Hedges can be handy in Bay gardens

Hedges and edges can pull a garden together. Photo/Supplied

Hedges are fantastic as screens, wind breaks and garden tidiers.

For those that are searching for the answer to the easy care garden and wonder how you can best do this while also creating a garden that is inviting and a place that you want to spend time in, the answer is in good edges and hedges.

Yes, the rest of the garden could be an absolute shambles with weeds galore, but if hidden behind a hedge (low or high) that is well maintained, then no one would ever know. It is all about first impressions, and drawing the eye to what looks good and not bad!

Hedges and edges can pull a garden together. "Less is more" certainly applies here. You could consider a low edge of flowering annuals such as alyssum, lobelia or pansies.

Or how about something a little higher like parsley, rainbow silverbeet or dianthus. Lambs ear, dwarf agapanthus, liriope (for the shade) and mondo grass are also good for edging.

When choosing the right hedge consider how high you want it to get to. My favourite low to medium growing hedge is the Japanese box, buxus microphylla.

This can be trimmed to 30cm or let it get taller to 1.2m. It is quick to grow and disease free.

This is the hedge that we have along the road front at Decor Gardenworld. Corokia Geentys Green is also good.

If you want something taller then you can't go past New Zealand's favourite, the native griselinia broadway mint. It is green and lush looking and tough as old boots.

Camellia setsugekka or Early Pearly are also Tauranga favourites, with the bonus of white flowers in the winter time and again they are easy care.

Photinia Red Robin is a goody if you want something with a lovely red leaf tone.
Now is the perfect time to plant hedges and edges as the soil is still warm and the rain has come.

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