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GREEN MATTERS
Those frills and laces ensure privacy
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Hedging your garden will not only give an aesthetic look but also demarcate space and break monotony, writes Swathi.V
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Defining design: Medium and large hedges are mostly used for defining borders and also for security.
Forests are admired for what they are—free, untamed, defiant, and secluded. However, one could never be comfortable with forests in the front yard, no matter how much one loves them. Human mind commands order and harmony in whatever it proposes and implements, home gardens being no exception. This is the reason why foliage within a courtyard is informed by distinct patterns and designs. Hedge plants play a major role in defining the patterns and enforcing boundaries
for a garden.
Hedges may be merely for aesthetic purpose where there is a need to break monotony in a landscape. However, they have other ends too such as separation of two different parts in the garden, ensuring privacy at chosen locations, and providing effective backdrop.
Though ‘hedge plants’ is an inclusive term, it may be sub-divided into three kinds, namely edge plants, hedge plants and border plants, says M. M. Hussain (98480 24654), from Plants Land Nursery at Somajiguda. The dividing factor is the growth of the plant.
Edge plants
Edge plants, kept very low from ground level, are used mostly for demarcation and ornamentation purposes. Duranta Golden Shower in yellow foliage, Iresine in dark brown and bronze, and Alternanthera varieties in white, green and red and are a few plants preferred for edging. Cuphea, and Euphorbia splendens are a few flowering varieties in them.
Duranta Golden Shower is also ideal as smaller hedge while Duranta plumeri in white/green, and Lantanas in various hues are other plants suggested for the same. Also fitting the bill are a few grass varieties such as Bamboo grass, and Bamboo grass variegated.
Range of choice available in medium and large hedges is far greater. They are mostly used for defining borders and for security. While Duranta Golden Shower functions also as medium hedge, Duranta golden species and Duranta speciosa variegata are exclusively used as borders or larger hedges. Clerodendron inerme, Hamelia patens, Ficus benjamina series, Putranjiva roxburhii, and Bougainvilleas are a few plants suitable for larger as well as medium hedges.
One may also have mazes in the garden for which the hedges need to be considerably high. Clerodendron inerme, Murraya exotica, Casuarina equisetifolia, and Conocarpus lancifolius are a few varieties suitable as mazes.
The last among these can withstand temperatures upto 50{ring}C and still can retain its lush green hue.
“Pedilanthus may be used for making outer boundary as it is poisonous and keeps away animals. Lawsonia alba, also commonly known as Mehendi or Heena is another variety for same purpose,” says Mr. Hussain.
Most of the hedges are picked out of pot plants and shrubs which may be grown individually too, he says.
“Choose your hedges out of perennials with thicker foliage and branching. They should also be conducive to continuous pruning,” he suggests.
A temporary hedge may be created by using portable frame at the chosen location and training a fast-growing climber over it. Once the need for the hedge is finished, the frame may be removed to some other location.
Hedge cutters
With required expertise, hedges can also be trained to grow in a chosen direction so as to create patterns. Different types of hedge cutters are available in the market including the motorised ones running with petrol, kerosene, and power.
Plants may also be enclosed in frames of desired shapes for the uniformity in pruning.
Normal watering and fertilizer is enough as most of the hedge varieties are resilient.
The soil has to be especially porous because the plants need to throw out foliage despite frequent pruning.
The gap between two pruning could range from 15 days to two months depending on the type of the plant.
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