As the saying goes, “Good fences may make good neighbors.” But no one ever said those fences had to be boring. Why not grow a fantastic living fence, or add a beautiful border to an existing one? Tree and shrub hedges are a great way to outline your property. Or consider a beautiful border alongside your existing fence. These special plantings change with the seasons, and offer something attractive to enjoy any time of the year.
A successful tree and shrub border begins by carefully evaluating your landscape site, creating a plan and selecting the right plants.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Proper spacing is the key to any successful planting. Marking paint, string or even flour can help you visualize the mature spread of your plantings before you dig the holes.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Choose plants that will avoid future challenges. Shallow-rooted, invasive trees can lift pavement and increase the effort needed to mow beneath them.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
The real key to successful living plantings is proper spacing. Whether you’re installing trees or shrubs, proper spacing gives the plants what they need: the room to grow into their natural forms (which means less excessive pruning), good air circulation (which is essential for keeping plants healthy) and adequate access to nutrients and sunlight.
Spacing recommendations are usually based on the mature width of a plant. For example, if an azalea will grow 4 feet wide, in most cases you’ll want to plant a group of azaleas 4 feet apart so that they’ll just touch at maturity. Even if your planting looks sparse at first, the azaleas will fill out and make a beautiful statement in just a few years.
If you’re planting two different species next to each other, you can split the recommended planting distance. For example, if one shrub reaches 12 feet at maturity and another shrub reaches 6 feet, you can plant them 9 feet apart. (If you’re planting a hedge, however, you can plant the shrubs a little more closely together than recommended so that a solid screen will quickly develop.)
When putting in foundation plantings, be sure that even at maturity there will be enough room to walk comfortably between the plants and your home. This maintenance zone allows you to get around to paint the house, perform other household repairs and even just reach water faucets and hoses on a regular basis.
If you’re planting near a sidewalk or other walkway, give your trees and shrubs enough of a setback that pedestrians will be able to walk by easily. (And be sure to avoid shallow-rooted, invasive trees in these areas, as they can lift or damage pavement, as well as make mowing around them difficult.) If a tree or shrub is planted near a driveway, be sure that clear sight lines will remain even at the plant’s maturity, so cars can safely enter and exit.
Be sure to remember mature plant heights as well. Make sure to plant trees far enough away from power lines and telephone wires so their limbs can grow freely without becoming entangled. If you’re planting near driveways or sidewalks, select vase-shaped trees with ascending branches (like Japanese zelkova), which allows easy passage underneath.
Don’t forget to consider your neighbors as you plan where your trees and shrubs will go. Any tree planted near your property line eventually may grow limbs and roots that extend into their yard. So be sure to select species suitable for the space, and if you have any concerns, check with your neighbors before you plant.
Interested in planting a tree and shrub border in your yard? Start by putting your ideas on paper: Gather your current garden plan, tracing paper, scaling ruler and colored pencils, then follow the steps shown in the following pictures and described in their captions. Don’t forget to include areas for colorful annuals and perennials to brighten up the space – then start to imagine the beauty your new natural borderline will bring.
Planning a Border Planting
Planning Border Planting - Step 1
To plan out your new border, grab your drawing supplies and a basic diagram of your current yard. Secure that base diagram underneath a tracing-paper overlay. On the overlay, draw a diagram of the area that will become the tree and shrub border or bed.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Planning Border Planting - Step 2
With dotted lines, note any spots of shade cast across the planting area by nearby structures or existing trees. (Remember that shadows change as the day passes.)
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Planning Border Planting - Step 3
Mark the planting location of each tree at half its recommended spacing from other trees and any structures. Keeping scale in mind, draw a circle depicting each tree’s mature width.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Planning Border Planting - Step 4
On a second tissue overlay, estimate the shade areas cast by the new trees, using dotted lines and colored pencils. Note where full-sun, partial-sun and shady sites exist in the planting bed.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Planning Border Planting - Step 5
Place the tissue between the base diagram and your planting plan. Mark the planting location of each shrub, then draw circles depicting their mature spread.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Planning Border Planting - Step 6
Add a legend with the species, variety and quantity needed for each plant. Make a photocopy of the finished plan to consult when picking plants at the garden center.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
