...using the logic of ecology

which hedge can be used in italian gardens?

Italian gardens are well known for the use of formal hedging, art topiary and strong visual structure and the plants that one can choose from to make a good Italian hedge are numerous. However, there are many things one should know before planting a typical Italian hedge and this will help you save a lot of money, as planting the wrong Italian hedge could well prove to be very costly indeed!
Hedges provide structure and it is strong structure that makes an Italian garden an Italian garden, therefore, it is essential to create structure but what plants should we use in an Italian garden? Italian garden hedging generally relies upon the use of evergreen plants that provide structure during the winter months when most flower colour is absent. Summers in Italy are extremely hot and the hot Mediterranean sun is very unforgiving indeed towards some of the plants generally used for garden hedging in northern Europe. However, there are some fantastic evergreen plants that thrive in a Mediterranean setting and can clearly resist the hot Med sun.
Hedges can be considered like the walls of a house and without them, or art topiary, the garden can seem bland so some careful planning needs to be done at the outset of building an Italian garden. Not all hedges have the same growth rate or habits and some will rocket skywards but will lack the necessary symbolism that captures an Italian nuance and they may also be short lived and lack density, like privet for example. Some Italian hedging plants will grow very slowly but will provide a, long-lived and dense hedge that will underline and accentuate a strong Mediterranean feel.

So, here’s a rough guide to hedges that can be used in Italian gardens:

CUPRESSUS spp. (Cypress)
Italian cypress tree hedges are the usual choice when planting an Italian garden, however, they are by far the most high maintenance and least adapted for creating visual structure in the Italian garden. Although the symbolism of the Italian cypress hedge is clearly correct, having been used for centuries to make hedges in Italian gardens, but they do require regular and careful trimming to prevent die-back and large brown patches appearing. This die-back occurs when the cypress tree is allowed to grow out of shape for more than one season because they cannot be trimmed hard into old wood, as they do not shoot out from older wood. A great plant if one is prepared to invest the time on maintenance.

LAURUS NOBILIS (Bay laurel)
Bay laurel is, in my opinion, one of the finest of all Italian hedging plants. Its rapid growth, strong Mediterranean symbolism and density when pruned well makes it a fine Italian hedging plant. Bay laurel resists the hot Mediterranean summers and is relatively drought-resistant once established. Bay laurel’s dense growth habit and elegant green foliage has led to it forming the basis to many famous Italian gardens throughout Italy. If it is allowed to out-grow its desired hedge shape it can easily be renovated, growing very well from old wood – meaning it can provide superb visual structure for many years.

QUERCUS ILEX (Evergreen oak, holly oak or holm oak)
Now this wonderful Italian garden plant is, in my opinion, one of the finest Italian hedging plants. Although it can be rather slow growing, it provides one of the finest dense Italian hedges with a superb grey-green tone. Elegant and long-lived, the evergreen oak captures the very essence of Renaissance Italy and this has led to it being used in most, if not all of the classic, Italian garden designs throughout Italy. The evergreen oak’s ability to shoot back from the hardest of prunes means that it can be pruned into virtually any shape and can easily be renovated from old wood. A slow grower but well worth the wait!

BUXUS SEMPERVIRENS (Box or boxwood)
Box is by far the most versatile plant for creating a small or medium sized Italian hedge, although a slow grower it does give the most satisfying results in the Italian garden. Boxwood is one of the most dense of all Italian hedges but it is somewhat limited to making hedges of no more than a metre or so. Although box does prefer dappled shade, it will tolerate a sunnier position if provided with ample water and fertiliser. Box hedges can easily be renovated and can live for many years, almost centuries!
A most classic of hedging plants for the Italian garden and one that has been used throughout history to provide elegant and long-lasting structure in the Italian garden. A cultivar of Buxus sempervirens ‘ Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffructicosa’ grows to just a few centimetres and has been used for years for making low – hedged formal Italian gardens.

TAXUS BACCATA (Yew)
Yew trees are one of the longest lived trees on the planet and because of this are clearly one of the slowest growing. More adapted to cooler climates, the yew will tolerate the Italian summer when well established and well cared for. By far one of the densest hedges for the Italian garden the yew has earned itself a place at the top of the list for most garden designers in Italy. Again, this is a very versatile hedging plant for Italian gardens that can be clipped into any shape and can be easily renovated from older wood. Yew is a fine and elegant plant for the Italian garden but it could be recommended for the cooler areas of Italy.