Hedging is generally used to define a border or site boundary without having to install a permanent structure such as a wall or fence. Hedging is a low cost alternative that can be shaped as wished and even removed quite easily (for when you eventually change your mind).
The best thing about hedging is its versatility. In Ireland we have great growing conditions with moderately warm summers and wet moderately cold winters (in comparison to our neighbours in the states). Even within the country we have a huge variance from North to South and East to West. In the area around Dublin the climate is generally drier and warmer than the wetter midlands and even wetter and wilder West coast.
Low height hedging buxus varieties such as buxus sempervirens suffructicosa, buxus sepervirens, suffruticosa rotundifolia and the native yew offer a great choice in both colour and density. Other more colourful options can include English or French lavender and rosemary. They will not only give you a colourful verge, but on those long warm summer nights (it is ok to dream I suppose) the scent is exquisite. You do need to keep an eye on these plants into year 2 and 3 when they will need an extensive pruning or they tend to get very leggy.
Medium height hedging, green beech or purple beech is a great choice. Both are perfect for Irish soil. Both hold their respective leaf colour until late autumn and change to a copper colouration before eventually falling in early winter. But as the same with all hedging plants, if left untamed they will all grow to their potential, which in this case in a beach tree. Another Irish favourite is the griselinia family. They have a waxy soft leaf and are a dream to trim during the year (no sharp edges and once kept tidy the limbs don't become too leggy). If you need a bit of privacy, or to stop the neighbours dog trotting into your garden you could look for a red berberis, holly or even a hawthorn. But beware they are a hardship to maintain (imagine trawling through branches and branches that wouldn't be too dissimilar to rose bushes), if you do decide to go down this route screwfix (non sponsored link dont worry :) ) stock a “rose glove” which is made with a thick nitrile covering. This makes them tough and thick to hinder the imminent sore fingers. They come in around €6 so well worth the investment along with a face guard and a very think jumper.
Large height hedging, trees such as Taxus baccata (Yew) is a new favourite due to being an indigineous Irish hedge. Yews are a dark green colour all year round and are ideal for dense coverage. The female trees produce red berries in the spring months. Grisilina are great for coverage of up to 4 metres, but tend to get very leggy and sparse on coverage low down the taller they get. The real problem with large hedging is getting enough sunlight to the base of the hedge. If there is insufficient light the tree stops producing foliage there. This can be combated by constant trimming into an upside down V shape. This allows the sun to reach the base. String lines can be used to ensure precision.
Fancy pants hedging, here we have some fancy hedging (fancy usually means expensive btw). Techniques such as pleaching and espaliering (A wise man once called them the Marge Simpson of hedging) lend themselves to allow for screening and privacy without taking up space on the floor of your garden. This allows for either more planting or seating under the trees. Pleached trees have a bare stem usually up to 1.8 metres and the branches are trained from a young age onto a framework to produce a screen. Pleaching was originally used to allow for fruit trees to be able to grow in limited space. Magnolia Grandiflora and Prunus Laurocerasus are examples of readily available varieties. Caragh Nurseries in Kildare carry a huge variety and are well worth a look if you are in the market.
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