Screening plants can help you create solitude in your backyard, hide an unsightly fence, or brighten up a dull garden shed. When on the hunt for the ideal option there are several important aspects to take into account.
Level up the appearance and privacy of your garden with a stunning and reliable screening plant. Increasingly, people are looking for screening plants that don’t take up too much space. So, if you want the most highly perfumed gardenia for your garden, Gardenia Magnifica has long been a best-seller due to its huge white double flowers and deep green glossy leaves. Magnifica produces one of the gardenias’ largest flowers, which can be cut and enjoyed indoors. Ideal for forming hedges or as a focal point in potted plants.
Escallonia Red Knight is known for its lovely leaves and delicate flowers. Lush, glossy green leaves give way to magnificent clusters of red-pink blooms in the spring and summer. It normally grows to 2 metres tall and a similar width and can be pruned as needed. Escallonia Red Knight is often used in mixed plantings, as a backdrop for lesser plants, in cottage gardens, around outdoor living areas, or cut into a hedge.
Photinia ‘Red Robin’ options are rapidly growing screening plants. They feature deep green leaves for most of the year, except for the new growth, which is a vivid red. Photinia is used to quickly establish a hedge; mature plants can grow 1 metre per year, while a newly planted hedge will reach 1.5 metres in two years.
Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’ is a hardy plant that thrives from coast to inland and can withstand strong frost and heat. For these reasons, it is popular as a hedge; once established, it is practically bulletproof. Photinia blooms in spring, producing enormous sprays of little creamy white flowers with rich perfume. The bright red of the new foliage is a real feature.
Callistemon salignus, sometimes known as Willow Bottlebrush, is a medium-sized hedge plant. The plant features apple-green weeping foliage, pink new growth, and cream-coloured flowers. Pink varieties are also available. The trunks have paper bark. It grows to a height of 7m with a spread of 5m and can be hedged to around 4m high and 1.5m wide.
The Irish strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) is many people’s favourite hedge plant right now. It has extremely beautiful flowers in spring, tolerates coastal positions, does not grow very huge, and requires no trimming – just basic watering and a touch of fertiliser.
A screening plant can be used to form hedges, create screens, or cover an existing surface like a wall. Understanding the differences between screens and hedges can help you choose the best option for your needs. A hedge is a continuous row of plants selectively trimmed to divide or define garden areas. Tall hedges can reach ten metres in height, while petite hedges are commonly used. Hedges are normally very dense and can block views. They are mostly uniform in height and width.
Screens tend to be less dense and more open than hedges. They are not always planted in an uninterrupted row. Instead, screens may consist of one or two plants strategically placed to conceal a specific item, such as a garden shed. They can also focus emphasis on a specific element, such as roses or clematis hung over a trellis fence. Although all hedges can be screens, not all screens can be hedges.
When revamping your outdoor space with screens or hedges, think about the conditions you’re growing the plants in and the type of plants best suited for them. Choose types that will readily fit into your available space. For tighter areas, make sure your plant for screening is simple to cut.
Plants with smaller leaves provide a denser effect. Pruning often increases density, so pick those types that react well to pruning. Also, consider how much sunlight your screen will receive and the type of soil in which your plants will flourish. Choose screening plants that are at least 25% taller than the height you need. This will provide you with better coverage faster. For example, if you want the screening plants to grow to three metres tall, go for types that reach around five metres.
Taller plants may require temporary staking. Always use a minimum of two stakes per plant. Do not bind a plant too tightly because it needs some freedom of movement. Once the plant has begun to develop strongly, you can remove the ties and stakes.
Overplanting may result in faster and more complete covering for your screen. However, it may encourage plants to actively fight for root space, water, and nutrients. This may result in uneven growth and poor plant health in the long run.
Larger plants may appear more inviting. However, they are typically more expensive and require longer to establish. Look for more affordable and smaller sizes. They usually grow to bigger sizes in around six months, especially if they are well-cared for. When replacing a dead plant, it’s always helpful to have the label ready. Labels might assist you in remembering what type of plant you’re replacing. You can also utilise the label information to choose a more suitable option for your needs.