Plants for an informal hedge
A loose, informal hedge can bring a softer appearance to you garden, offering a slightly more relaxed vibe than something more dense, tightly clipped and formal. Informal hedging is also easier to maintain, requiring less frequent clipping and only looks all the more beautiful, authentic and natural if the odd branch is slightly out of place. A native hedging mix is the most traditional, particularly for a country hedgerow, and provides valuable nesting opportunities and food sources for wildlife. A low-growing hedge of lavender can deliver fabulous fragrance and beautifully mark an internal boundary or edge a path. Hydrangeas fabulous flower heads in vibrant shades of pink, red, blue and white make them a great choice for an informal deciduous hedge, while potentilla has an open, shrubby habit with fabulous, dainty, star-shaped flowers. Ribes (currant plants) also make excellent informal flowering hedges either as a single variety or part of a flowering hedge mix.