If you want a blooming hedge, you can rely on Kolkwitze. Provided he has a lot of patience. Because it takes a lot of time until the ideal image of a hedge finally appears. A challenge for gardeners who want to see quick results. See for yourself what awaits you.
Can you use the Kolkwitzia as a hedge?
If the Kolkwitzia is suitable as a hedge, you need two plants per meter, plenty of space and patience. It offers a flowering border in spring and summer, but only limited privacy because it is deciduous. Ideally planted in early autumn or late spring.
Suitability as a hedge
Whether the mother-of-pearl bush makes an ideal hedge plant cannot be answered clearly. It actually depends on the wishes and ideas of the property owner and what space he can offer her.
All Kolkwitzia varieties have the potential to become a hedge, as they grow to an average height of around 2 m. However, since they also grow just as wide, there needs to be plenty of space for the hedge.
With its numerous branches, the Kolkwitzia grows densely, but also slowly. Even with optimal care, no variety grows more than 30 cm per year. For someone who is new to creating a hedge, this could be an exclusion criterion.
Flowering, but only summer green
A hedge made of pearl bushes is not just a demarcation, it is also a beautiful eye-catcher for part of the year. When its branches are in full bloom in May and June, the Kolkwitzia is visited by bees who feed on its nectar.
One disadvantage of this hedge should not be ignored: it is only summer green! It is therefore only suitable to a limited extent as a privacy screen. The location you choose should also offer plenty of sun, otherwise the Kolkwitzia won't bloom.
Get young plants
One joke doesn't make a hedge. Two specimens should be planted per meter of length. Young shrubs are available for sale all year round. However, if you want to create a cheap hedge, you can propagate the Kolkwitze yourself. Provided there is a mature specimen available that can provide cuttings or cuttings.
Optimal timing
A Kolkwitzen hedge should be planted in the mild time of the year. The following are available:
- early autumn
- late spring
Outside this time, Kolkwitzia can be stressed by extreme weather conditions, making rooting difficult.
Planting a hedge
- Water the root balls of the young plants thoroughly.
- In the meantime, prepare the planting holes. A planting hole only needs to be 10 – 15 cm larger than the root ball.
- Loosen the soil well, because the Kolkwitzia is a heart-rooted plant that wants to penetrate into the depths with its main root.
- Only if the soil is very poor, enrich the excavation with some compost.
- Plant the bushes and water them well.
- Continue to water the hedge as needed for the first year, only then can it take care of itself completely.
- Do not prune for the first few years, and then only as necessary.
Tip
When planting this hedge, be sure to leave enough distance from neighboring property and buildings, because over time the bushes will become sprawling. Transplanting later is laborious and not well tolerated.
