Content
A lilac hedge is one of the most common multifunctional techniques in landscape design. The plant is used to protect and mark territory. Group planting in a line gives the site an aesthetic, complete look. The crop grows quickly, takes root well in a new place, and tolerates pruning. What makes it attractive for growing in the Russian climate is its high frost resistance and the availability of planting material.
Benefits of growing lilacs as a hedge
Common lilac is represented by a variety of varieties and hybrids. The availability of planting material allows you to create a lilac hedge on your site with your own hands; for this you do not have to be a professional designer. Therefore, most suburban areas are framed by lilac bushes. A hedge, depending on the design, can be created of an impressive size from tall varieties or a small one, separating zones of the garden, using dwarf shrubs.
Benefits of lilac:
- The culture safely tolerates winter cold and summer heat.
- The trunk and branches are flexible, withstand strong gusts of wind and do not break.
- Lilacs are practically not affected by pests and diseases.
- A lilac hedge remains decorative until late autumn. The color of the leaves does not change, only fades, the leaves fall green.
- The flowering is abundant and long-lasting; a multi-level hedge can be grown from lilac varieties with different flowering periods and bush sizes.
- All representatives of the culture give good annual growth, and after 3-5 years they begin to bloom. They intensively form root shoots, quickly filling the free space.
- Lilac is undemanding in terms of soil composition and subsequent care after planting. Overwinters without additional shelter, survival rate in a new place is high.
- It lends itself well to pruning and does not create problems with reproduction. Hybrid forms can be quickly propagated by layering.
- Lilac has an exquisite aroma.
What varieties of lilac are suitable for creating a hedge?
When choosing a lilac variety for a hedge, take into account what role is assigned to it. For a protective function, tall varieties are chosen. As a rule, this is the common lilac, a fairly hardy plant, undemanding, with good annual growth. Common lilac is represented by several varieties with similar agricultural techniques.
For hedges, choose varieties with a lush, dense crown, large inflorescences and flowers.
For a decorative option with the function of separating zones, a hedge is planted from selected varieties. The material is sometimes quite expensive, and agricultural technology is more complex.Hybrids are selected according to climatic conditions. Drought resistance and winter hardiness are taken into account. Preference is given to a wide bush shape rather than an elongated one. The photo shows a version of a lilac hedge in landscape design.
The main direction when choosing a plant is its decorative habit. Based on the color of the inflorescences, lilacs are divided into 5 groups, which include the varieties presented below.
White
Group 1 includes varieties of lilac with white flowers. Several popular varieties for hedges. "Madame Abel Chatenay" is a tall-growing shrub used to form a high hedge. A crop with an average flowering period and duration. Flowering begins in mid-May and lasts 21 days. The flowers are bright white, double, collected in large panicles with drooping tops, reaching 25 cm in length. The bush is densely leafy, bright green, rounded in shape, with erect branches. Has a strong aroma.
“Beauty of Moscow” grows up to 4 m, the crown volume is 3 m. The parameters are taken into account when planting a hedge. Refers to the average flowering period. Double large flowers are formed on a long inflorescence; they are white in color with a slight pink tint. The crop is planted in an open area, because the variety does not tolerate shade. Frost resistance is high.
"Vestal" is the most common variety in Russia. This is a tall shrub with a medium flowering period. Produces flowers of a delicate pure white color, medium size. The inflorescence is pyramidal, long. Flowering is abundant, the aroma is clearly pronounced. The crown is round, dense, about 2.5 m in volume. Lilac grows up to 3 m. It does not lose its decorative effect in the shade.
Pink
Group 2 includes varieties with pink flowers.Varieties with high frost resistance and low maintenance are popular for growing hedges. These include the lilac "Katerina Haveyer". The shrub reaches 5.5 m in height and is classified as tall. A variety with a medium flowering period. The panicles are small - 13-15 cm dense. The flowers are medium sized, light pink. The crown is round and dense. The culture is frost-resistant and tolerates partial shade. Does not grow on marshy soils.
For hedges, a hybrid dwarf variety of lilac “Meyer Palibin” is used. The growth of the low-growing plant is slow; it does not grow above 1.2 m in height. The crown is spherical, densely leafy, completely covered with small panicles. Belongs to an early variety. It differs in the duration of flowering. The buds are purple, after opening the flowers are light pink. A drought-resistant variety that tolerates lack of moisture in summer and low temperatures in winter.
“Great Victory” is a wide-growing bush, medium in size (up to 2 m), crown volume is about 2 m. The peculiarity of the plant is long inflorescences (up to 35-40 cm), dense, heavy, drooping. The flowers are large, dark pink, semi-double. Towards the end of flowering they lighten and become pale pink. An unpretentious plant is widely used to form hedges in temperate climate zones.
Blue
The third (blue) group includes the lilac “Ami Schott” - a tall shrub, reaching 3 m in height, with a dense crown and large leaves. The flowers are light blue, double. The inflorescences are very dense, up to 30 cm long. Lilac blooms in mid-May. Flowering duration is 28 days. Lilac is included in the top 10 varieties.The crop is undemanding to watering and lighting, frost-resistant, and is considered the best option for hedges.
"President Grevy" is a French breeding variety. Medium-sized plant with early and long flowering period. Has a subtle aroma. The buds are pink, after blooming they become blue with a slight pink tint. The flowers are large, double. The inflorescences are dense, up to 20 cm long. The crop does not lose its decorative appearance in the shade, is frost-resistant, and tolerates drought.
"Dresden China" is a tall shrub (up to 3.5 m) with a crown of medium density. The flowers are small, semi-double, blue. The inflorescences consist of three spherical panicles. The plant blooms at the end of May.
The culture does not tolerate waterlogged soil. When humidity is high, the flowers turn rusty and fall off. Does not grow well in the shade. This lilac is one of the most frost-resistant varieties.
Lilac
The most common group 4. Includes more than 50 varieties. Almost all varieties are used for hedges. The most popular of them is “Russian Song” - a tall plant reaching 3 m in height. The crown is spherical with large leaves of a dark green hue. The inflorescences are pyramidal with a drooping top and a dense arrangement of large semi-double flowers of a dark purple color. Lilac grows in the shade and in the sun, does not respond to drought and high humidity, and is not afraid of frost. Flowering time is from the second half of May to mid-June.
“Memory of Vekhov” refers to early varieties, a bush of medium height (no more than 2 m).Flowering is abundant, the flowers are densely double, large, dark purple. The color does not change from the beginning of budding until the end of flowering. The inflorescences are long - 25-30 cm. Lilac with a highly decorative habit is ideal for hedges.
"Taras Bulba" is a tall plant with convex leaves of a light green hue. The flowers are double, rather large, bright purple. The panicles are lush and heavy. Lilac is a late, long-flowering lilac, one of the few varieties that require summer feeding. Frost resistance is high, drought does not affect the growing season, they are planted only in open areas.
Purple
Purple lilacs of the fifth (least common) group consist mainly of hybrid and selected varieties. Hybrids include “Indigo Mud” - an elite representative of the culture. The bush grows upright - up to 2 m, with early flowering. The inflorescences are dense, long (30 cm), narrow pyramidal. Flowering is abundant, the flowers are dark purple with a purple frame around the edge. One of the exotic options for hedges. Frost resistance is average; the roots need to be insulated for the winter. Does not respond to waterlogged soil, does not grow on acidic soils. Shade tolerance is low.
“Cosmos” is a breeding variety that was created specifically for landscaping the urban landscape. Ideal for tall hedges. The bush reaches a height of 6 m, spreading, intensively leafy. The inflorescences are dense, up to 25 cm long. The flowers are large, purple, with a blue tint along the edge. The culture resists wind, drought, and frost well. Virtually no maintenance required.
"Royal Ash" refers to the hyacinth variety of lilac. The selected Canadian species forms buds in mid-April and begins to bloom by the end of the month.A bush of medium height - up to 2 m, with a spherical crown of regular shape. The foliage is average. Upright, branchy. The inflorescences are long (up to 25 cm), narrow pyramidal. The flowers are large with sharp petals at the ends, dark purple in the morning and evening, purple during the day in sunny weather. The aroma is strong and tart. Tolerates frosts down to -40 0C, rainy weather does not affect decorativeness, drought resistance is average.
Combining different varieties of lilacs
Lilac varieties in mass planting are well grouped, complementing each other. Plant selection is carried out according to several parameters:
- First of all, by the color and structure of the flower. You can play on the contrast of white and purple with double and simple inflorescences. The combination of pink and blue looks decorative. Shades of the same color will not stand out in the planting. A lilac hedge can be planted in ascending order of color. In the middle there is white on both sides of pink, the next blue, completing the color scheme with purple.
- When planting, take into account the shape of the bush: vertically growing ones are not combined with those spreading wide. Spreading bushes will cover the vertical ones. Tall ones are not combined in hedges with dwarf ones for the same reason.
- Flowering times vary for many varieties. To extend the flowering time in a hedge, early lilacs are used in combination with mid- and late-season ones.
In this case, it is necessary to select varieties with the same frost resistance and agricultural technology.
Rules for planting lilac hedges
Lilacs are planted in temperate climates in the spring before buds form; autumn planting is suitable for the south.Lilacs planted in spring will be fully rooted by winter. A seedling is taken two years old with strong roots and viable buds.
To determine the required number of seedlings, the area for the hedge is measured, you can draw a diagram where the seedlings are arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The distance for compact varieties is 1.5 m, for tall-growing varieties with a spreading crown - at least 3 m. Dense planting is undesirable for lilacs; the plants will drown out each other and grow to the sides. The appearance of the hedge will change for the worse.
An open area is chosen so that nearby large trees do not shade the lilac, otherwise the growth and flowering of the shrubs will be defective. It is not recommended to place dwarf species near a lilac hedge; in this case, the growing season of low plants will be inhibited.
The composition of the soil for lilacs does not matter much, but the soil must be light, drained, and fertile.
The recommended size of the planting hole is 60*60 cm, depth 70 cm. They are dug 7 days before placing the lilacs on the site, and drainage is placed at the bottom. On the day of planting, prepare a soil mixture of humus, sand and soil (in equal parts). For every 8 kg of mixture add 30 g of superphosphate and 500 g of ash. The soil prepared for each seedling is divided into two parts.
Landing sequence:
- One part of the soil mixture is poured onto the drainage, and a small cone-shaped hill is made in the center.
- The seedling is placed on a hill, evenly distributing the roots over the ground.
- Fill with the second part of the fertile mixture.
- Compact, water, mulch with peat.
After planting, shorten the branches (up to 15 cm). If a lilac hedge is planted along a garden path, take into account the width of an adult bush, because...The lilac grows and makes passage difficult.
Features of caring for a lilac hedge
Growing a lilac hedge is not difficult. Only young seedlings require gardener intervention during the first 2 years of the growing season; adult plants do not need special care. Water the plant immediately after planting. To prevent the soil from drying out and becoming waterlogged, they are guided by the frequency of seasonal precipitation. Mature shrubs are watered before flowering and, if necessary, re-moistened in mid-July. As necessary, loosen the soil and remove weeds.
If fertilizing is applied during planting, the supply of useful microelements of lilac will last for 3 years. Starting from the 4th year of the growing season, organic matter is added in the spring. Fertilize with mineral fertilizers once every 3 years. After placing young shrubs on the site, mulch them with a layer of straw or peat.
How to trim a hedge correctly
Many types of lilacs are suitable for unshaped hedges. Pruning is sanitary in nature. In the spring, before the sap flows, the root shoots are cut off, 2-3 old branches are removed, rejuvenating the bush. After flowering, cut off the flower stalks.
If the pruning is functional, it is carried out to form the shape of a hedge; the optimal time is early spring and the period when the lilac has faded. Forming begins only after three years of growing season. I remove bent branches and shoots that protrude beyond certain boundaries. Dwarf varieties have their tops cut off horizontally.
Preparing the bush for winter
Lilacs do not require special preparation for the winter period. All plant varieties are frost-resistant and can tolerate temperatures as low as -38 0C.If the root system freezes, the adult plant forms a replacement. Young shrubs up to 3 years old are not so frost-resistant, so low temperatures can lead to the death of the seedling. The crown does not require shelter; the root circle is mulched with straw or peat, the layer should be at least 15 cm. An adult plant with insufficient seasonal precipitation is given water-recharging irrigation.
Conclusion
A lilac hedge is an element of a design technique. Thanks to the variety of varieties with different flower colors and bush shapes, lilacs blend harmoniously with any composition in the garden. At a summer cottage, a hedge will decorate the landscape and protect the area from the penetration of animals and unwanted “guests”. The culture is frost-resistant, grown in regions with cold climates. The ability to go without watering for a long time is relevant in the South.
