These Plants Make the Best Living Fences.

When we think of fences, materials such as lumber, mesh, stone, brick, and wire mesh usually come to mind. What about shrubs and small trees? They can be used to create a so-called “living fence”, as it sounds.

While in some cases a tall, sturdy, traditional fence is the most effective option, in other cases a sturdy hedge is a better choice. Here’s what you need to know about live fences, including the best plants for the job.

What is a living fence?

If the term “hedge fence” is not familiar to you, you may know them as ” hedges “. In any case, the concept involves the creation of a physical barrier from trees, plants and shrubs, and not from mesh, lumber or wire.

In addition to creating visible boundaries between property lines or areas of your yard, living fences also provide wind protection, help with soil erosion, and attract birds and other pollinators. And while they do require some maintenance—usually pruning or trimming—so do traditional fences, which can become dilapidated or rusty over time.

The best plants for hedges

Once you’ve decided to create a living fence, it’s important to choose the right types of plants, trees, and shrubs to make sure the barrier functions and looks the way you want. Many of the plants used for hedges, or at least those featured here, have one thing in common: they are perennial and relatively low maintenance.

Some of the best hedge plants include :

• Laurel : hardy, evergreen.
• Boxwood : traditional, evergreen, dense.
• Privet: Fast growing, evergreen, small white flowers in late spring or summer.
• Nigra arborvitae : Triangular evergreen, can grow up to 30 feet tall.
• Bamboo : Fast growing, tall, evergreen varieties available for areas with cold winters.
• Thuja Trees : Fast growing, evergreen, with excellent wind protection.
• Yew Hicks : evergreen, dense, prickly, produces red berries in winter.

As always, if in doubt, check with your local extension office for their recommendations on hedge plants that are best suited to the climate and other conditions in your area.