Best plants for creating a hedge

Hedges provide a neat solution to many garden design problems, weaving magic as a privacy screen, windbreak or dividing wall.

Hedges not only look stately, they're also the best way to add privacy to your garden. Of course not all hedging plants were created equal, so it's wise to spend some time choosing the best species for your project. Consider the height you want, what suits your climate, growth rate, and attributes such as flowers, fruit, density, foliage color and hardiness.

 5 of the best plant species for Hedges

 1. Sasanqua camellia

Autumn-flowering sasanqua camellias have plenty to offer. The large, abundant blooms are available in every shade of pink, plus white and red, set against lustrous dark green foliage. Their naturally upright growth makes them ideal for hedges from 1.5m to 5m tall; use a dwarf variety for small hedges. They're not the fastest growers and are low maintenance as a result. They like rich, slightly acidic soil and sun to part shade.

2. Sweet viburnum

Sweet viburnum is much loved for its lush, large, bright-green leaves and super-speedy growth. But be warned, you'll need to clip it constantly in summer to keep it neat. A vigorous grower, it's best for 3-4m tall hedges. Look for the more compact form 'Dense Fence' or try Viburnum suspensum, which is a smaller variety.

3. Japanese box

Box is the classic formal hedge and for most parts of Australia, Japanese box is the best variety. It has glossy, green foliage with lime-green new growth and a moderate growth rate. In cold areas, use English box (Buxus sempervirens), which is darker, matt green and slower growing. Use box for short hedges up to 1m tall or in parterre designs. 'Faulkner' is an excellent compact variety of Japanese box. Plant three or four per metre.

4. Cascade lilly pilly

There are dozens of different lilly pillies but many are prone to pest problems. My pick is 'Cascade', not just for its robust performance and fast growth, but for its fat, pink powderpuff flowers in summer, its flushes of pink to crimson new growth and its masses of crimson berry fruit, which is suitable for jams and jellies. It has a gently weeping style of growing – lovely for an informal hedge or shaped into a topiary ball – and reaches about 3m tall in sun or part shade.

5. Murraya

Sometimes called orange jessamine, murraya has become one of our most popular hedges for all the right reasons. The glossy green leaves are small and dense, with perfumed white flowers as a bonus. Murraya grows quickly, in sun or part shade and in most soils, and resists most pests and diseases. Old hedges can be rejuvenated by hard pruning if needed. It's suitable for hedges from 1.5 to 4m tall.

Lawn Varieties in Australia

The type of grass picked for a lawn is an important decision to make, especially when considering the fact that different lawn types behave differently in certain weather conditions, and react differently to various levels of traffic and use.

These are the more common types of lawn grasses in Australia, and what differentiates them.

Kikuyu

Taking its name from the most populous ethnic group in Kenya (this grass’s native country), Kikuyu
grass is generally regarded as one of the more “vigorous” grasses, and also the most economical lawn. It loves a warmer climate, and thrives in full sun which makes it perfect for Australian homes; the downside of this is that it grows poorly in shady or poorly lit areas. It will regenerate quickly if worn out, which is why it’s often used for schools and sports fields.
The main problem with Kikuyu grass is that its fast-growing nature means that it can become invasive, requiring frequent mowing through the warmer parts of the year. Care must be taken to stop it from escaping the confines of your lawn and spreading to other parts of your home’s yard, or even crossing over to a neighbors yard.

 

 

 

Buffalo

Infamous for being incredibly irritating and scratchy, Buffalo grass has, over the last few years, come
into its own as a popular choice for lawns with the advent of “Soft Leaf Buffalo” grass types. These grasses, such as Sir Walter and Matilda Buffalo, can make for incredibly lush and soft lawns if maintained correctly. However that being said, an attractive feature of Buffalo grass is the fact that it’s rather durable, and easy to grow and maintain.
Buffalo grass does well in both summer and winter, and is adept at handling the extremes brought by all times of year. It also has self-repairing qualities, making it ideal for high-traffic situations such as a family yard. 

 

 

 

Couch 

A consistently popular grass with a number of popular sub-types (Queensland Blue, Santa Ana etc.),
Couch grass is an easy-going and cheaper grass which can make for a great-looking lawn when treated correctly. It holds up against wear and tear, and is capable of repairing itself rather quickly due to its vigorous underground runners. However these runners can also cause problems in regards to creeping into other non-lawn areas, so the areas adjacent to any Couch grass should be monitored carefully in order to avoid this.
Couch grass will stay relatively vibrant in all seasons, however care should be taken in warmer months to mow it regularly, and to fertilize and nourish it in colder months. Otherwise it may become patchy and unsightly.

 

 

 

Zoysia

A less popular grass in Australia historically speaking, Zoysia grass is starting to gain recognition as a viable and even attractive option for Australian lawns. It’s known for being incredibly soft, with no chance of irritating or scratching the skin. It also grows incredibly slowly, making it attractive for those who aren’t a huge fan of mowing. Slow growth also means that managing potential invasion of surrounding garden beds is made much easier.
Zoysia is an incredibly tough variety of grass, ideal for sports fields and schools. However its slow-growing nature means that if it does become damaged, it will take longer than other grasses to repair itself. Zoysia does well in all seasons; however it’s slightly more susceptible to browning if drought conditions arrive, and as mentioned previously, will recover much slower than other grasses.

 

 

 

Tall Fescue

Tall Fescue is a popular choice for “instant lawns”, which are when pre-grown grass is rolled out on top of soil or pre-existing grass. It’s an incredibly indiscriminate type of grass, being equally happy in
sun or shade, and being able to adapt to a wide range of soil conditions and climates. And the cherry on top is the fact that Tall Fescue has no runners, which means that it can’t invade surrounding garden beds or your neighbour’s yard.
Tall Fescue can cope with moderate levels of traffic, being relatively hardy and durable. However it’s not quite as durable as other grasses on this list, such as Zoysia and Kikuyu.

 

 

 

Hybrid Bermuda

Hybrid Bermuda grass are very fine in textures. While the improved common Bermuda varieties are good for lawns, the hybrid Bermuda grasses are popular for their sheer quality. The hybrid varieties are also insect and disease resistant. The sodded varieties are mainly created out of Hybrid Bermuda grass. They are dense and used to create lush green fine textured stretches. At lower heights, the hybrids need an extra care and maintenance to grow well.
Hybrid Bermuda grass also needs frequent fertilization and over-seeding management techniques with accurate irrigation and drying procedures.






When it comes down to it, you should pick a grass type based on what will work best with your yard. Take the levels of traffic and sunlight into account first, as they are arguably the most important factors to consider when deciding.