It’s All Shrubbish!

Have you ever visited your local public park garden with amazing topiaries shaped into people, animals, or fantasy characters? Have you ever tried to get through a fully grown hedge? What’s the difference between a hedge, a bush, and a shrub?

There is some debate over the classifications of “bush” and “shrub.” However, experts seem to have one opinion in common: shrubs are woody plants with more than one stem and may grow up to 15 feet in height. 

On the other hand, Bushes might be a low, densely branched shrub, with the entire plant growing from one stem. Bushes might also creep along the ground rather than grow to a great height.  

And hedges are boundaries formed by closely growing bushes or shrubs. The bushes or shrubs are spaced from 6 to 8 inches apart for a low hedge and 18 to 30 inches apart for taller hedges.

Well, that made everything crystal clear, didn’t it? Let’s dive deeper!

Topiaries

Topiaries fall into the “shrub” family. They have multiple stems growing up from the ground, and due to trimming and clipping, the longer branches are “taught” to grow in specific directions. 

Topiaries are also taught to grow most of their leaves near the outside of the shrub, with enough inner growth to fill hollow spaces, giving the topiary a full and healthy appearance. 

Topiaries are very popular at theme parks and ornamental garden parks. Once grown, they are relatively easy to maintain, as long as they are trimmed to the predetermined shape. Surprisingly, the shrubs you sometimes see set to either side of a walkway or doorstep that look like the top of twisty ice cream cones – are also topiaries.

Smaller topiaries, the small kind you can sit on your desk or windowsill, often are pinned to a carved form and have ivy mixed in with the branches of the original plant to fill it in. Those topiaries need to be soaked every once in a while to keep the plants healthy.

Hedges 

The textbook definition of a hedge is a fence or boundary formed by a dense row of shrubs or low trees. The purpose is to act as a barrier, protection, or defense or increase privacy. A hedge is sometimes grown in conjunction with a fence, with security in mind. Think of it as a living wall composed of plants. 

A low hedge, which doesn’t have anything to do with privacy or security, is usually a row of bushes cut to a low height to act as a barrier or target. For instance, when riders and horses perform dressage by jumping or avoiding a field of barriers and gates, it often has low hedges as the barriers.

Hedges are often trimmed to have flat tops or look boxy in shape. As a result, Laurel and box shrubs are very popular. While some hedges are purely decorative, others are trimmed to precise sizes and shapes and can be made from either deciduous or evergreen shrubs.

Some shrubs or bushes used in hedges include bay laurel, common box, and barberries. It’s not unusual for a hedge to be made from flowering shrubs or bushes, so they are also ornamental even though they are there for privacy. 

Some hedges are even made from flowering shrubs, including roses and lilacs. People often base their decisions about their hedges on the color and longevity of the flowers they might grow.

Hedges used for security are often made of dense foliage and stems and might have thorns. However, hedges are also helpful as windbreaks, especially in areas where the winds gain strength as they move across open land. 

A word of caution, though – some popular hedge shrubs, like yew, oleander, and English Holly, are poisonous and dangerous around children and furry friends. Most of these come with warnings from the garden center.

Location, location, location! Yes, location is critical to growing hedges or ornamental shrubs. Some types of shrubs prefer partial or full shade, more or less water, temperature differences, and the need for more or less attention. 

Convenience would dictate that hedges that need less trimming would be the best for most conditions once they reach the desired height and shape.

Maintenance

Ideally, the shrubs that grow quickly to the size desired, and need the least maintenance, are perfect for most privacy needs. However, forming hedges into the desired shapes takes some skill, skill your landscape maintenance partners at Divine Lawns already have. 

Hedges, shrubs, and bushes have more or less the same needs as other plants. They require full sun, shade, more water, less water, mulching, irrigation, and drainage – all of the things all your other plants need. Mulching will make weeding almost unneeded, just as it does in your flower beds. Root care will help the growth stay strong and productive.

And, best of all, you can see different types of shrubs and select what you want at your local garden shop! For example, if you create a long barrier or privacy screen, you might have to order enough plants to cover the necessary grounds. 

Again, your garden shop will be able to supply you and your Divine consultant with all the information you need about pricing, care, and special requirements. 

While you’re there at your garden shop, you can enjoy all the plants and flowers, mulch, ornamental stones, and boulders. Your kids will be excited to explore the indoor part of the shop, discovering hidden gems like giant frogs, miniature houses and furniture for elves and fairies, tinkling wind chimes, and a wide selection of designs and types of garden shoes and boots.

Hedges might not answer all your security needs, but they will undoubtedly help you create an attractive and showy border for your landscape. In addition, your landscaping guru will help you make the most Divine decisions for you and your family.