Rethinking garden hedges: Embrace mahonia and privet over thuja
The thuja is perhaps the most popular plant in the gardens. While it is often chosen to create a hedge, its popularity is gradually waning. A flowering shrub can effectively replace it.
17 November 2024 18:08
The thuja has been cherished for years. In many homes, it serves as a hedge, both enhancing and protecting the area. However, other plants such as cherry laurel or boxwood can provide similar benefits. It is also worth considering common mahonia, which has recently caught the interest of homeowners.
Plant mahonia instead of thuja
What does common mahonia look like? It's a shrub with dark green leaves that turn red during autumn and winter. Its greatest advantage, however, is its resilience to even the most severe winters. Mahonia leaves remain intact even in December and January.
In spring and summer, mahonia adds beauty to any garden. Between April and May, it produces yellow flowers, and by early autumn, it yields dark blue fruits.
Mahonia prefers well-drained and moderately fertile soils. It grows to a height of about 1.5 metres. Unlike the thuja, pruning is not necessary. It does not require watering during autumn and winter, but in summer, it needs watering approximately every other day.
What to plant instead of thuja?
Another excellent alternative to thuja is the privet. This shrub is resistant to changing weather conditions. It tolerates light frosts, making it a garden favourite for most of the year. It can grow up to about 3 metres in height, which is ideal for creating hedges.
The green, oval-lanceolate leaves of the privet complement the white flowers that appear in summer beautifully. Although its fruits are poisonous to humans, they are a favoured food source for birds. It thrives in sunny or partially shaded locations with well-drained soil.
