Basics of Hedging

Creating Natural Boundaries and Beauty

June 01, 2025

Hedges do more than mark boundaries—they add structure, privacy, and year-round interest to your garden. Whether you’re after a formal look or a soft, wildlife-friendly screen, planting a hedge is a smart and sustainable way to shape your landscape.
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Why Plant a Hedge?

•    Privacy: A living fence offers a beautiful and effective barrier between properties.
•    Windbreak: Dense hedging helps protect your garden and home from strong winds.
•    Noise Reduction: Thick, leafy hedges can dampen road noise better than many manmade barriers.
•    Wildlife Habitat: Birds and beneficial insects love the shelter and food native hedges can provide.
•    Curb Appeal: From neat boxwood rows to flowering shrubs, hedges add visual polish.
 
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Top Hedge Plants for New Brunswick

Here are some excellent hedging choices that thrive in our local climate (zones 4–5):

Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)

 Evergreen, fast-growing, great for privacy screens.

Boxwood (Buxus spp.) 

– Classic and tidy, perfect for formal low hedges.

Dogwood (Cornus sericea) 

Deciduous with striking red stems in winter.

Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) 

Deciduous and fragrant, a flowering hedge favorite.

Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) 

active and ornamental with textured bark.

Yew (Taxus spp.) 

Dense, evergreen, and easy to prune into shape.

Spirea 

Small, colourful, and pollinator-friendly.
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Tips for Successful Hedging
  1. Plan Your Spacing: Give plants room to grow into their mature size.
     
  2. Prepare the Soil: Mix compost and ensure proper drainage.
     
  3. Water Deeply: Especially during the first season as roots establish.
     
  4. Mulch Generously: Helps retain moisture and suppress weeds.
     
  5. Prune with Purpose: Shape your hedge once or twice a year to encourage fullness. Avoid over-pruning during bird nesting season.
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Let It Grow with You

Whether you’re outlining a garden path or creating a backyard retreat, a hedge is a living investment that only gets better with time. At Scott’s Nursery, we carry a wide selection of hedge-ready shrubs and evergreens—and we’re happy to help you choose the perfect plants for your space.

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