I have never been a natural gardener. For years, I struggled to keep basic houseplants alive, only to kill them at the first opportunity. It was difficult and stressful to buy a home with a yard, but I knew that I might be able to learn what I was doing wrong and correct the problem. To start off, I focused heavily on the lawn, and tried hard to keep it trimmed and well-maintained. Next, I cleaned up the flowerbeds. It was a lot of work, but I knew that it would pay off in the end. When I was done, my front yard was gorgeous, and guess what--it even stayed alive. This blog is all about loving your little landscape.
Hedging can make your landscape much more stylish while also adding definition to the hardscaping of your yard. You can plant hedges that will cover the exposed concrete of your home foundation. Similarly, you can plant a hedge along the pathway to add a little style to a pathway. The best type of hedge plants are those that can be sculpted, require little water and are easy to keep up. This article explains the characteristics of Japanese boxwoods and American holly. These are two great hedge plants that can be used for all types of hedges.
Japanese Boxwood
Japanese boxwood is a very popular species of plant for hedging. It thrives in well-drained soil. It is an evergreen plants that can survive in most climates with very little TLC. Best of all, it has very thick foliage and is very easily sculpted. Homeowners love the distinct leaf shape and white blossoms on Japanese boxwood. As the name implies, it is a bush that can be sculpted into a perfect box shape with defined edges. Since it is so slow growing, it is easy to keep healthy and maintain the hedge shape with handheld pruners. No need to hire professionals or use electrical trimmers.
American Holly
American holly plants have many of the same characteristics as Japanese boxwood. It is also an evergreen that requires very little maintenance or watering. It generally has a rounder shape than boxwood. Many people think of Christmas when they think of holly plants. Of course, it has the distinct leave shapes and red blossoms that most people identify with the holiday season. The waxy leaves of holly plants are easier to clean up and won't stain your concrete pathways. It remains a very useful and practical hedge plant for all types of landscaping. Certain species of America holly can grow to be over head high, but most homeowners choose smaller, slower growing species. Hollies of all sizes can survive in most seasons and climates.
These two plants are very similar, require the same amount of water and upkeep. So, when it comes to making the decision for the best head to plant for your property, you should base it off the look that you prefer. Boxwood is a little sicker and more architectural when sculpted. Holly plants probably look better with slightly more rounded edges. So, choose the plant that works best with your current landscaping and personal aesthetic from a local landscape supply outlet.
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