Best Hedges for Small Auckland Gardens

The biggest mistake on a small section is planting a species that wants to be 3 m wide. Two rules keep you safe:

• Choose a species with a naturally narrow habit — not just one that 'can be kept small'. Fighting a hedge's nature is a forever job.
• Plant in line with the boundary, not the planting bed — and trim flat to the boundary edge from day one so the hedge never spreads.

• Pittosporum 'Silver Sheen' or 'James Stirling' — naturally upright, can be held at 400–600 mm wide. Beautiful contemporary screen for townhouse boundaries.
• Corokia 'Geenty's Green' — wiry, dense, easily held at 400 mm wide. Great low/mid hedge for path edges or small front gardens.
• Buxus (English box) — formal low hedge, easily kept at 200–400 mm wide. Best in sheltered courtyards.
• Camellia 'Setsugekka' — narrow upright camellia, great as a slim flowering hedge in sheltered spots.
• Viburnum tinus — can be held at 500–700 mm wide with regular trims; tidy mid-height screen.

• Laurel — wants to be wide. You'll be cutting it back every six weeks.
• Ficus tuffi on a small boundary — too vigorous unless you've got room to manage it.
• Lilly Pilly in a tight spot — beautiful but spreads. Plant only if you've got 1 m of width to give it.
• Griselinia in narrow courtyards — fine on a boundary, too vigorous for tight infill spots.