Life pulsates in a barberry hedge, while as a thorn-reinforced privacy screen it keeps uninvited guests away. You can find out here which Berberis varieties perfectly fulfill the task as a hedge plant. This guide is also peppered with practical tips for skillfully planting a sour thorn hedge.
Barberries grow densely and bear very attractive foliage in the fall
These varieties form a decorative hedge - Top 3
In the profile it can be read that no other tree species has more species than barberries. Of course, by no means all members of the splendid flock are suitable for life as part of a hedge. The following overview lists the top 3 sour thorn varieties with a license for hedge plants:
| variety name | botanical name | growth height | growth width | special features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red barberry, blood barberry 'Atropurpurea' | Berberis thunbergii | 200 to 300 cm | 100 to 200 cm | dark red leaves, valuable bee pasture, wood for feeding birds |
| sour thorn, common barberry | Berberis vulgaris | 100 to 250 cm | 100 to 150 cm | beautiful autumn colors, pasture for bees and butterflies, wood for feeding birds, extra easy to care for |
| Large-leaved barberry | Berberis julianae | 200 to 300 cm | 200 to 300 cm | Evergreen, ecologically valuable, tolerates pruning well |
All three premium hedge shrubs are characterized by a lavish bloom that shines in May and June. By autumn, the yellow flowers turn into black-blue berries.
Instructions for planting - tips & tricks
Soak each barberry in plenty of water beforehand, regardless of whether they are bare-rooted or potted young plants.
- Best planting time is in autumn and spring
- Mark the course of the hedge with stretched cords
- Dig a planting trench along the marking
- Enrich the excavation with half-ripe compost and 100 grams of horn shavings (€32.93) per planting site
- Place bare-root or potted barberries 40 to 50 cm apart in the ditch
- Fill up with enriched soil and tread firmly
Water the soil generously and spread a layer of mulch. Finally, cut back all the shoots by a third so that the young bushes branch out profusely. The correct planting depth is a headache for those new to hedge planting. Act according to the rule of thumb: do not plant deeper or higher than before. The root disc of container plants should end at ground level. On bare-rooted barberries, you can understand the previous planting depth based on the discoloration of the root neck.
Observe distance to neighbors
A barberry hedge planted incorrectly can put a heavy strain on good relationships with the neighbor. Before planting, consult local regulations about the distance to be maintained from neighboring property or the road. In Germany, neighbor law is a matter for the federal states and municipalities, so that there is no generally applicable specification.
tips
Of course, you can harvest the numerous berries your barberry hedge will bear at the end of the season. Gardeners with a big heart for their feathered friends leave the fruit on the branches. Sour thorn berries are a valuable source of food for birds well into the winter.