How to create an ornamental hedge

How to create an ornamental hedge

The creation of ornamental hedges must not only meet aesthetic criteria but also ecological principles. The hedges are real membranes that act as partitions between different environments. In this contribution we will therefore see how to create an ornamental hedge and how to respect some ecological principles. It is clear that the first choice should be made according to the geographic area where the hedge is to be built and whether this must consist of evergreen plants or flowering plants. The most common hedge shrubs are undoubtedly evergreen shrubs, such as laurel, laurel or privet, which have thick foliage even in the winter months. The presence of the leaves in each season is spent in favor of this choice.

Obviously, the choice of plants suitable for creating an ornamental hedge depends a lot on the available space, from exposure to the sun or atmospheric agents and, in the case of hedges in private gardens, from the taste of those who must plant them. When the spaces should be limited it is more useful to choose plants that take up little space in width, but which offer a high aesthetic support and, if possible, are enriched with fragrant flowers. In this case you can use the false jasmine, or among the species of average height and flowering are beautiful hydrangeas, for their effect with umbrella and supercolorito that gives great aesthetic effect.
You can also add the scented one to the chromatic effect. In this case you can opt for a fragrant lavender hedge. Of course the tastes are very personal; there are those who prefer the evergreen hedge and not flowery; in this case you can choose the butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus L.) which besides giving a nice compact effect allows you to use the shoots that are edible and very similar to wild asparagus.
But the ornamental hedges of greater effect are certainly those mixed, which offer great variations in color between the colors of the leaves and flowers but above all a more suitable environment for the microfauna (especially that of the pollinators) and as a purification filter for the area that surround your garden.
So you can think of giving life to a colored hedge, with carefully studied chromatic choices but above all evaluating the facts that indigenous species are easier to maintain and more pleasing to a general ecological balance.
Another solution not only aesthetic but also ecological is to choose flowers that bloom in different periods, to always have a colored hedge and with various colors and give the possibility to insects (especially pollinators) and small birds to have food for a much longer period. The hedges whose plants produce berries are very chosen, even in this case they can be mixed with different colors, remembering that for the most part the berries ripen in winter.
Last but not least, the availability of water. Today the availability and the cost (also ecological) of the water must be taken as a preliminary factor. It is therefore important to ask, when buying these plants, the nurseryman or your agronomist, which species require less water needs. We always remember that we have only one planet and also in the choice of aesthetic facts we respect Nature.