Many quick-growing plants,
such as this Chinese lantern,
can be grown from cuttings.
Use sharp secateurs when taking cuttings to avoid causing damage.
handy hints
Here are some tips from Millie to
help you grow a successful hedge.
cheap hedges
Iam not a formal gardener. My style is a little, shall we say, relaxed. But one thing associated with formal gardens that I do appreciate is a good hedge.
I have often been faced with an unsightly
shed, neighbour’s house (or neighbour!)
or large neglected space. A hedge is one
of the cheapest ways to change the view.
Hedges are planted en masse and can
be knee-height or tower above a garden.
Luckily for the thrifty gardener, many of
the toughest hedging plants are easily
propagated at home. English box (Buxus
sempervirens) is a classic hedging plant
Whatever your reason for growing a hedge, MILLIE ROSS says
it’s an easy way to make a dramatic change in the garden.
which, when clipped, forms a tight,
elegant green mound or border (or
aardvark!). Left to grow free, it forms
billowy clouds. Slow-growing Buxus is
perfect for a low-maintenance garden,
but if you want results quickly try taking
cuttings of native correa or wormwood
(Artemisia spp.), or grow a succulent
hedge of jade (Portulacaria afra).
For tough, tall hedges that are easy
to propagate, try growing bottlebrush
(Callistemon spp.), fragrant bay laurel
(Laurus nobilis) or some mixed-coloured
Chinese lanterns (Abutilon x hybridum).
● Fleshy new growth is quick to
root in spring, but can also wilt
and collapse easily. Take cuttings
in the cool of the morning or on
an overcast day to ensure they
are firm and full of water.
● Some cuttings shoot new leaves
before they have developed roots.
Keep an eye on the drainage holes
to spot new roots, or gently squeeze
the pot to feel for resistance as the
roots fill the space.
● Make a cheap and effective
propagating mix by combining
equal quantities of coir peat
and propagating sand.
● A good rule of thumb when
planting a hedge is to space the
plants as far apart as the intended
depth of the hedge.
● Always prune or clip the upper
vertical surface of your hedge a
little harder than the bottom,
particularly on the southern side.
Leaving the hedge slightly wider
at the bottom allows the light to
fall evenly across its face, which
encourages dense leaf growth.
