How to select hedging from low borders to tall screens: target height, growth rate, light and pruning effort, with a comparison of the most used species.
A hedge is the plant group that needs the most units in a landscape project and stays in place the longest. The wrong species means years of pruning and replacement costs. Four questions decide the choice: target height, how fast it must close, light conditions and how much pruning you can afford.
Low hedges and borders (0.3–1 m)
Buxus microphylla 'Faulkner' gives the classic box effect and tolerates frequent clipping. Dwarf spindle gives the same look with faster growth. For colour, use the golden 'Aurea' or the silver-edged 'Bravo' and 'Kathy'. In dry, sunny spots a lavender border is both low-maintenance and fragrant.
Medium hedges (1–2.5 m)
The most widely used medium hedge in Türkiye is Photinia 'Red Robin': fast, happy to be clipped, and flushing red after every cut. Where space is tight, columnar spindle stays upright without pruning. On shaded elevations bay laurel, aucuba and Viburnum tinus perform better; Viburnum adds winter flowers as well.
Tall screens and windbreaks (2.5 m +)
For rapid closure Leyland cypress is unmatched, growing 60–90 cm a year, but it needs topping and side trimming once or twice a year. For a neater, narrower and lower-maintenance screen choose Thuja 'Smaragd'; slower than Leyland, but it keeps its shape on its own. On exposed coastal sites Elaeagnus is among the most salt- and drought-tolerant options.
Comparison
| Species | Target height | Growth | Light | Pruning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photinia 'Red Robin' | 1.5–3 m | Fast | Sun / part shade | Twice a year |
| Euonymus 'Green Spire' | 1–2 m | Medium | Sun / part shade | Little |
| Leyland cypress | 3–6 m | Very fast | Sun | 1–2 times a year |
| Thuja 'Smaragd' | 2–4 m | Medium | Sun | Not needed |
| Laurus nobilis | 2–4 m | Medium | Sun / shade | Once a year |
| Viburnum tinus | 1.5–2.5 m | Medium | Sun / shade | After flowering |
| Buxus 'Faulkner' | 0.3–1 m | Slow | Sun / part shade | Twice a year |
Planting density
Common practice is 4–5 plants per metre for low hedges (9×9×8 cm liners), 2–3 per metre for medium hedges, and 60–80 cm spacing for Leyland and Thuja. Closer spacing closes the hedge sooner but later starves the inner branches of light. A staggered double row gives a fuller screen than a single row.
We can help with species and quantity calculations for your project; every hedging plant in the catalogue lists its production format and height range.
