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Ask a Gardening QuestionGardening Questions & Answers: How to garden questionsEvergreen as a fence

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Evergreen as a fence

#1 · 23rd September 2023, 3:24 pm

Hello all!
hope you are enjoying a bit of Sep sun!

I’m planning to plant evergreen (probably thuja) to cover a fence.
Ideally, it should not go beyond 2.5-3m high.
I am reading about composting when planting, and the space between the trees. It seems thuja can be a good fence plant as it grows quite thick, while maintaining relatively shallow roots.
is there anything I should keep in mind ?
I have to admit, I am a bit overwhelmed with a variety of plants and types of thuja alone. Any advice on which one is the easiest to maintain ?

The photo to illustrate the area where I’m going to plant it.

thank you!
Yvonne

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#2 · 25th September 2023, 2:47 pm

Hi @yvonne

Good question about what to plant in that bed as a hedge. I'll be honest I think Thuja may be the wrong plant species, given how much water they tend to suck out the soil and the trickiness of pruning them without cutting back into old dead wood and rendering them brown and ugly! (See more on Conifer pruning here)

I think you'll just end up with a very thick heavy fence that's a pain to prune and not very useful for wildlife.

I'd opt for a mixed native hedge that can be hard-pruned and will form a beautiful mix of wildlife-friendly shrubs without needing too much attention. They're cheap and fast-growing as a bare root hedge available to order in the winter.

Have a look here for more hedge advice.