Low Maintenance Hedging Plants for Your Garden
Our range of small hedging plants includes traditional varieties such as Box and Yew, but also includes increasingly popular ornamental hedges such as Euonymus, Sarcococca, Osmanthus, Pyracantha, Griselinia, Elaeagnus and Lavender.
Looking for something in particular?
We supply most varieties in containers in varying sizes and heights and if there is something in particular that you are looking for, whether that be taller hedges or slower growing hedging plants, please do call us on 01252 714552. Likewise, if you are not sure what hedging would be suitable for your requirements, get in touch with a member of the team who will be happy to help.
Small Hedging: Frequently Asked Questions
What plant makes the best small hedge?
For centuries, the most popular plant for small hedges has been Box (Buxus sempervirens). However in recent years, two problems have
been rife in southern England which have been spreading further afield, namely Box Blight and Box Moth Caterpillar, both of which have decimated many longstanding Box hedges in the UK. This is a great shame as Box has been a wonderful plant for many scenarios but is simply not worth planting now unless you are prepared to maintain a spray programme to combat these two problems.
For smaller low hedges, the most popular Box alternative has become Euonymus Green Spire which is visually very similar to Box and behaves and grows in a similar manner. Alternatively Yew (Taxus baccata) is an excellent choice for smaller hedges with its much darker green foliage.
For shadier spots, Sarcococca confusa (also known as Winter Box or Christmas Box due to its sweet
smelling winter flowers) is a great choice and Lavender is highly popular for sunnier spots with its fragrant and beautiful, pollinator attracting flowers.
For coastal situations, Elaeagnus ebbingei and Griselinia littoralis are popular choices.
Do small hedging plants grow faster than large specimens?
Most varieties that we sell as smaller hedging plants are designed to grow as small hedges and thus grow considerably slower than larger varieties such as Laurel and Leylandii. Smaller varieties such as Euonymus Green Spire and Yew will only grow about 15cm (6 inches per year) making them an ideal solution for planting around garden borders where height is not required and making them easier to maintain.
What are the benefits of slow growing hedges?
Slow growing hedges are ideal for planting low hedging to delineate areas of a garden where eye level privacy is not required or desired. Most of our smaller varieties will only grow fairly slowly meaning that they will only need to be clipped once per year so making them very low maintenance.
What is the best hedge for a small garden?
There are multiple options available for small gardens and it will depend on what you want your new hedge to achieve. If you are looking for a hedge that will provide eye level privacy, then you can plant varieties such as Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) which can be kept as a narrow but tall dense hedge. However, if you have a small garden and are only looking for a short hedge to delineate an area, then consider planting Yew (Taxus baccata) or Euonymus Green Spire which are great options for low lying hedges. Do not be tempted to plant Box (Buxus sempervirens) due to the prevalence of Box Moth Caterpillar and Box Blight throughout the UK unless you understand the impacts of this and can put a suitable management plan in place.