Alternatives To Box Hedging - 5 Practical Solutions

Box is an incredibly useful and versatile plant in the garden. Not only is it naturally dense, offering a form of privacy to your outdoor space, but can be used for formal hedging, low borders, and pathway edging too – not to mention its frequent use as topiary.

However, as useful as box is, it’s no longer a sustainable option. The species is unfortunately under threat.

What was once a go-to option for homeowners, box now faces two main problems: box blight and box tree caterpillar. Both can adversely affect the health and vitality of box plants, creating a real difficulty when it comes to keeping them alive and healthy.

Whether you already have the issues of box blight or box tree caterpillar in your garden, or want to avoid these potential problems altogether, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we explore 5 practical alternatives to the box plant.

1. Yew (Taxus baccata)
For many homeowners, Yew (or Taxus baccata) is the replacement plant of choice. A British native that withstands hard clipping and can be grown as topiary or a low hedge.

Like box, yew clips to a dense, smooth surface, and will also recover (slowly) from renovation pruning. As a like for like alternative, Yew is probably your best bet.

2. Euonymus
Euonymus japonicus is a compact, glossy evergreen that makes for good low hedging. It can also be effective in lining a knot garden or parterre.

The plant is salt and wind tolerant as well, making it an excellent choice for gardens located near the coast.

3. Lavender
Everyone recognises the touch of colour that lavender brings in the peak of summer. So, if purple is your favourite colour, this might just be the perfect alternative for you.

Not only does lavender make for a beautiful row of hedges, but it brings that addition of scented flowers and foliage to top it all off.

Lavender prefers well-drained soil in a sunny spot, so bare this in mind when choosing a plant location.

4. Maigrun
With leaves that are very similar in size to the box, Maigrun provides a bushy, compact look wherever it’s needed. It clips well to give a dense finish but watch out. It can be vigorous in favourable conditions, so regular clipping may be necessary.

If you prefer the need for less maintenance work, one of the above options may be better suited to you.

5. DuraPost® fencing
While the above options provide good alternatives to the box hedge, they do require regular trimming and pruning for an everlasting neat look to your outside space – and we know that’s not something everyone has the time (or desire) for.

So, for those that would prefer a low-maintenance and long-lasting alternative, we have the solution for you.

DuraPost® fencing can be installed to replace and provide the benefits served by box hedging (or any of its alternatives mentioned above), especially where privacy is a main priority. DuraPost® fence posts support virtually any type of fence panel, meaning you can create an outdoor partition, screen, or whatever you need at the height you desire.

DuraPost®
The DuraPost® system can even be used with composite gravel boards, giving you complete control over how tall or short you’d like your fence. The stacked configuration is straightforward and easy to achieve, as each board slots perfectly on top of the other - your mini fence can be created with a single pair of hands in no time at all.

Unlike traditional fencing options, DuraPost® doesn’t rot, nor does it require any maintenance. Simply have your DuraPost® fence installed and enjoy long-lasting privacy for up to 25 years guaranteed!

If you like the sound of DuraPost®, why not explore more on the system today or speak with our expert team for help. We’re always happy to answer any questions you have and would love to talk you through how DuraPost® could benefit you.