Goodbye Privacy Fence: Here's An Evergreen Hedge To Grow Instead

Homeowners have choices when they seek privacy around their properties. Privacy fences do the job, but may seem colder and more forbidding than they need to be. Living hedges can be a friendlier and certainly more beautiful option, and one of the best hedges you can plant for privacy in your yard is a Euonymus. The 150-member Euonymus genus offers plants in the form of ground cover, vines — and shrubs that make attractive hedges. The shrub forms of Euonymus come in both deciduous and evergreen varieties; you'll want to choose an evergreen for a privacy hedge.

Multiple Euonymus cultivars in several green, gold, and white foliage colors and variegations are cited as well-suited to serve as hedges. These include include Euonymus japonicus 'Jean Hugues', Euonymus fortunei Emerald 'n' Gold, Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety', Euonymus japonicus 'Ovatus Aureus', Euonymus japonicus 'Kathy', and Euonymus japonicus 'Green Spire'. A tempting option you should probably rule out is Euonymus alatus, commonly known as burning bush, which is classified as invasive in several states. Euonymus is one of the hedges that grow fast and is considered a tough, sturdy plant. It's also fire-resistant11, drought tolerant, and among the low-maintenance hedges you can plant in your yard.

Euonymus is cold-hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9. Transplant from nursery pots in early spring or early fall. The shrub can handle a variety of soil types as long as the soil is well-draining. Because of its shallow roots, avoid planting euonymus too deeply. Plant in a spot where it will get six hours of full sun daily. Plant densely for a formal hedge, spacing shrubs 1 to 2 feet apart; shrubs can be farther apart for a less formal hedge.

Water regularly for the first few months after planting. Euonymus needs very little water once established, but do give it a refreshing drink on the hottest days and during prolonged drought periods. Provide your potted hedge euonymus with a monthly dose of diluted (half-strength) 20-20-20 fertilizer except in winter, then reduce the frequency of fertilizing once it is planted in the ground. Before new growth emerges in late winter or early spring, prune your hedge into shape and remove dead plant parts. Keep euonymus scale at bay with horticultural oil. The shrub is susceptible to powdery mildew and crown gall in areas of high humidity and moisture. You can propagate euonymus by dividing or using stem cuttings.