Forgoing the conventional metal, vinyl, plastic or wood and choosing shrubs for your fence gives your landscape a raise of greenery. When choosing which kind of tree to plant as a living fence, consider the requirements of the area. For instance, if the tree will grow in shade, plant shade-loving shrubs. If you would like flowers it is possible to cut from the tree, select a species that creates stunning flowers.
Flowering Deciduous Shrubs
Even though deciduous shrubs lose their foliage as the cooler weather sets in, several species still make a good seasonal fence. When the leaves of the Cherry Dazzle crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia “Gamad I”) initial emerge, they’re bronze in colour. As the shrubs matures, the leaves change into a dark green and can turn stunning shades of reddish-purple in autumn. In the summer, masses of vibrant red blooms appear. Cherry Dazzle grows to about 3 to 5 feet tall in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9. Oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) have an old-fashion cottage-like overall look and are a good choice for fences and hedging. They climb in USDA zones 5 to 9, reaching heights between 6 and 8 feet tall. Oakleaf hydrangeas create large conical clusters of small white flowers that may be cut out from the tree and utilized in floral arrangements.
Evergreen Shrubs
Evergreen shrubs are a good choice for fencing that keeps its foliage throughout the whole year. Camellias (Camellia furfuracea) are a winter-blooming evergreen shrub producing white flowers in December through March. These 6-to-9-foot-tall plants grows in USDA zones 8 through 10. The blooms of the camellia are its leaves have a leathery texture and glossy sheen. Many species of the boxwood are a frequent option for evergreen fence. “Green Mountain” boxwood (Buxus x “Green Mountain”) is one such variety that offers a compact hedge or fence for your yard. It grows to about 5 feet tall in USDA zones 4 through 9. “Green Mountain” grows at a cone-like form and is resistant to deer.
Shrubs for Full Sun
Shrubs that thrive in full sunlight are ideal for fencing that will receive at least 8 hours of light every day. “Afterglow” winterberry (Ilex verticillata “Afterglow”) is a 3-to-6-foot-tall deciduous tree which grows well as a hedge or edge at USDA zones 3 through 9. “Afterglow” has deep green leaves that change to shades of yellow in the autumn. Orange-red ornamental berries will generally last through winter and bring birds. “Afterglow” grows in full sun but can tolerate partial shade and soggy soils. “Barbeque” rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis “Barbeque”) is a 2-to-6-foot-tall evergreen shrub that may be picked and used as a culinary herb. “Barbeque” grows in bright areas in USDA zones 8 through 10. Its needle-like foliage is highly aromatic its creates blue to purple flowers in the summer.
Shrubs for Color
Shade-loving shrubs may thrive in dim locations while other plants cannot. Korean azaleas (Rhododendron yedoense var. Poukhanense) develop in full or partial shade in USDA zones 4 through 9. It may reach heights involving 3-to-6 feet tall and produces fragrant purple, pink or lavender flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. This shade-loving, flowering hedge is resistant to rabbits. “Variegatus” aralia (Eleutherococcus sieboldianus “Variegatus”) grows in either full or partial shade and tolerates dry soil and drought conditions. It is located in USDA zones 4 through 9 with heights of 6-to-8 feet tall. This deciduous tree has green leaf that’s edged in creamy white and might create black ornamental berries if pollinated properly.
