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Hollies or other plants for hedges
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Posted by MichiganJen z5 Michigan (My Page) on Thu, Feb 24, 05 at 17:09
| Hello!
I live in central Michigan (near Lansing).
I really like the look of holly, and am thinking of using one of the hardy Blue Hollies (Ilex x meserveae) for a hedge. How fussy are they about acidity? (Mid-Michigan is not considered acidic) How many years would it take to get a 6-8' tall hedge? And how far apart would they need to be planted?
Thanks,
Jennifer |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Hollies or other plants for hedges
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| Not fussy at all about pH, in my experience. I have several planted as foundation plants. Also, I had soil tested elsewhere in my garden, and it is around 7.1 Can't help you on size... I suspect it depends on the cultivar - I keep mine trimmed to about 4 feet (they're under windows). Beth - Z5 MI near Traverse City |
RE: Hollies or other plants for hedges
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- Posted by doniki z5/6 NE Ohio (My Page) on
Thu, Feb 24, 05 at 18:05
Jennifer-
Blue hollies make a really nice hedge and are not particular too particular about PH. I have 14 growing in a hedge across the foundation of the front of the house... They are spaced about 4-6feet apart and have made a nice hedge within the past 7 years. They were originally in 5 gallon containers and about 2-3 feet tall. I've let them grow together and kept them looking natural... Great hedge plant. Remember: the males go a long way, not as many needed as females... go for the berries. |
RE: Hollies or other plants for hedges
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| Thanks for your reponses! :) I think we're around 7 also, so it's good to know that pH won't be a limiting factor. Doniki, how tall has your hedge grown in 7 years? Do you think a 6'-8' privacy hedge is possible, or will I be waiting forever? At 8' height, about how wide will the hedge be at its base? I also prefer a natural look without too much pruning... |
RE: Hollies or other plants for hedges
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- Posted by doniki z5/6 NE Ohio (My Page) on
Thu, Feb 24, 05 at 22:09
| The hedge that I have is between 3-4 feet high, only because I severely pruned them about 4 years ago to give them a more natural shape... When the landscaper put them in, they took on a "boxy" shape and didn't look too natural. I cut them back into bare wood.. and wow within a couple of months that summer they put on about 16-20 inches of growth. The males seem to be a bit more vigorous than the females for some reason. But the females are so pretty, especially in the winter when they are full of berries. If you buy good sized plants, and you give them a year or two to establish themselves, you can easily have an 8ft. hedge... I've seen a few around town, untrimmed, that are easily 8-10ft. Blue hollies are bushier than American holly, which are more upright growing, so they can at maturity be 8ft wide or better. Mine are spaced about 5 ft apart and are touching, but not in the sense that they are a "dense" hedge. I always fertilize with holly tone in April, which they seem to respond to very well. |
RE: Hollies or other plants for hedges
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| Holly tone is a Great all natural feed. All Espoma products are good. Hollies will make a nice attractive hedge, You plant one male for two females. Hollies can get as wide as they do tall, but grooming can keep them into your preferred shapes. They can grow 1 to 2 feet a year. When pruning hedge shape, always make sure it is wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. this allows sun to reach the whole bush and helps to prevent thinning out at the base or trunk of the plants.
Also allows for excess water run off. Ron In GR MI |
Here is a link that might be useful: Backyard Birding Tips
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