Screening and Hedging Plants Articles

Westringia, often known as native rosemary, is one of the true workhorses of the Australian landscape industry. Its tidy form, drought tolerance, and coastal hardiness have made it a go-to…

Syzygium (now including the previously-named Waterhousea and Acmena genera), often referred to as lilly pillies, are one of the most widely planted native genera in Australian landscapes. Used for hedging,…

Grevilleas are among the most versatile and widely used native plants in Australian landscaping. With their striking flowers, vast species diversity, and year-round flowering options, they’re a designer’s dream. But…

Callistemon, known commonly as bottlebrush, is a staple of Australian landscapes. Their vibrant, brush-like flowers and resilience in a range of conditions have made them popular in streetscapes, parks, and…

It’s not just hedges and climbers that can limit visibility. There are a number of strappy plants tall enough to provide decent screening of low-lying unsightly landscape elements like HVAC…

Looking for native Australian shrubs and hedges with striking foliage to enhance your landscape designs? Whether you’re looking for something short or tall, this article offers a list shrubs and…

Not all Westringias are the same. If Westringia ‘Wynyabbie Gem’ isn’t quite right for your needs, there are a number of reliable alternatives to consider for taller hedges, vibrant flowers,…

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably wondering whether you can leave your hedge clippings on the ground instead of trying to collect and remove them every single time (which…

If you’re searching for hardy climbing plants that offer beauty and practicality, these three Australian natives are excellent options. Straightup™ Hibbertia, Meema™ Hardenbergia, and Ozbreed Flat White™ Pandorea each bring…

Are you trying to figure out whether or not bottlebrush plants, belonging to the genus Callistemon, can tolerate wet periods? It would be easy if it were a simple ‘yes’…

Can westringias tolerate wet feet and root rot? The answer is usually ‘no,’ however there are two exceptional varieties that don’t play by the usual rules. Grey Box™ Westringia and…

What are the best hedging solutions for non-irrigated spaces? For landscape architects and designers, finding plants that thrive without supplementary watering can be a challenging—but not impossible—task. The right hedge…

Gardening in poorly drained areas, especially those with heavy clay soils in depressed areas, presents a unique set of challenges. Waterlogged soil can suffocate plant roots, while breeding root rot…

Are you looking for a list of lime-green hedges and screens to choose from? Lime-green tones offer a refreshing and vibrant touch to hedges and screens, making them a bold…

Sometimes, you need a small shrub or hedge that is a bit unusual compared with everything else you see around town. On the east coast of Australia, below QLD, that’s…

Are you looking for winter-flowering native shrubs and hedges? While winter may be quieter than the warmer months in the garden, it doesn’t mean a complete absence of life. Many…

Is your Viburnum hedge suffering from sap-suckers? Perhaps you’ve noticed a general decrease in vigour and you’re trying to work out what’s going wrong and how to fix it? Sap-sucking…

Have you heard the terms “hedge” and “screen” used in gardening and wondered if they mean the same thing? While they are closely related and often overlap, they are not…

Landscape architects use driveway hedges thoughtfully to blend practicality with aesthetic value, ensuring they serve as both functional barriers and visually pleasing elements. These slim and elegant green screens often…

Blue Tones: 5 Small to Medium Australian Shrubs with Bluish Foliage Are you looking for a small to medium shrub or hedge with blue-toned foliage? Whether you’re chasing grey-blue or…

Natives are great, but that doesn’t mean exotic hedges and screens don’t also have their place. Whether you’re looking for privacy, beauty or biodiversity, there’s an exotic hedge perfect for…

Introduction Are you looking for the ideal native screening plant for your next garden design, but you want to use something a bit different to the usual plants that everybody…

Introduction Are you looking for the perfect native screening plants that not only provide privacy but also support local pollinators? Native Australian plants are increasingly favoured by gardeners for their…

When considering the best compact Murraya for your garden, Sweet Privacy™ and ‘Min a Min’ stand out as two exceptional choices. Both offer unique advantages for those seeking slow-growing, low-maintenance…

Hedges are more than just attractive garden features; they can be used to effectively create and improve micro climates to foster a better growing environment for plants and a more…

Welcome to this expert-level masterclass on espaliering trees, where we will delve deeply into this sophisticated horticultural technique. Whether you’re training ornamentals or fruit bearers, espalier involves the precise training…

As water resources become increasingly scarce, particularly in drought-prone areas of Australia, it’s important to make conscientious gardening choices. Selecting low-water hedges not only conserves an essential resource but also…

As urbanisation continues to rise, the importance of wildlife corridors in maintaining biodiversity cannot be overstated. These corridors link fragmented habitats, allowing animals and insects to move safely between areas,…

Lilly pilly plants, known for their attractive foliage and vibrant berries, are a popular choice for gardens and landscapes. However, it’s not uncommon for gardeners to encounter issues with leaf…

Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia, boasts a humid subtropical climate characterised by hot, humid summers and mild, dry winters. This climatic condition significantly influences horticultural practices and landscape…

Have you ever wondered which hedge and screening plant varieties that landscape architects love in Sydney? And what makes them so special that our leading designers favour them? Sydney’s climate,…

Melbourne’s climate presents unique challenges and opportunities for specifying plants of all kinds, including screens and hedges. With a temperate climate characterised by four distinct seasons—hot, typically dryer summers, mild…

Selecting a hedge that can thrive in both full sun and heavy shade is no small feat. Some positions in the garden may receive variable amounts of light, which can…

If you’re contemplating the idea of using a hedge instead of a traditional fence line, you are not alone. Many homeowners and landscape designers are increasingly opting for hedges as…

South-facing slopes can present numerous challenges due to their aspect in relation to the equator and the sun in Australia, as well as a narrow soil profile (often laden with…

North-facing slopes can pose a number of challenges related to the aspect in relation to the equator and the sun in Australia, as well as a narrow soil profile (often…

Introduction Are you struggling with erosion on a sloped garden but want to maintain your hedges and screens? It can be distressing to see the roots of your hedges and…

Are you struggling to find the right plants that can thrive near heat-reflective surfaces like pavers, rocks, and concrete? These materials, common in many Australian landscapes, can create challenging conditions…

Are you a landscape architect or designer, looking for the perfect hedge or screen to specify in a space that struggles with both periodic flooding and drought? Some positions can…

Are you looking to give your garden a new lease on life by planting bottlebrush plants? In this short article, I’ll give you simple step-by-step instructions on how to successfully…

Introduction Have you ever wondered if bottlebrush trees and hedges shed their leaves during the winter months? Perhaps you’re specifically looking to plant an evergreen or deciduous tree or shrub…

Are you (or your clients) sick of cleaning up wasted lilly pilly berries? Are you looking for a lilly pilly that makes less mess? Lilly pillies are amazing native Australian…

Are you on the hunt for the best lilly pilly hedge for your garden? Perhaps you’re a landscape designer looking for low-fuss, functional and reliable plants? All lilly pillies aren’t…

Have you just planted a few shrubs, and now you need to figure out how to grow them into a nice, lush, hedge? Perhaps you’re getting impatient with the small…

Have you ever looked at your garden after a day of hedging and found yourself dreading the cleanup? Whether it’s the scattered leaves, the twigs littering your lawn, or the…

Introduction Have you ever considered that the hedges you plant could be a bustling hub of activity for the local pollinator population? Choosing the right types of hedges can significantly…

Have you ever found yourself pondering whether the hedge you’re about to plant should be native or non-native? You’re not alone. The debate between choosing native and non-native plants for…

Are your hedges looking a little under the weather? It’s not just you; hedges across Australia are susceptible to various pests and diseases. But don’t despair! This guide will help…

Are you looking to add a touch of privacy to your garden with native Australian hedges, but unsure which ones to choose? In the vast flora of Australia, many native…

Lilly pilly hedges, known for their vibrant foliage and robust growth, are widely admired in gardens across Australia. Their ability to create dense, attractive screens has made them a favourite…

Are you wondering whether lilly pillies are a good choice for your next hedge? Lilly pilly, a common name for a group of plants across three genera – Waterhousea, Syzygium…

While the Little John Callistemon, with its fiery blooms and compact growth, is a favoured choice amongst landscape architects and council decision-makers, it’s prudent to explore alternatives to this popular…

Introduction: The Art of Selecting the Perfect Hedge Plants Hedges and screens are a way to create privacy and define borders in a garden design. They can also reduce noise,…

As you stroll through a thriving Australian native garden, the sight of flowering plants teeming with birds is a joy to behold. These plants serve as more than just a…

As Aussies, we love our bottlebrush plants, belonging to the Callistemon genus. They feed our local biodiversity, they work beautifully as hedges, and (possibly most importantly) they have a reputation…

Westringias are one of Australia’s best ornamental plants. They’re hardy, support local wildlife, and are perfect for hedging. But all westringias aren’t all equal. This guide shines a spotlight on…

Are you considering the addition of a natural privacy screen to your garden? Or perhaps you’re looking for some definition along borders? When contemplating how to enhance the aesthetics of…

Neat box hedges are a key feature of formal gardens the world over. This plant (Buxus sempervirens) is certainly perfectly suited to shaping into tight balls, low hedges and topiary…

Informal yet dense hedges have been used for centuries as wind breaks, privacy screening and fences. They worked well were space was plentiful. Tightly clipped hedges on the other hand…

There are plenty of different hedge trimmers available these days but how do you know which is best for you? If you have a lot of hedges or very large…

Hedges are usually loved for their lush dense green nature. New foliage may be coloured as with many lily pillies or photinia, or variegated or coloured foliage such as nandina…

The key difference between a formal and an informal hedge is how tightly it is clipped. A formal hedge is usually very tightly clipped and kept very neat. An informal…

Hedge plants are usually selected for their ability to withstand constant pruning and form dense compact plants. Many hedge plants are also very hardy which contributes to their success as…

With the rapid decline in the size of urban gardens, plants that will perform well in small spaces are becoming preferred. All garden styles are becoming downsized and required to…

Running a hedge trimmer over a row of shrubs might make them look much neater and may even look like a hedge, but for a great hedge, a little extra…

Lilly pillies make excellent hedges and being a widespread and hardy native plant makes them an ideal hedge choice for Australia. There are many cultivars available and new varieties being…

We may not automatically think of Australian native plants for hedge options, but we should. The advantage of using natives is undoubtedly climate suitability. Australian gardens in general face fairly…

Hedges are usually considered long lived garden features. A lot of work usually goes into growing and shaping a hedge and therefore once we have it just right we tend…

One of the most common uses for hedges in modern gardens is for screening. This may be to create privacy in our gardens, or block unsightly views, or even to…

It can be difficult to know how many plants are needed to create a new hedge, especially as putting in new plants which are small and seemingly a long way…

When starting a new hedge, you may well succeed in creating a privacy screen simply by sticking a few matching plants into the ground nearby each other, but for a…