Hedges are extremely popular as green fencing because they create protected spaces. However, some hedge plants can be dangerous for children who might snack on the plants. You can find out which bushes you can safely use to border a child-friendly green space in the following article.
Which hedge plants are suitable for gardens with children?
The following non-toxic plants are suitable for child-friendly hedges: Canadian hemlock, willow willow, bamboo, roses, hornbeam, European beech, Serbian spruce, marshmallow, crabapple, field maple and alpine currant. All offer privacy and beauty without posing toxic risks to children.
Poisonous hedge plants can have dire consequences
Small children in particular tend to put everything that looks interesting in their mouths. Poisonous plant parts don't always taste so unpleasant that kids spit them out straight away, so curiosity can have bad consequences.
It is not only the yew tree, whose appetizing-looking berries and all parts of the plant contain the very dangerous toxin taxine, that consumption can lead to serious poisoning.
Also poisonous are:
- Lots of evergreen hedge plants,
- almost all cypress species,
- Cherry laurel,
- Holly,
- Privet,
- Forsythia.
If you are planning to plant a hedge in a garden where children regularly spend time, you should find out at the planning stage whether all bushes and trees are non-toxic.
Which hedge plants are suitable?
There are a variety of shrubs that are absolutely safe for kids and can be used to create extremely attractive hedges:
| Art | Description |
|---|---|
| Canadian Hemlock | Robust, non-toxic alternative to yew. |
| Ball willow | Ideal for low enclosures up to one meter. |
| Bamboo | Matches beautifully with modern Asian-style gardens. |
| Roses | Grow very densely and impress with their splendor of flowers. However, the thorns can cause injuries. |
| hornbeam | Impresses with its robustness and the beautiful, light green spring shoots. |
| Common beech | The leaves change color attractively after summer and remain on the tree until they sprout in spring, so this enclosure provides year-round privacy. |
| Serbian spruce | Grows slim and forms opaque hedges. |
| Marshmallow | Fixes wonderfully in colorful flower hedges. |
| Crabapple | Keep these trees the size you want, grow more bushy and form nice borders. |
| Field maple | Deciduous, native deciduous tree that is well suited for high hedges. |
| Alpine currant | Grows easily in any soil, both in sun and shade |
Tip
When planting hedges, please always pay attention to the boundary distance to the neighboring property. For example, if you decide on a bamboo hedge, you should keep in mind that some species are runners and can grow very tall.
