Create a Low-Maintenance Living Fence with These Top Plant Picks

Fences made from living plants, also called hedgerows or hedge fences, provide privacy and property lines using nature’s own materials. Compared to wooden privacy fences or chain link, living fences impart a softer, more organic look. The right plant choices create stunning fences that require minimal care.

Living fences lend tons of curb appeal and personality to a landscape. But not all plants work well. The ideal candidates thrive with minimal maintenance. Choosing varieties with these characteristics ensures your hedge fence stays looking great while requiring little work on your part.

Let’s explore some of the top low-maintenance plant choices for spectacular living fences

Evergreen Shrubs and Trees

Evergreens that retain their foliage all year long make excellent picks for low-maintenance living fences. Their consistent presence masks the view while blending in beautifully. Popular evergreen options include:

Arborvitae

With feathery green foliage arborvitae grows rapidly to form tall narrow screens. The dense growth quickly blocks views while tolerating pruning well. Some cultivars like ‘Green Giant’ reach 60 feet tall. Dwarf varieties stay under 3 feet.

Boxwood

Beloved for neat formal hedges, boxwood makes a superb evergreen fence. It tolerates frequent shearing into formal shapes. Boxwood does best in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-draining soil. Dwarf cultivars like ‘Green Velvet’ work wonderfully for low hedges.

Yew

With several excellent low-growing varieties, yew makes a fine evergreen hedge with minimal trimming needed. It flourishes in sun to shade and adapts well to most soils. The dark green foliage provides great privacy. Try ‘Brown’s Yew’ or ‘Taunton’s Yew.’

Cedar

Unfussy and fast-growing, cedars like white cedar make great informal living fences. They tolerate pruning well but look great with little shaping. The aromatic foliage deters deer and forms dense screens.

Ornamental Grasses

Grasses require little maintenance and offer year-round visual interest. Their slender shapes create “see-through” fences that filter views. Good choices include:

• Switch grass – Upright and vase-shaped with tan flowering sprays

• Maiden grass – Arching shape with delicate green leaves that turn gold in fall

• Fountain grass – Densely clumped with pink plumes atop gray-green blades

• Feather reed grass – Warm-season spreader with pinkish blooms and yellow fall color

Hardy Shrubs

These woody shrubs adapt to most conditions and require minimal pruning to form thick borders:

• Barberry – Spiny foliage deters deer; yellow, orange or red fall color

• Spirea – Versatile for hedges; plumes of white or pink blooms in spring/summer

• Viburnum – Flat clusters of white flowers followed by colorful berries for winter

• Weigela – Tube-shaped pink, red or white flowers that attract hummingbirds

• Hydrangea – Showy mounded blooms in colors like blue, pink, purple and white

Native Plants

For easy care and natural appeal, make native plants your go-to picks. Adapted to your climate, native varieties need little maintenance. Some excellent choices include:

• Inkberry – Evergreen with black berries; white flowers in spring. Grows in moist soils.

• Buttonbush – Fragrant white flower balls in summer followed by nut-like fruit. Thrives in wetlands.

• Dogwood – Showy white spring blooms and red fall foliage on this small tree. Best in partial shade.

• Summersweet – Clusters of fragrant white blooms in summer on this deer-resistant shrub.

Design and Installation Tips

Follow these guidelines to design a living fence that meets your needs with minimal upkeep required:

• Choose plants suited to your growing zone, sunlight and soil conditions

• Space plants densely, often 2 feet apart or closer

• Include evergreen shrubs for year-round consistency

• Mix in deciduous plants like grasses for seasonal interest

• Include flowering varieties for added visual appeal

• Use tall plants as main hedgerow anchors and smaller plants to infill

• Plant in spring and water well until established; apply mulch to retain moisture

• Trim minimally, only as needed to shape and contain growth

With the right plant choices and smart design, you can install a living fence that provides ample privacy and beauty while needing little care. Focus on hardy, dense varieties adapted to your region and conditions for a flawless low-maintenance hedge. Soon you’ll get to enjoy a beautiful living fence that takes care of itself!