What Makes A Good Hedge Plant?

Hedges are perfect for screening and for replicating a fence without the cost or hassle of a fence. They are particularly great for very formal landscapes. A good hedge plant should have dense growth habit. The dense growth habit gets that hard to see through hedge if you’re using it for screening. If the plant you choose has a pyramidal shape, you’ll want to plant them a little closer together.

Evergreen or deciduous hedge?

There are two big choices when it comes to the type of hedge to plant, evergreen or deciduous. They both have their pros and cons and we will discuss those here. Evergreens last all year long so they provide screening and interest even in winter which is valuable if you think you will be outside in the winter and early spring/late fall. But, unlike deciduous plants, the evergreens do not flower and provide different interest throughout the year. You won’t get the beautiful white or lavender flowers from a lilac in the spring/summer or the fire colored leaves from dogwoods. Also, evergreens are about twice the cost of deciduous. We believe that every landscape is different so consulting with a landscape design professional is recommended to find the best use of your money for your yard.

Well-maintained front yard with brick house, flower boxes, and neatly trimmed green bushes.

LOW HEDGE

These are fantastic for a more modern, formal plant bed, especially in the front yard. Boxwoods are the best option for this type of hedge (we like green velvet for Minnesota climates).They grow slowly, are low lying, and can be easily shaped. Alpine currant also work and arborvitae or barberry.

Five green evergreen trees planted in a garden bed near a white fence and building.

MID-SIZE HEDGE

We use mid sized hedges for hiding air conditioner units or other unsightly objects around a home. They’re also nice along neighboring yards if you don’t have a patio or true outdoor space (like you want some privacy but not a ton). Specific plants that we use often for these applications include lilacs, burning bush, coneyester, ninebark, and dark green yew.

A row of tall, green conifer trees forming a hedge, with a low purple bush beneath, next to a sidewalk.

LARGER HEDGE

The larger hedge is of course used when you want the ultimate privacy. This comes with a high cost but the results are undeniable. We love using these two ypes of plants for a large one: holmstrup arborvitae, techny arborvitae, upright yew japanese, and pinnacle birch.

Again, if you’re looking for a hedge for your plant bed, we strongly suggest you consult with a trusted, experienced landscape designer who can help you get the most value for your money.

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How We Restored a Backyard Swale in Shoreview, MN

By Daniel . • July 9, 2026

The legendary architect Louis Sullivan coined a phrase that has driven architecture and design ever since: "form follows function." While aesthetics are critical to buildings and landscapes alike, that physical beauty must always remain secondary to the fundamentals of good design. In Shoreview, Minnesota, just outside St. Paul , we encountered a landscape where, unfortunately, function followed form. Here, the realities and principles of effective drainage were downstream of their original builder's aesthetic choices. That meant water from snowmelt and rainfall was streaming into parts of the lawn where it wasn't meant to be. The standing water that had been allowed to collect in the back and side yards was putting a considerable amount of the property out of play. In order to reclaim usable space and rethink the way the land handled water, this Shoreview homeowner entrusted KG Landscape with identifying key issues, presenting potential solutions, and doing the necessary work the client decided upon to restore their lawn.

A landscape showing a lawn with freshly dug trenches and a curved dirt path leading toward two dark buildings by a lake.

Waterlogged by the Lake: How We Solved a Challenging Drainage Problem in Orono, MN

By Kent Gliadon • July 9, 2026

On the shores of Lake Minnetonka, perhaps the most famous of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes, an Orono, Minnesota homeowner was struggling with a back yard that was becoming more marsh than yard. The yard was a scenic one. The back porch opened up to the top of a small hill, which rolled down toward the lakefront and the boathouse. This flat space between the hill and the water would be ideal for backyard barbecues, some low-stakes games of bocce and badminton, or simply a spot to lay down a towel and get some summer reading done. Instead, this area was too waterlogged to enjoy. The runoff from the hilltop combined with unfavorable soil composition were limiting the use of the yard, closing off space while even diminishing the quality of the turf. How would this homeowner be able to reclaim this unusable land without disrupting the Lake Minnetonka shoreline that made the property so attractive? To find a solution, they turned to KG Landscape.