If you want a flowering hedge, you can fall back on the Kolkwitze. Provided he has a lot of patience. Because it takes a lot of time until the ideal image of a hedge is finally in place. A challenge for gardeners who want to see quick results. Convince yourself of what awaits you.

Raising the Kolkwitzie as a hedge requires a lot of patience

Suitability as a hedge

Whether the mother-of-pearl shrub makes an ideal hedge plant cannot be answered with certainty. It actually depends on the wishes and ideas of the property owner and what space he can offer her.

All Kolkwitzia varieties have the potential to become a hedge, because they grow to an average height of around 2 m. However, since they are also just as wide, a lot of space must be available for the hedge.

With its numerous branches, the Kolkwitzia grows densely, but also slowly. Even with optimal care, no variety grows more than 30 cm per year. For someone who is new to a hedge, this could be an exclusion criterion.

Blooming, but only deciduous!

A hedge of mother-of-pearl shrubs is not just a demarcation, it is also a beautiful eye-catcher for part of the year. In May and June, when its branches are in full bloom, the Kolkwitzia is visited by bees, who feast on its nectar.

One disadvantage of this hedge should not be concealed: it is only summer green! It is therefore only suitable to a limited extent as a privacy screen. The chosen spot should also offer plenty of sun, otherwise the Kolkwitzia will not bloom.

Get young plants

A Kolkwitze does not make a hedge. Two specimens should be planted per meter of length. Young shrubs are available for sale all year round. However, if you want to create a cheap hedge, you can multiply the Kolkwitze yourself. Provided an adult specimen is available, which can provide cuttings or sticks.

Optimum time

A Kolkwitzen hedge should be planted during the mild part of the year. There are:

  • the early autumn
  • the late spring

Outside of this period, extreme weather conditions can stress Kolkwitzia, making it difficult to root.

plant hedge

  1. Water the root balls of the young plants extensively.
  2. In the meantime, prepare the planting holes. A planting hole only has to be 10 - 15 cm larger than the root ball.
  3. Loosen the soil well, because the Kolkwitzia is a heart root that wants to penetrate deep with the main root.
  4. Only enrich the excavation with some compost if the soil is very poor.
  5. Plant the shrubs and water them well.
  6. Continue to water the hedge as needed for the first year, only then can it take care of itself completely.
  7. Do not prune for the first few years, and thereafter only as necessary.

tips

When planting this hedge, be sure to leave enough space between the neighboring property and buildings, as the shrubs will become sprawling over time. Subsequent transplanting is tedious and is not well tolerated.

Category:

Garden design