Hedges offer a range of benefits, including privacy, security, noise reduction, and aesthetic beauty. To achieve a dense and well-manicured hedge, selecting the right trees is crucial. In this blog post, we will discuss the top 10 hedging trees for a dense hedge.

1. Ficus Hillii/ Ficus Hillii Flash

Ficus Hillii and Ficus Hillii Flash are excellent choices for hedging due to their dense foliage and hardiness. The Ficus Hillii Flash is a faster-growing variety with brighter green leaves, while the Ficus Hillii has slightly darker green leaves. These trees grow well in full sun to part shade and require moderate watering.

2. Waterhousea Floribunda

This native Australian tree is popular for its dense and lush foliage, making it perfect for a high hedge. It prefers full sun to part shade and requires regular watering.

3. Laurus Nobilis Bay Tree

This evergreen tree is a classic choice for hedging, with its dark green foliage and sweet fragrance. It grows well in full sun to part shade and requires moderate watering.

4. Tristaniopsis Luscious - Watergum

Tristaniopsis Luscious is an Australian native tree with glossy green leaves and a dense habit, making it an excellent choice for hedging. It prefers full sun to part shade and requires regular watering.

5. Syzygium Backyard Bliss Lilly Pilly

Syzygium Backyard Bliss is another popular cultivar of the Lilly Pilly plant, also native to Australia. This evergreen shrub can grow up to 3-5 meters tall and wide, and it produces glossy, dark green leaves with bronze-colored new growth. In summer, the plant produces fluffy white flowers that are followed by small, edible berries. The 'Backyard Bliss' variety is known for its compact growth habit, making it an excellent choice for small gardens, courtyards, and containers.

This plant prefers full sun to part shade and requires regular watering to thrive. With its attractive foliage, delicate flowers, and versatile growth habit, Syzygium 'Backyard Bliss' is a beautiful addition to any garden or landscape.

6. Acmena Smithii Sublime Lilly Lilly

Another popular Lilly Pilly Variety. Acmena smithii 'Sublime' is a cultivar of the Lilly Pilly plant, a native to Australia. It is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 5 meters tall and 4 meters wide. The leaves are glossy and dark green, and the plant produces small white or pink flowers that bloom in the summer. 'Sublime' is prized for its dense, compact habit and its ability to be pruned and shaped into hedges. It prefers full sun to part shade and requires regular watering.

7. Cupressus Leylandii 'Better Green'

This fast-growing conifer is ideal for a quick hedge. It has dense foliage and a neat, columnar habit. It prefers full sun and requires moderate watering. 

Cupressus leylandii 'Better Green' is a great alternative to Leighton Green as it is disease resistant to the canker disease. Canker is a disease that causes dead brown patches within the hedge. Cupressus leylandii 'Better Green' will rarely develop this disease.

8. Magnolia Grandiflora 'Teddy Bear'

This evergreen tree can grow up to 8-10 meters tall and produces large, glossy, dark green leaves with a velvety brown underside. In summer, 'Teddy Bear' produces fragrant, creamy white flowers that can reach up to 25cm in diameter. This cultivar is known for its compact growth habit and its ability to tolerate colder temperatures than other magnolia cultivars. 'Teddy Bear' is an excellent choice for small gardens, courtyards, and urban landscapes, where space is limited. Its dense foliage also makes it an effective privacy screen or windbreak. This tree prefers full sun to part shade and regular watering, especially during the hot summer months. 

9. Pittosporum Tenufolium 'Green Pillar'

This New Zealand native tree has a narrow, columnar habit and dense foliage, making it perfect for hedging. It prefers full sun to part shade and requires moderate watering.

10. Magnolia Grandiflora 'Coolwyn Gloss'

The Coolwyn Gloss is another Magnolia variety with a dense habit and shiny, dark green leaves. It grows well in full sun to part shade and requires moderate watering.

Conclusion

Choosing the right hedging trees is crucial to achieving a dense and well-manicured hedge. The trees discussed in this blog post are excellent choices due to their dense foliage, hardiness, and attractive appearance. By selecting the right trees and providing them with proper care, you can create a beautiful and functional hedge for your garden.