In its wild form, the non-poisonous crab bush flowers bright yellow and grows as an upright shrub. Cultivars are available in different sizes and with different flower colors. Many of them are very suitable for planting a hedge.
How do I plant and care for a crab hedge?
A planting distance of around half the expected growth height is suitable for a crab hedge. To quickly create a dense hedge, plant five finger bushes per meter, 20 to 25 centimeters apart. Regular pruning promotes lush flowering.
So you can plant a mixed crab hedge with different cultivars in different colors as you wish or combine the crab with other evergreen or flowering shrubs. You will often find the finger bush in yellow, but white, orange-red or pink flowers are also possible.
With mixed hedges, make sure that all plants have roughly the same requirements for the soil and lighting conditions. Ideally, the growth forms also harmonize well with each other, then the hedge appears more even.
How to plant a crabgrass hedge
The planting distance between individual finger bushes or other neighboring plants should be around half the expected growth height. If you would like to have a dense hedge quickly, then planting five plants per meter is recommended. This results in a distance of approx. 20 to 25 centimeters.
How to care for a crabgrass hedge
Just as a single crab bush is easy to care for, a hedge also requires relatively little work. Watering and fertilizing are only necessary rarely and only in moderation. However, to ensure that your hedge remains permanently attractive, functional and he althy, you should trim it regularly.
The finger bush will certainly not cause you any problems when pruning because it tolerates pruning very well. He won't blame you for even a radical cut. However, it is best to prune your crab hedge in early spring, or alternatively in autumn. The finger bush blooms on the young shoots, so you can expect plenty of blooms soon after spring pruning.
The most important things in brief:
- good for hedges
- Planting distance: half the expected height, for a dense hedge approx. 20 to 25 cm
- can tolerate both regular pruning and radical cutting
Tip
Pruning your crab hedge not only ensures an attractive shape but also lush flowers, so it makes sense if the specimen is lazy to bloom.
