What is Evergreen hedging?
An evergreen hedge is a dense row of bushes, shrubs or small trees that maintain their foliage year-round rather than shedding leaves in autumn. This provides privacy, boundary delineation, and wind protection during all four seasons. Unlike deciduous hedging plants that go dormant and lose their leaves in winter, evergreen hedges keep their dense green leaves in every season. This persists through even the harshest winters, continuing to act as an effective garden border, screen, or ornamental feature. Popular evergreen varieties for UK hedging include
- Cherry Laurel
- Portugese Laurel
- Green Privet
- Griselinia
- Boxwood
- English Holly
- Lonicera
- Photinia ‘Red Robin’
- Yew
– Cherry Laurel- Griselinia- Holly- Hornbeam- Lonicera- Privet- Yew. The key characteristics that make these plants perfect for evergreen garden hedging are:- Year-round foliage- Leaves persist through winter frosts and snow.- Hardiness- Withstand winter chill and coastal exposure.- Dense growth- Foliage grows thickly to provide maximum privacy.- Responds to pruning and shaping- Hedge can be clipped neatly into formal shapes.When planted properly with correct care, evergreen hedges make striking, low-maintenance additions to any landscape.
Best Species for UK Evergreen Hedging.
When choosing plants for evergreen garden hedging, it’s important to select varieties suited to the climate, soil and space available in your location.The right shrubs will provide year-round privacy, define boundaries, and look lush with minimal care.Here are some top species that flourish superbly as hedges across the UK.
Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Rotundifolia’)
Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Rotundifolia’) is known for its lush, dense growth perfect for privacy screening, Cherry laurel is an extremely popular evergreen choice in the UK & Ireland:
- Produces plentiful dense dark green leaves all year long
- Withstands wind, salt spray, pollution – great for coastal areas
- Can be trimmed multiple times per year to shape and achieve thicker hedge
- Grows quickly up to 4-6m tall if unpruned
- Provides habitat and food for bees and birds
For an exceptionally hardy, fast-growing hedge guaranteed to offer privacy in every season, opt for Cherry laurel.
Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica Angustifolia)
Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica Angustifolia) With its large, glossy green leaves, the Portuguese laurel grows vigorously to create tall, dense privacy hedges.If you seek a fast-growing evergreen hedge, Portuguese laurel is an excellent option:
- Fast growing evergreen suitable for quick, tall screening
- Responds very well to pruning for shape and thickness
- Pruning at least once a year promotes dense foliage from the ground up
- Provides lush foliage and small white flowers
Portuguese laurel is ideal for an evergreen hedge guaranteed to fill out speedily on any suitable site.
Green Privet (Ligustrum Ovalifolium)
Green Privet (Ligustrum Ovalifolium) A classic hedging staple across Britain, privet offers unmatched hardiness and dense foliage:- Extremely tough – handles heavy pruning, drought, wind, shade, and salt spray- Grows densely to provide superb screening within a year- Foliage emerges early spring and persists all through winter- Needs frequent trimming (up to 3x yearly) for best hedge form- Ideal choice for tight budgets – very inexpensive for the qualityWhen you need a hardy, no-fuss hedge that tolerates almost any condition, choose prolific privet.
Griselinia (Griselinia littoralis)
Griselinia (Griselinia littoralis) An option with ornamental appeal, Griselinia makes a picturesque coastal hedge:- Features large, leathery magnolia-like leaves with purple stems- Tolerates salt spray, wind exposure and sandy/rocky soil- Likes full sun but accepts some shade- Requires clipping 1-2 times per year to shape as desired- Provides nectar for bees and butterfliesFor charm combined with resilience to all weather, Griselinia satisfies.
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)The classic boxwood hedge is a classic choice for formal, decorative hedging.It offers formal, ornamental & elegant style with neat, small leaves on a compact shrub.Benefits:- Provides excellent evergreen screening or ornamental garden edges- Tolerates almost any soil type, from clay to sandy, acidic to alkaline- Slow growing to a mature height of 3-4m tall , so stays tidy without frequent trimming- Responds very well to close clipping into geometric shapes- Retains leaves in winter for uninterrupted evergreen screeningIt’s no wonder neatly trimmed boxwood hedges have been prized in British gardens for centuries.
Lonicera (Lonicera nitida)
Lonicera (Lonicera nitida) Also known as evergreen honeysuckle, Lonicera impresses with arching form and abundant blooms:- Dense, bushy foliage transforms to hedge when pruned- Features extremely fragrant white or cream flowers- Needs clipping back every year after flowering- Works nicely along fences or trellises too- Top choice for pollinators – bees and butterflies flock to itBring sweet aromas and beauty to your garden year-round with Lonicera as a flowering hedge.
Photinia ‘Red Robin’
Photinia ‘Red Robin’ Valued for its vivid foliage, Photinia ‘Red Robin’ makes a dramatic addition to any garden:- Features deep red new leaves that mellow to green as they age- Retains foliage all winter for sustained colour contrast- Grows fairly rapidly to 6m tall and 4m wide when mature- Tolerates various soil types and humidity- Works very well pruned into strong hedgingWith brilliant colour and ability to shape up nicely, Red Robin Photinia is a unique choice over plain green shrubs.
English Holly
English Holly No list of hedging plants would be complete without the iconic English Holly:- Classic glossy, spiny-edged leaves signal holiday spirit- Bright red berries add winter colour if a male plant is also grown- Naturally dense growth needs little trimming into tight hedging- Deer/rabbit resistant due to prickly foliage- Provides shelter, nest sites and food for birdsEnglish Holly makes a nostalgic, wildlife friendly option for low maintenance hedges and screens year-round.
Preparing the Planting Site
Proper preparation of the planting area is key to ensure evergreen hedge plants establish successfully:Site Evaluation- Dig test holes at hedge location to evaluate drainage and soil quality- Improve poorly draining soil with compost or gravel- Take a soil sample to determine pH and nutrient levels- Choose plants suited to site conditionsRemove Obstacles- Clear away any grass, weeds or debris- Eliminate buried pipes/cables that could obstruct roots- Level ground or slope gently to deter soil erosionMark Layout- Mark clearly where hedge is to be planted- Use string line and stakes for straight line- Space markings according to final plant spacingDig Planting Pit or Trench- Pit should be 2x width of root ball- Depth so root flare sits level with ground- Break up sides so roots can penetrate soilAfter preparing the site, you can move ahead confidently with installing your evergreen hedge.
Planting Evergreen Hedges
Once your site is prepared, it’s time to plant your evergreen hedge:Set Plastic or Wire Barriers (optional)- Install vertical plastic or wire barriers edge-to-edge along planting line- Prevents invasive surface roots from emergingSpace the hedging plants properly as advised.- Refer to our product description for each species to get specific advice on plant spacingSoil Mix for Backfilling:- 50/50 mix of existing topsoil and compost/peat moss- Remove air pockets as you backfillWater thoroughly after planting- Water deeply until moisture penetrates entire root zone- Continue daily watering for first week- Reduce frequency thereafter if soil stays moderately moistWith the hedge planted properly, the plants can focus their energy on establishment & root development before forming lush, thick growth above ground.
Ongoing Maintenance
To keep evergreen hedges looking good and in a healthy state in the long run, consider the following things:Pruning Advice- Trim off only light new growth in early summer- Never trim into older bare wood- Use sharp bypass hand pruners for precisionMaintenance- Boxwoods: Clip into formal shapes before new growth emerges- Laurels: Prune back wayward branches in early spring- Always cut back to just above a leaf nodeApply Organic Fertilizer- Top dress with compost or organic fertilizer each spring- Slow release feeds steadily for months- Boosts recovery from winter stressWater During Drought- Deep water every 7-10 days during hot, dry periods- Prioritize newly planted hedges- Install drip irrigation for low maintenanceWatch for Pests and Diseases- Check regularly for common problems- Treat quickly when detected- Promote vigor through proper careWith some routine care, evergreen hedges will remain thick, and strong and will do their valuable job for many years to come.
What is the point in making great food if you can’t serve it in style?
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
- Stick to posting schedules that work
- Giveaways are a great way to get people into your community
- Look into your insights to see when your audience is active on Instagram
- Always be clear on what your CTA is
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Viverra aliquet eget sit amet. At ultrices mi tempus imperdiet nulla. Arcu dui vivamus arcu felis bibendum ut. Arcu cursus euismod quis viverra nibh. Cursus vitae congue mauris rhoncus. Faucibus ornare suspendisse sed nisi lacus sed viverra.
John Doe
At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga.
Handmade serving spoon sets.
- Remain Top of Mind
- Be Seen to Sell
- Learn Something New
At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus.
Bibendum est ultricies integer quis. Risus quis varius quam quisque id diam vel. Lorem mollis aliquam ut porttitor leo a diam sollicitudin. At tempor commodo ullamcorper a. Faucibus scelerisque eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien nec. Aliquet bibendum enim facilisis gravida neque convallis. In hendrerit gravida rutrum quisque.