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The purposes for planting a hedge are many, screening out neighbours or buildings, for gardens that have minimum space, shelter from the wind, creating rooms within a garden, green walls, whatever the job a Camellia would be right up there on my list as a first-choice plant.   Why? because they are so hardy, cope well with being trimmed regularly and have a long life compared to many other choices.  

Camellia’s cope and bounce back after a hard cut back, more so than other hedge plant choices. They can take slightly longer to establish but I always say that slower growing plants usually have a much longer life span. 

Planting a Camellia Hedge 

Treat the space like a garden. Ideally make the depth of my hedge garden about 80cm wide which is what it will ultimately grow to.

 - Measure the width and length of the space, using a string line or spray paint and mark out the space.  If your hedge is in the lawn, use a spade and cut the turf along the marked line and then skim the lawn off, that way the mulch can fall to the cut edge. 

 - Mark out Camellia placements - 80cm spacing (or no further than 100 cm apart). 

 - Dig the holes, around 40cm deep and wide, loosen the soil in each hole. 

 - Plant the Camellias to the same depth they are in their container, no deeper. Adding tree tabs or slow-release Camellia fertiliser under each plant to get them off to a good start (remember to have a good amount of dirt between the tabs and the roots to avoid root burn). 

 - Tamp the soil down until the hole is filled and the root ball is snugly tucked in.

 - Give each plant a good soaking. 

Camellias react to the addition of mulch or organic matter which has the benefit of improving the soil structure, supresses weeds and encourages the soil organisms to be active, keeping the soil nice and fertile. The constant application of mulch will also keep the soil moist in the summer and just generally keep the hedge garden looking nice until the hedge matures.

You won't want weeds growing up through the hedge or crowding around the base of the hedge, taking away nutrition and starving the soil of light. Weed control could be a mix of careful spot spraying and/or hand weeding.  

Trim the new growth regularly to encourage healthy plants; when plants are lush and bushy then increment the height to what you require. Once the hedge has reached its ultimate height be strict about pruning regularly to maintain that height. 

Once established, your Camellia hedge should require a regular, easy maintenance - twice yearly dose of fertiliser, and a trim back after flowering has finished.