Hedges are a great way to improve the look of your home overall, but they also have many other benefits. First, they can provide privacy if they are tall enough. So no peeping Toms look into your windows. They may also aid in keeping thieves at bay, since they may have trouble getting to a window since they are blocked by the foliage. They may even increase the value of your property should you ever decide to sell. Finding out how to plant a hedge is pretty easy and a great way to get some sunshine and fresh air one day.
Before you start digging any holes, you have to sit down and figure out exactly why you want hedges. Are they for privacy, security, beautification of the land, or perhaps a combination of these things? You should also ponder on how much maintenance you want to do on the hedges. Be honest with yourself, and work out how much time you legitimately have to commit to them once they are planted and thriving. Some varieties require more time and care than others. Make sure when you go to the store to purchase the plants, that you talk with an employee about ones that are right for your lifestyle.
Next, you have to choose where you will plant them. Then, you have to mark the area. Since you have already purchased the plants by now, you know how wide they are and how wide they will get. Using a marker or piece of wood, mark where each hedge will be planted, but do not dig the holes just yet. You only need to mark them and space them appropriately so that when it is time to dig, you know exactly what you are doing.
Now it is time to tend to the soil. In and around the marked off areas, you should clear out any weeds or plants that are already there. If you don’t, the hedges will still grow, but they will have to compete against the other plants and weeds for water and nutrients.
The last thing to do before you dig holes is to bring the hedges in the pots you bought them in and place them near where you are going to dig. This lets you visualize if you marked the area properly or if you perhaps need to adjust once more before digging.
Finally, you can dig the holes. All the prep up to this point had led to the digging. Make sure you dig deep enough for the roots to be able to spread out. Each hedge should have a root ball, so make sure you are digging wide enough for that ball to fit into the hole as well.
Once they are planted, you must water them well. Make sure you give them a really good amount of water. A soaking hose works best, but any kind will due. You will have to continuously water them, but not as much as this first soaking.
The final step is to add some mulch to each one. While this is not completely necessary, it does help. It keeps water from evaporating in summer so the roots don’t dry out as quickly. It also keeps weeds from forming.
