There are many reasons why people use hedges today. Hedges can act as a friendly fence between neighbors, create privacy, separate garden rooms and encourage a favorable microclimate. There is a style of hedge to suit every garden from the clipped formality of the Cotoneaster to the lush rambling Rose.

Here are some ideas for shrub material that make wonderful hedges:

Caragana: The Caragana bears bright yellow flowers in late spring and is very drought tolerant. Common Caragana (Caragana arborescens) grows large enough to create a windbreak. Pygmy caragana (Caragana pygmaea) can be easily clipped into a formal look while Globe Caragana ( Caragana frutex 'Globosa') can be clipped to grow into a more rounded shape.

Cotoneaster: (Cotoneaster acutifolius) This very popular and ubiquitous hedge shrub takes kindly to pruning. Very showy in fall when the red-orange foliage comes alive.

Alpine Currant: (Ribes alpinum) This shrub also has bright yellow flowers in late spring and yellow foliage in fall. This is a fabulous choice for a hardy, formal hedge.

Dwarf European Cranberry: The Cranberry shrub (Viburnum opulus 'Nanum') creates a small hedge that may be clipped into a row of little uniform mounds, which add interest to the landscape. It's also very shade tolerant.

Nanking Cherry: (Prunus tomentosa) A cold tolerant shrub giving three seasons of interest. In spring, pink buds open to a flush of white blooms, blooming to the tips, even when clipped into a hedge. In summer, the Nanking Cherry is loaded with bright red berries, tasty in jams and jellies if you can beat the birds to them. This shrub adds fall interest to the garden, with hues of orange in the foliage.

Lilac: A long row of Lilacs will perfume the yard in spring. The best cultivars for hedge material are the Dwarf Korean(Syringa meyeri) with pale pink flowers and the Villosa blooming later in shades of lilac.

Cherry Prinsepia: A column of beautiful drooping leaves wave in the breeze. Berries follow yellow flowers in spring. The Cherry Prinsepia( Prinsepia sinensis) can be pruned into a formal hedge.

Roses: The Roses that form the best hedges are those that have an upright growth. Some of the best cultivars include: Blanc Double de Coubert- Very fragrant double white flowers.

Champlain - Double red flowers that bloom all summer.

Hansa - Fragrant violet red blooms.

Prairie Joy - Double pink flowers.

Red-leaf Rose - A wonderful accent plant due to its purple leaves.

Winnipeg Parks - Buds are red opening to a pinkish-red.

The type of hedge material you choose can suit the style of house or landscape. More importantly, the hedge serves as a frame, emphasizing the living artwork of trees, shrubs and perennials within.

Jennifer Seafoot,
Eagle Lake Nurseries Garden Center