Introduction

Learn how to grow a living fence from this living fence guide. A living fence, also known as a green fence or hedge is a type of barrier made up of plants, usually grown closely together. Unlike traditional fencing materials such as wood or metal, a living fence is made up of living plants, providing a natural and environmentally friendly alternative. They can serve multiple functions: defining property lines, adding privacy, blocking wind or noise, enhancing landscape aesthetics, providing shade, and even offering a habitat for wildlife. Examples of plants commonly used for living fences include hawthorn, privet, and boxwood. The type of plant selected often depends on the climate, soil conditions, desired height and thickness of the fence, and the specific needs and preferences of the homeowner.

Importance and Benefits of a Living Fence

Living fences bring a multitude of benefits that contribute to their importance in modern landscaping. First and foremost, they are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fencing. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, making them a boon for the local environment. They also contribute to biodiversity, offering a habitat for various species of birds, insects, and small mammals.

From an aesthetic viewpoint, living fences can enhance the beauty of your landscape, providing a vibrant, natural look that can’t be replicated with man-made materials. They change with the seasons, offering an ever-evolving display of blossoms, foliage, and color.

In terms of practicality, living fences can provide robust windbreaks, reducing wind speed and minimizing damage during storms. They also provide effective noise barriers, reducing traffic or neighborhood noise. Lastly, with proper care and maintenance, living fences can last for many years, even outliving traditional fences, which can make them a cost-effective solution in the long run.

Suitable Species for a Woven or Hedge Living Fence

1. Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna): This is a popular choice for living fences due to its dense growth, hardy nature, and decorative appeal from its white blossoms in spring and red berries in autumn. It provides excellent shelter for wildlife and is quite resilient to various weather conditions. However, it’s important to note that Hawthorn has thorns, which can make it less suitable for households with small children or pets.
2. Privet (Ligustrum Vulgare): Privet is renowned for its fast growth rate, making it an ideal choice for homeowners who want a living fence in a short time. It flaunts abundant small white flowers during summer, which are followed by black berries. This species can tolerate heavy pruning, allowing you to control its size and shape effectively. However, Privet may require regular maintenance to keep it looking neat and to prevent it from becoming invasive.
3. Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens): This species is celebrated for providing a thick, evergreen barrier, making it ideal for privacy purposes. Boxwood is versatile and can be easily shaped into various forms and styles. It’s also slow-growing, which means less maintenance in terms of trimming. However, Boxwood can be susceptible to certain pests and diseases, so regular health checks are important.
4. Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa): Blackthorn, also known as sloe, is a fantastic option for a living fence. Renowned for its robust nature and resilience to weather extremes, it offers a year-round dense barrier due to its thick, thorny branches. The Blackthorn bursts into a stunning display of white blossoms in early spring, followed by dark, edible berries in the autumn. These features not only enhance aesthetic appeal but also provide a haven for local wildlife. However, similar to Hawthorn, its thorns may pose a concern for households with young children or pets.
5. Leyland Cypress (Cupressus × leylandii): The Leyland Cypress is admired for its rapid growth and dense foliage, providing quick privacy. It’s also evergreen, ensuring year-round coverage. However, it’s worth noting that this species can grow very tall if not regularly pruned.
6. Willow (Salix): With its iconic drooping branches and vibrant green leaves, Willow can create a unique and picturesque living fence. Besides aesthetic appeal, Willows grow rapidly and adapt well to most soil types. However, they do require a significant amount of water to thrive. For the purposes of a living fence, you want Salix koriyanagi. or hybrid willow not weeping willow.
7. Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos): Known for its bright, fern-like foliage and tolerance to different environmental conditions, Honey Locust is a sturdy option for a living fence. The tree also produces attractive clusters of fragrant white flowers in the spring.
8. Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus): Blackberry bushes can form a dense, thorny barrier, making them a good choice for a living fence that also yields delicious fruit. They require little maintenance and can thrive in diverse soil conditions. However, they can spread aggressively if not properly managed.
9. Apple (Malus domestica): An apple tree fence not only provides privacy but also offers the benefit of an annual fruit harvest. These trees can be pruned to maintain a desired shape and size. However, they do require a fair bit of care to prevent pests and diseases.
10. Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera): This tree species is known for its robust and thorny nature, making it an excellent choice for a living fence. It grows fast and is highly resistant to different weather conditions. However, the large, inedible fruit it produces requires cleaning up.

Positioning of Plants

The positioning of the plants heavily depends on the type of soil and the amount of sunlight they require. For instance, while Blackberry bushes and Honey Locust trees are adaptable to diverse soil conditions, Apple trees require well-draining soil to prevent root diseases. On the other hand, most of these plants, including Willow, Honey Locust and Osage Orange, prefer full sunlight to thrive. Therefore, the positioning should ideally allow for maximum sunlight exposure. However, Apple trees can also tolerate partial shade. Hence, these trees could be positioned in areas with less sunlight. Always remember, understanding your garden’s soil type and sunlight exposure is critical in planning the positioning of your living fence.

The importance of space for plant growth in a living fence cannot be overstated. Just as humans need room to move and grow, plants need sufficient space to effectively spread their roots and branches. Overcrowding can result in weak, spindly plants as they compete for sunlight, water, and nutrients. Therefore, when planning your living fence, consider the mature size of the plants and space them accordingly. For instance, Osage Orange trees, known for their robust growth, will need more space compared to Blackberry bushes. Adequate space not only ensures healthy growth but also contributes to the overall aesthetics of the living fence. Remember, a living fence should be a harmonious blend of functionality, beauty, and nature.

Plant species differ significantly in their needs and preferences for optimal growth. Thus, understanding the nature of each plant species you intend to use in your living fence is vital.

• Blackberry Bushes: Thriving in diverse soil conditions, the versatile Blackberry bushes are ideal for corners or areas with less-than-ideal soil. However, always remember that they require full sunlight to flourish. They can be paired with medium-height trees that don’t completely block the sun’s rays.
• Honey Locust Trees: Adaptable and sun-loving, these trees should be positioned where they can receive maximum sunlight. They are robust and can thrive in various soil conditions, making them ideal for areas of your living fence where soil might be less fertile.
• Apple Trees: Requiring well-draining soil and partial to full sunlight, Apple trees are less versatile. They should ideally be positioned in areas with fertile, well-draining soil and less shade, perhaps on the fringe of your living fence.
• Willow and Osage Orange: Both of these species prefer full sunlight. Willow trees can tolerate wetter soils, making them a good choice near water bodies. The robust Osage Orange trees need more space to grow, so they should be positioned further apart in your living fence.

Please note the above recommendations should be adapted according to your local climate and conditions, as each plant’s tolerance and adaptability can vary with geographical location.

Benefits of Interplanting for a Living Fence

Interplanting provides numerous benefits for a living fence. Firstly, it enhances the diversity of the ecosystem, making it more resilient to pests and diseases. Secondly, the practice of interplanting can create a symbiotic relationship between plants, where the growth of one species can benefit others nearby. This can lead to improved growth rates and overall health of the plants in your living fence. Lastly, interplanting can maximize the use of your space, allowing for a greater number of species in your living fence, thus enhancing its aesthetic appeal and functionality.

Suitable Plant Combinations for Interplanting in a Living Fence

• Willow and Honey Locust: The synergy between willow and honey locusts makes them an excellent combination for a living fence. Willow trees, known for their adaptability to wet soils and full sunlight, can flourish alongside honey locust trees, which are famed for their tolerance to a range of soil conditions and resistance to drought. The honey locust, with its deciduous nature, allows sunlight during winter, benefitting the willow’s need for full sunlight. These trees, when interplanted, can provide an impenetrable and robust living fence, while also contributing to soil fertility, as the honey locust is known to fix nitrogen in the soil. Remember to provide ample space for these trees to grow to ensure a healthy and thriving living fence.
• Blackthorn and Willow: This pairing also makes a good choice for a living fence. Blackthorn, also known as ‘sloe’, is a hardy species that can withstand harsh conditions and add a protective layer to your living fence due to its dense, thorny branches. The spiky foliage offers an excellent deterrent against intruders, whilst also providing food and shelter for wildlife. On the other hand, willow trees with their swift growth rate and adaptability to various types of soils and climates, can provide the living fence with height and breadth. Their lush, green foliage can complement the blackthorn’s white blossoms in spring and dark sloe berries in autumn, creating an aesthetically pleasing and robust living fence throughout the year. Just as with the previous interplanting combination, ensure that you provide enough space for both species to develop properly and coexist harmoniously.

Planting Patterns

• Single Row: The simplest and most common planting pattern involves planting the trees in a straight line. This pattern is best suited to landscapes with less space or for those looking to create a slender, unobtrusive barrier. Despite its simplicity, a single row of sturdy, dense foliage can offer significant protection and privacy.

• Double Row: As the name suggests, this pattern involves planting two parallel rows of trees. This pattern is ideal for creating a thicker, more robust living fence. The trees in the second row are typically planted in the gaps between the trees in the first row, creating a fuller barrier and increasing the living fence’s overall strength and resilience.

• Zig-Zag: This pattern involves planting trees in a zig-zag formation, which provides a more visually interesting and complex structure for the living fence. The zig-zag pattern can create a denser fence without requiring more trees than a single row. It also helps to create a more natural appearance, as the irregular pattern more closely mimics the non-linear growth of trees in nature. This pattern can be particularly effective for living fences intended to provide a habitat for wildlife, as it creates a variety of spaces and environments within the fence itself.

• Woven: The woven pattern is an intricate and time-intensive design, but it results in a highly unique and visually striking living fence. To create a woven living fence, trees are planted in rows, and their branches are intertwined while still young and flexible. As the trees grow and mature, this interweaving of branches creates a dense, unyielding barrier that is as aesthetically appealing as it is functional. This pattern is particularly suited to species with pliable branches and a rapid growth rate. Be prepared for ongoing maintenance, as the woven pattern requires regular pruning and training of the branches to maintain its form and density.

• Diamond: The diamond pattern is another visually appealing and effective design for a living fence. In this scenario, trees are planted in a diagonal grid to form diamond-shaped spaces between them. As they grow, the trees fill in these gaps, creating a dense, interlocking pattern that provides excellent privacy and wind protection. This layout can be particularly advantageous for smaller spaces since it maximizes the use of available land. Additionally, it adds an element of architectural interest to the landscape. However, similar to the woven pattern, a diamond-patterned living fence might need consistent maintenance to preserve its structure and visual impact.

Conclusion

In summary, growing a living fence involves key steps such as choosing a suitable pattern, planting, and maintenance. The pattern can vary from layered, woven, to diamond, each offering unique aesthetic and practical benefits. It’s essential to select tree species that align with the chosen design and the specific needs of your landscape. Once planted, regular maintenance is crucial to ensure the fence maintains its desired shape and density. This may involve pruning, training branches, or filling in gaps as the trees grow. Remember, a living fence is not just a boundary marker or privacy screen, but a living, growing entity that requires consistent care and attention. This commitment to regular upkeep will ensure your living fence remains healthy, visually appealing, and serves its purpose effectively.