Hedge plants really shouldn't be an afterthought. While they might be a little unglamorous or less showy than dahlias or poppies or peonies, hedge plants are the backbone of any garden, typically marking the perimeter of a yard. This should not be wasted space, and can in fact be a lush green canopy to offer privacy and security.
The good news is that there are many hedge plants that thrive on neglect, meaning they require little input from you, but still deliver in terms of foliage, flowers and structure. Take hawthorn, for example, which I have grown and cared for in gardens across both Italy and the UK. This low-maintenance species has spring blooms, dense green cover for much of the year, and often houses nesting birds – a real doer in the yard. A simple prune once or twice a year is all it takes to keep this hedge plant in check.
