutzia scabra 'Mont Rose')

  • up to two meters high
  • pink flowers in panicles from May to June
  • nutrient-rich soil desired
  • loose and permeable
  • sunny location
  • Partial shade is tolerated
  • very nice bee pasture
  • hardy
  • deciduous

Tip: If you want enough privacy protection from your hedge in winter, then you should consistently choose evergreen plants. With deciduous trees, there is always a little view of your property from the street or the neighbor.

frequently asked Questions

If I'm looking for a "hedge without pruning", why a narrow plant?

If you choose narrow plants, whether flowering or evergreen, then you hardly have to cut them in a hedge. These plants usually only grow upwards. If that doesn't bother you, it doesn't have to be cut at all. However, if only a certain height is permitted for hedges in your community, then you will have to use scissors from time to time and correct the height.

What do I have to consider if I have to cut once?

It is very important, in addition to the instructions on pruning the cultivated plants, to also pay attention to the nature conservation law. Because so that breeding birds are not disturbed, it is forbidden to remove the hedge between 01.03. and 30.09. to cut every year. Only small beauty cuts, in which only individual shoots are separated with scissors, are allowed during this time.

What do I have to consider when planting a hedge if I want to cut it a little?

If you want to do without a regular cut, then you should make sure there is enough space between the individual plants. If the hedge bushes are too dense, there is not enough light inside and they bare faster, which would lead to a cut.

Is a hornbeam hedge also suitable if I don't want to cut it?

Unfortunately no, because a single hornbeam grows up to 20 meters high and also reaches an impressive width. Therefore, these hedges have to be pruned properly every year, even if the plants are otherwise very easy to care for.

Category:

Garden design