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Canberra Today 14°/16° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Gardening / Hedges with a splash of colour

 

Beautiful flowers of Pineapple guava, ideal as a hedge.
Beautiful flowers of Pineapple guava, ideal as a hedge.
HEDGES don’t have to appear a boring exhibition of varying shades of green with no or few flowers.

The run-of-the-mill hedges are Viburnum laurustinus (P. tinus). The most common variety, Photinia robusta, does have a mass of clusters of small white flowers that smell rather revolting. Then there is a variety of Pittosporums, originating in NZ and a range of conifers, most of which grow far too large for the average garden.

Hedges define boundaries, make great windbreaks, screen neighbours’ ugly sheds or hide ugly neighbouring houses and autumn is an ideal time to plant them.

When planting any type of hedge, whether a small Buxus or a tall hedge, always dig a trench, which will allow the roots to spread out sideways giving considerably faster growth rather than having to fight their way out of small, round holes.

For small box hedges plant about 30cm apart. For large hedges, plant 75-90cm apart. If the ground is very hard, particularly with clay, consider using the Multicrop liquid Ground Breaker, we have used this with amazing results.

Callistemon "Endeavour" makes a bold flowering hedge, as does C. “Western Glory”. Alternatively, a colour other than red, is C. “Burgundy Jack”.
Callistemon “Endeavour” makes a bold flowering hedge, as does C. “Western Glory”. Alternatively, a colour other than red, is C. “Burgundy Jack”.
HERE are some suggestions for taller hedges with flowers:

  • Feijoa sellowiana, or pineapple guava, not only does it have the most delightful flowers but delicious fruit, which can be eaten fresh or as a topping on ice cream and other desserts. Feijoa can grow to 2m-3m or clipped to just a metre tall.
  • There is a great range of Callistemons or bottle brush that can easily be trained into a formal hedge. It is always recommended to dead-head Callistemon after flowering.
  • You cannot go wrong with Camellia sasanqua, with possibly the best one for its density and flowers in C.s. “Hiryu”, although with its popularity it is often sold out in garden centres once it comes into flower. C.s. “Plantation Pink” can also be used as a hedge.
  • For a really fragrant hedge consider Osmanthus “Heaven Sent”, which can be kept to one metre tall or allowed to grow two metres plus. Its tempting description is: “The deep green foliage sets off the white tubular flowers, which have an amazing perfume. The flowers are borne in clusters all along the many branches, making a dramatic display from mid-winter to late spring.”
  • Another flowering shrub ideal for hedges is Abelia grandiflora. There is a good example of this growing in Novar Street, Yarralumla, where it is kept to a metre high. I have seen other examples growing as a dense hedge to two metres or more. With its pale pink blooms, it flowers most of the year.

There are examples of native plants that can be used, but many of them don’t take to continuous hard pruning into a hedge.

THE Horticultural Society of Canberra meets at the Wesley Church Centre, National Circuit, Forrest, 7.30pm, on Monday, May 18. Elizabeth and Bob Smith will speak on chrysanthemums. All welcome.

Jottings…

  • As with all autumn planting, water the plants in with Multicrop Seaweed Plant Nutrient. This specifically encourages strong root growth and can reduce the effect of frost on plants.
  • It is time to divide rhubarb, especially if it has been growing in the one spot for a long time.
  • It is advisable to think of either a new sunny site for strawberries or completely replace the existing soil with fresh soil and compost and/or add cow manure. Strawberries should be replanted every three years for full cropping. Always buy virus-free runners and although well-meaning friends may offer you some runners, politely decline.
  • I need to correct my article on magnolias in the last edition. I’m informed that Mark Jury followed in his father Felix’s footsteps with breeding magnolias. It was Mark who hybridized both Magnolia Felix and Magnolia “Black Tulip”.

 

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Cedric Bryant

Cedric Bryant

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