Spindle trees enrich every hedge, because they not only impress with their eye-catching fruit decoration. In the fall, they light up the garden with golden yellow and crimson leaves. Not all species are suitable for hedge design. Proper pruning is important.
Spindle hedges are a feast for the eyes, especially in autumn
Euonymus fortunei
This creeping spindle is also known as a climbing spindle shrub. Their shoots are creeping to ascending. They are suitable as ground cover and can be used for the design of hedges. Varieties with yellow-green variegated leaves are particularly aesthetic. Because of their low growth height, creeping spindles can only be formed into knee-high hedges.
Euonymus europaeus
The common euonymus is native to Central Europe and grows in nature as a shrub two to four meters high. The tree is popular because of the eye-catching fruits in natural gardens, but also in public parks. This spindle shrub is very well suited for the design of privacy hedges. It can be brought into shape by pruning measures and also tolerates radical pruning. The shrub looks particularly aesthetic in mixed hedges when the leaves change color in autumn.
The ideal location for euonymus:
- direct sun or partial shade
- warm conditions
- high permeability
- humic soil
hedge trimming
Spindle trees can be kept in shape during the growing season. Radical pruning is only allowed at certain times so you don't disturb breeding birds. In spring, remove annoying and diseased branches at their base. The shrub develops new shoots around the cut so that it grows denser and denser.
Tips for cutting:
- Tighten the strings so as not to lose sight of the shape of the hedge
- pruning and thinning regularly from a young age
- free branches rubbing against each other
prevent diseases
The euonymus is susceptible to powdery mildew and rust fungi. The spores spread preferentially in damp weather. A film of water droplets on the leaves encourages the spread of the microscopic spore powder. To prevent an infestation, you should regularly spray the shrubs with plant decoctions made from field horsetail and nettle. This strengthens the plants and makes them more resistant to fungal attack. Water the bushes at the base of the trunk so that a humid microclimate does not develop between the leaves.