There are some areas of the garden where you might feel like a bit of formality. Perhaps a lovely living fence along the front of your garden, a clipped circular hedge around a water feature or a drift of plants along your driveway.
I like a little bit of flowery wildness in my own garden to attract the pollinating insects and birds. However, I have always added structure and have a preference for curves, drifts and rocks. The edges of a herb garden in curry plant, rosemary or lavender can be a nice addition. If you prefer a formal clipped small hedge these plants respond well; or you can just give them the occasional tidy up when you have the time.
Whatever plant you decide to use, soil preparation is always your path to success, followed by mulching after planting and watering. We all have different styles in mind; sometimes other peoples gardens and public spaces can inspire you. I remember going to Laurel Park in Toowoomba last September for the Carnival of Flowers and being inspired by the beautiful White May Bush (spirea) in full flower as a hedge.
For hedges with a splash of colour it’s hard to pass up the beautiful sasanqua type camellia. These are just starting to flower now and will continue through the cooler months too. They come in a variety of flower forms; singles and doubles and inspire us with their soft and subtle pinks through to the darkest of reds. Although tolerant of many soil types camellia do like a lower ph, slightly acidic like blueberries, strawberries and azaleas. If needed, wettable sulpher can help you adjust the ph or you can simply add a few pine needles or tea leaves to your garden bed or pot.
A more formal hedging plant choice is Photinia Red Robin. The resilience of “Red Robin” allows it to be planted in diverse locations which is always a winner in my mind. It can be easily grown in sun or part shade. Being tolerant of dry and frosty conditions too, it makes gardening in our South Burnett region so much easier. Photinia has a nice dense growth habit for creating private garden spaces and defining property boundaries. The plant’s fast growth rate ensures that it quickly establishes as a substantial hedge with the potential height of around three metres; depending on how you prune and maintain your plants.
As well as Camellia and Photinia Red Robin for hedging, there are many other plants suitable for our region. These include Viburnum tinus, Midgen Berry, Lilly Pilly, Murraya paniculata and Murraya min a min, Indian Hawthorn, Lavender especially French and Italian, Rosemary, various Wormwoods as well as Japanese and English box plants.
Along the edges of hedges you could include Blue eyes, Liriope, Society Garlic, Dianella and Zoysia, Aptenia (Baby sunrose) and native Lippia. This creates a spilling over effect and can add a softness to your garden. Whatever your style, however you love to garden and whatever you love to plant be assured that your efforts will reward you tenfold. Creating food and enjoyment for yourself as well as habitat for insects and animals is a fantastic contribution to our outdoor spaces.