How to Plant a Hedge for Yard Privacy and Good Looks
Hedges are great in a lawn or landscape, not only for good cosmetic looks but also for security and privacy reasons of the landowner. If you want a good looking yard, security and privacy then you need to learn how to plant a hedge, thus solving your basic yard needs. While each hedge is not created equal, the materials you need for planting will be relatively the same, regardless of whether you choose an evergreen or deciduous.
Things to Think About
Before learning how to plant a hedge, you need to understand the characteristics of the particular hedges you have chosen. Some hedges grow tightly compact while others like to spread out a bit so knowing these traits will help you when it comes to spacing the holes you need to dig for them. In addition, the type of hedge will dictate any soil treatment you should accomplish whether it is turning compost into the soil, adding fertilizer or even peat moss.
How to plant a hedge also requires certain tools such as a shovel, string, scissors, work gloves, stakes, hammer and even spray paint (if needed). The shovel obviously digs the hole while the gloves protect your hands against any potentially thorny hedges. String and stakes are necessary to help you map out your areas especially if straight lines are desired. The hammer will help you hammer the stakes into the ground and the spray paint, while optional, can mark the ground areas for hole digging purposes.
Planting Process
Assessing the size of the root ball and making a hole twice the size to accommodate it is part of learning how to plant a hedge. The hole should be almost as deep as the root ball but twice the width so as to accommodate the anticipated root growth. The root ball should not be totally buried beneath the soil but rather protrude slightly for aeration as well as good drainage.
In addition, part of learning how to plant a hedge includes tamping the soil down in the hole as you cover the root ball so as to avoid air pockets which will cause eventual soil settling, causing a depression in the ground around the hedge. Watering the soil as you add it back into the hedge filled hole will also cut down on the air pockets thus preventing the soil depression around your planting.
Remember, how to plant a hedge includes taking into account how large it will be when fully mature. Unless you are prepared for extra maintenance such as weekly trimming, spacing them plantings out is highly recommended.
