Fast Growing Hedges
Fast growing hedges – hedges that grow faster than ordinary hedges and provide us with defence against the wind, inquisitive glances of neighbors and passerby. Hedges can be formative, of various colors, shapes, height and density.
A few species of fast growing hedges that are well-liked worldwide:
Physocarpus opulifolius ”Dart’s Gold” (Ninebark ‘Dart’s Gold’) – a fast growing deciduous, colorful, flowering hedges’ cultivar. It grows about 1.5-2 m height in almost any type of soil. Ninebark ‘Dart’s Gold’ is not fastidious about humidity and can easily grow in dry places but ir prefers sunny places. The hedge is compact, has a low canopy and hemispherical foliage. ‘Dart’s Gold’ has three-lobed leaves that turn golden and yellow in spring, chartreuse lime and green in summer, bronze and orange in autumn. The hedge spruce up with white flowers in early summer. Ninebark ‘Dart’s Gold’ can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.
Ligustrum vulgare (Wild Privet, Common Privet, European Privet) – a fast growing deciduous, semi-evergreen, medium-sized hedges’ species. It grows about 1.5-3 m tall. European Privet is a perfect hedgerow. The hedge has oval or elliptical dark green, waxy leaves that turn purple in autumn. Wild Privet blooms in mid summer with creamy-white flowers that have strong smell. The hedge prefers loamy, clay, sandy, calcareous, alkaline, neutral or acid soils and can tolerate droughts and water-logging. The wood of Common Privet is used for making charcoal, basketry and wickers.
Norway Spruce (Picea abies, European Spruce) – a fast growing coniferous, large, evergreen hedges’ species. It grows about 35-55 m tall. Picea abies is one of the largest, most common, fastest growing and most adaptable spruces in the world. The hedge is widely planted for strong and quality timber, Christmas industry, as ornamental hedgerows, perfect windbreaks or snowbreaks. Norway Spruce has dark green needle-like leaves and graceful strong branches. The hedge prefers well-drained, acidic soils and cool climate. It can also grow on sandy and clay soils. European Spruce can tolerate strong winds. It grows up to 1 m per year when young (for the first 25 years). The wood of this hedge is used for manufacturing of paper, pulp, music instruments (violin).
Thuja “Green Giant”– a fast growing coniferous, large, evergreen, pyramidal hybrid hedges’ species. It grows about 12-18 m tall. Thujas are widely grown as ornamental hedges, defence against the wind, noise and neighbors. It has compact, pyramidal, dense, green foliage all year long. Green Giant is very adaptable and can grow in any soils. It is tolerant to droughts and cold, resistant to insects and diseases. The hedge grows very fast (1-1,5 m per year). The timber of thujas is light, aromatic and soft.
Leyland Cypress (Cupressus Leylandii) – a fast growing coniferous evergreen hedges’ species. It grows about 15 m height in 16 years. Leyland Cypress is very popular hedge in the United States. It provides perfect privacy screen and is defence against the wind, noise or dust. Cypresses are used not only as ornamental hedges but also as Christmas trees as they have handsome, dense, symmetrical shape, all year-round green foliage. Leyland Cypress can thrive on various soils, tolerate droughts, requires very little care. It can grow even in salty and windy areas and is resistant to insects and diseases.
Loropetalum (Chinese Fringe-flower, Loropetalum Chinense, Chinese Witch Hazel) – a fast growing deciduous evergreen hedges’ species that is native to Japan, China and the Himalayas. It grows about 2-5 m height. Chinese Fringe-flower has dramatic beautiful pink, magenta or white fringe-like flowers and dense purple-red, burgundy foliage. The hedge starts to bloom in spring and then repeats a few times throughout the year. Loropetalum Chinense prefers full sun or partial shade places and rich, well-drained acid soil. It is a very attractive fast growing hedge that has very few disease problems.
Rosa Bonica (Rosa ‘Meidomonac’, Bonica Rose) – a fast growing deciduous, flowering, compact hedges’ species. It grows about 0,7-1,3 m height. Bonica Rose was awarded as the World’s Favorite Rose in 1997. The hedge produces rose to pink fragrant blooms in early summer that repeat blooming until first frost. It has green, glossy, ovate dense leaves. The Bonica is easy grown and requires little care, it is disease resistant and can tolerate very hot summers and cold winters. Rosa ‘Meidomonac’ should be planted in fertile, moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. It prefers full sun or partial shade. Rosa Bonica can be expected to live for about 20 years.
Forsythia Hedge – a fast growing deciduous, flowering hedges’ species that is native to China. It grows about 1-3 m height. The forsythia hedge is one of the most popular and the most impressive landscaping hedges. It has beautiful golden, bright yellow blossoms in early spring. Forsythia is very resistant. It can tolerate poor soil conditions, foul air. The hedge prefers full sun or partial shade, moist and well drained soil. The flowers of Forsythia are used to produce milk sugar (lactose).
Blue Moon Hydrangea Hedge – a fast growing deciduous, flowering hedges’ species. It grows about 1-1,5 m height. The Hydrangea produces large, bold cobalt blue blossoms in late summer. It prefers acidic soil, full sun or shade. It is one of the most beautiful ornamental hedges in the United States.
