Do these hedges require full sun or can they be planted in a shady area and still have the same growth rate? Also, what is the spacing of these hedges when planting?
As a rule all deciduous Prunus require full sun for best results. Otherwise growth will be less full and disease problems may be worse, due to the plants remaining damp longer during moist conditions. If you are thinking about a sheared hedge spacing is to a large extent determined by that fact rather than what kind of plant is being used. To get good density and evenness space the plants as far apart as the hedge will be thick from front to back. If you want the hedge to be 3' deep then plant 3' apart and so on. As a result of the shearing each plant will end up being a cube. If the cubes are too far apart thinness or gaps are more likely.
