I belong to a community garden and we have some small cedars (probably western) approximately 4 ft. Can any cedar be used to form a hedge? How about fir or spruce? Thanks, Bruce.
Spruce and Fir might get a bit big for your community garden and the can't be clipped back hard so in 10 years your going to regret it. Cedar releases a chemical that can inhibit the growth of some plants. The true western Red could also get a bit bit. Think of a 'Thjua occidentalis' if you want a less invasive hedge(not invasive through reproduction,invasive through growth) If you want a nice screen/hedge for your community garden go with a Currant, this way you can harvest your hedge as well. If its full sun make a staggered hedge with Currant in the back and Blueberry's in the front. A Hemlock would be nice and would not affect your plants but would require constant attention or it would get out of hand. a Taxus would also be good but only if males are choosen as some people would connect the community garden and the red berries in their heads ,then eat them an become ill. I recently installed a trellis/hedge and will be training Grapes and Kiwi on it to provide an edible hedge that does not require constant attention. I am doing this for a local com'garden. If your installing a hedge for privacy from a road or building and blocking the sun is of no concern then Cedar it up. You can plant a strawberry patch at the base of your Cedar hedge to fill the void.
What do you plan to glean from answers? Because hedges can be made from like 90% of most tree species. Some are low maintenance, some become fire hazards, some are expensive to plant, others are inexpensive.
