If you want to give your romantic garden that certain something, you should create a hedge arch. It'll take a while, but it's easy.
Almost every garden has a hedge surrounding the property. And not infrequently - especially on older properties - the hedge is so high that a hedge arch has formed over the entrance. And that looks really romantic, doesn't it? A green gate to your own garden oasis. If you also want to create such a hedge arch, then you don't need much, except a good portion of patience. Because the hedge should be at least 1.80 meters in size so that you can even create an arch.
Which plants are suitable for hedge arches?
The hedge arch should of course grow densely so that it comes into its own and doesn't look so full of holes. Tree-like hedge plants with continuous leading shoots are of course best suited for this. Evergreen hedge plants are also suitable. Recommended hedge plants are e.g.:
- Hornbeam
- lime tree
- European beech
- Field Maple
- Salweide
- Cherry Laurel
- Leaf tree
- Yew
- Privet
- Boxwood
Arborvitae and cypress are not recommended as plants for a hedge arch. They just need too much light. If you still want to use them, you have to expect that the hedge arch will become bare at the bottom over time. However, a hedge does not always have to consist of real hedge plants. You can also use climbing plants. This in turn has the advantage that the hedge arch is finished much faster. These climbing plants are recommended for hedge arches:
- Blackberries
- Ivy
- Wine
- clematis
- Wisteria
- Laburnum
- Dog Roses
The climbing plants not only grow faster than normal hedge plants, they usually also ensure beautiful flowers. They also attract butterflies, bees and bumblebees to the garden.
How to create a hedge arch from an existing hedge
❶ It is best to create a hedge arch from oneexisting hedge. To do this, you must first remove some hedge plants where the hedge arch is to be created so that a passage is created. It is best to do this in autumn, because then the roots of the neighboring plants can cope better.
❷ You must then remove the branches and twigs protruding into the passage.
❸ Next you need to bend a thin metal rod into shape for a round arch. If the passage is to be square, you can also connect three bamboo sticks at right angles. The metal rod or the rods now serve as a kind of template and as a climbing aid.
❹ Lay out the template by tying it with string to the stems of adjacent hedge plants on either side of the intended passage.
❺ Over the next few years you will have to pull up a few strong shoots on each side along the template. Depending on the growth, it can take several years before the arch is completely dense and the branches meet in the middle of the passage. So patience is required. But once the bow is finished, you will see that it was worth waiting for. By the way, once the branches meet in the middle, you can remove the stencil.
How to create a hedge arch from a newly planted hedge
❶ If you want to completely replant the hedge including the hedge arch, then you must dig up the soil on which the hedge will later stand at least 40 cm deep and 60 cm wide, loosen it up and mix it with humus.
❷ Then you can plant the plants in the ground and fill in the soil around the roots. Then press lightly. Of course, you must not plant anything where the hedge arch is to be created. Then spread a layer of bark mulch around the plants and water them well.
❸ Next, you must proceed as in the previous guide. That means:
1. Build a template or trellis
2. Attach the template/trellis to the adjacent hedge plants
3. Pull up strong shoots along the template
4. Trim the hedge regularly
As you can see, creating a hedge arch is not that difficult. The hardest part is actually just waiting until the sheet is finally finished. But it will definitely be worth the wait.