A hedge should ideally serve not only as a boundary between beds or gardens, but also as a decorative element in your garden. Flowering shrubs or colorful-leaved varieties are particularly decorative. The easy-care weigela scores points in both categories.
What properties and care does the Weigela have as a hedge plant?
Weigelias are particularly suitable as informal hedge plants that grow loosely and not geometrically shaped. They are hardy, require a sunny location and regular pruning to promote flowering. When planting and cutting, pay attention to plant height and bud formation.
Weigela originally comes from Asia, but it has now become a popular ornamental and hedge plant in this country too. But don't just plant any weigela in your hedge, because this genus is very diverse in terms of height and flower color.
How do I plant weigela in a hedge?
The weigela is less suitable for a formal (=cut to shape) hedge than for a so-called informal hedge. This is not brought into a geometric and therefore often rigid shape, it grows rather loosely. As a result, it does not always offer optimal privacy protection.
The big advantage of an informal hedge with weigelia, however, is that the pruning of this hedge can be designed in such a way that the flowering of the weigela is not hindered or restricted. If you accidentally cut off all of its buds in the fall, the weigela will not bloom the next season.
Which weigelias are particularly suitable for a hedge?
With their attractive flowers and good soil tolerance, almost all weigelias are an ornament in every hedge. However, for a harmonious overall impression, you should not lose sight of the height of the plant. A dwarf weigela barely reaches a height of one meter, while the particularly popular Bristol Ruby grows to more than two meters tall. So choose weigelias that match the other shrubs in the hedge.
How do I care for a hedge with weigela?
Regular pruning is also very important for weigela in a hedge, otherwise they will easily become lazy to bloom. A sunny location is just as important for the abundance of flowers. Make sure the soil is always slightly moist to fresh.
It may be necessary to create a layer of mulch (€13.00 on Amazon) under the hedge. This saves you watering too often. Apply fertilizer primarily in spring until the flowering period begins. After flowering is the ideal time for pruning.
The most important things in brief:
- good for informal hedges
- don't plant too close together
- hardy
- drops the leaves in autumn, so they are not opaque in winter
- pay attention to bud formation when pruning
Tip
The weigela is hardy, but loses its leaves in autumn. The hedge is therefore not opaque in winter. You should think about this before planting.
