Hedges, Hedgerows, Coppices, and other Borders

 Wooded Borders and Hedgerows

Wooded Hedgerow or Copse along a creek near Greenfield Lake 

Most parts of North America as well as Europe have been altered by humans for centuries, and most of the undisturbed "wilderness" areas have been tamed (including by Native American societies in Precolonial North America). Most of the woodlands, forests, and open areas in the world are remnants of natural ecosystems or areas that have regrown through secondary succession. The majority of the bird and mammal species in North America occupy a wide range of habitats including remnant ecosystems, human created habitats, and edges. Edge habitats host more species of plants and animals than continuous forests, grasslands, or marshes, because these areas contain a large range of environmental conditions and are always in flux. Among the most productive habitats in rural, suburban areas, and the edge of cities are wooded borders and hedges. In Europe and the British Isles, hedges, copses, and wooded borders provide most of the habitat for woodland and shrubland species once most of the old forests were cleared. Parts of North and South Carolina has a similar landscape as many of the land parcels, farms and towns were settled in the Colonial Era and hedges and tree lines were used as fences. By comparison, places west of the Mississippi River and further south have larger properties because of the rectangular survey. In places like Texas, Kansas, or Michigan croplands or pastures may extend for miles with no hedges or wooded borders. Hedgerows and wooded borders come in many forms but all provide critical habitat for birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects, and can contain a wide variety of plants. 

Overview

Hedges and Wooded Borders include a wide range of wooded or shrubby plant communities or landscaping features that often separate property borders or form a buffer between natural areas and cultivated or developed regions. Even in suburban and urban areas, shrubs, and trees are often installed or maintained for utilitarian and aesthetic purposes such as screening a road or commercial building, or beautifying a landscape. Below I will go over the different types of borders and hedges that could be encountered in our region, or utilized in a garden or a larger property for habitat. 

Example of closely pruned azalea hedges in a public garden

Hedges: Hedges are borders of shrubs or small trees that are used as fences, borders, or decorative appeal and are often manicured by pruning. These borders may contain native or nonnative shrubs and are often seen in gardens, larger commercial landscapes, parks, and the edges of fields. Hedges may provide shelter and nest sites for birds but are generally not productive as habitats. 

Hedgerow behind the townhouse, yellow bird on lower left is a Baltimore Oriole

Hedgerows: Hedgerows are borders of shrubs, trees, vines, and often herbaceous plants that were traditionally used in Europe and North America to separate properties. Many hedgerows were created after soil, rocks, and other debris were pushed to the edge of agricultural areas and usually contain remnant habitats, or may naturalize as shrubs and trees take over the area. Hedgerows may also be planted to restore gamebird, deer, or wildlife habitat, slow erosion, provide privacy, or protect creeks and rivers. Hedgerow and hedge are often used interchangeably (including in this blog) but there are distinct differences. Hedgerows tend to contain a mix of woody and herbaceous plants, are more naturalized, and may resemble forest strips. Hedges are more manicured and intentional with shrubs being planted at specific intervals and pruned frequently. 

Coppiced Azaleas, Cherry Laurels at Greenfield Lake, cut winter of 2019. This Grey Catbird has a nest under one the sprout clusters  

Coppice: Coppices are areas of woodland or shrubs that are periodically cut back to ground level to stimulate growth and is common in both Europe and North America for firewood production, wildlife habitat, or to stimulate growth in some shrubs. These borders resemble natural shrublands or old fields and can provide dense cover for songbirds, rodents, and reptiles. Coppicing may be intentional or the result of landscaping practices such as brush hogging, or heavy pruning. Some trees and shrubs such as Sweetgum, Cherry Laurel, Magnolias, and nonnative such as Chinese Privet, or Tallow Tree respond to cutting by sending new sprouts that create coppices. Blackberries and grapes also do this. 

A copse with a marsh in the background, Greenfield Lake, the shrubs closest to photographer were coppiced or cut over

Copses: The formal definition for Copse is a woodland that is coppiced (an English term) although for the purposes of this article, I will use this term to describe small wooded or shrubby areas within open or cultivated landscapes that are smaller than typical woodlots. These areas can include a clump of trees, shrubs, and vines bordering neighborhoods or parks, remnant woodlands, and riparian buffers. Copses offer the same benefits as larger sections of woodlands and can be productive habitats if they are connected to other areas with hedgerows, or features. These areas tend to be very dense as sunlight and disturbed ground stimulates the growth of shrubs, vines, and canebrake. Human activities such as trimming, or burning, and grazing by deer can also create stimulate coppicing. 

Other Border Types 

A classic windbreak, behind New Hanover County Landfill, circa Oct 2019, there is also a wooden fencerow. The meadow is being used for a restoration project.

Windbreaks and Tree Lines: Windbreaks are rows of trees that are often planted to protect property from strong winds, and may also provide shade, serve as property borders, and offer wildlife habitat. Most windbreaks contain one or a few tree species that are planted in even rows (one or several layers) with the understory managed by mowing. However, some windbreaks may become naturalized with understory and subcanopy trees or shrubs filling in to make a wooded border. In the Carolinas, windbreaks often contain Longleaf, Loblolly or White Pine, Eastern Red Cedar, and one or more hardwood species (often oak, hickory, maple, or nonnatives like Lombardy Poplar). The deciduous windbreaks are good for residential properties as it can provide shade during the summer while allowing sunlight into the garden during the winter. Windbreaks are valuable habitats in rural, suburban, and urban areas and can provide nest habitat or feeding areas for migratory songbirds, woodpeckers, tree squirrels, and serve as corridors between woodlands, copses, or wetlands. 

Overgrown fencerow with asters, wild rose, and vines on a rural property 

Fencerows: In rural and in many cases suburban/urban landscapes, fences have replaced hedgerows and stonewalls as property borders. While wooden and metal fences do not provide the same benefits as hedges or hedgerows, they can eventually turn into good habitats. Overtime, birds, rodents, and even ants will deposit seeds of plants along fences which lead to shrubs, vines, and herbaceous plants growing along borders. Many fencerows become overtaken by vines, brambles, and hardy perennials creating habitat for birds and pollinators. Fencerows can also be intentionally planted with wildflowers, perennials, shrubs, or used to train grapevines to create such habitat around the home, while turning bland fences into colorful borders. 

Native plants in a flower border at Washington DC's National Mall, circa Aug 2019

Garden Borders: In home and large-scale landscapes, planted borders can function just like hedges, hedgerows, or wooded borders if they are planted with the right species. A perennial border or row of shrubs can provide the same benefits as a hedgerow or overgrown fencerow, while foundation shrubs function just like hedges. perennial borders, vegetable gardens, and borders used to separate plantings often become foraging sites for birds and may provide nesting options for a wide variety of birds. 

Shrubs and saplings along road leading to powerline cut, behind Maides Park, Wilmington NC

Utility Corridors: Another overlooked habitat that is often found in rural, suburban, and urban settings are utility corridors. Powerlines, railway corridors, roads, and underground utilities all require easements and buffers to function properly. Crews remove trees, or shrubs within a certain distance of these corridors and may conduct mowing, brush removal, or tree trimming on regular cycles. While disruptive, these areas are among the best refuges for old field, early successional, shrubland, and grassland birds, mammals, and especially insect communities. Low shrubs, weedy or grassy meadows, and small trees provide habitat for birds that avoid woodlands including Eastern Towhees, Field Sparrows, Blue Grosbeak, and Northern Bobwhite, while a wide variety of woodland birds, open country birds, and birds of prey forage in these areas. 

Importance of Edge Habitat 

Brown Thrashers nest and roost in hedgerows and woodland borders 

Many host plants for butterflies and moths thrive in hedgerows and copses

Five-Lined Skinks are among the reptiles that utilize hedgerows for habitat 

Edge habitats and borders are critical habitat for birds and other animals in human-developed regions, and in urban areas, these are often the best habitats for nesting. Except for hedges and other landscaped borders, most borders are maintained infrequently or allowed to naturalize allowing for them to be used by animals that would be more sensitive to disturbance. In the Cape Fear Region, hedgerows, copses, and small woodlands can provide habitat for dozens of species of birds (upwards of 70 in some areas). They also function as corridor habitat for White Tailed Deer, Grey and Red Fox, Bobcats, and a host of reptiles, and amphibians, connecting populations in remnant habitats or protected areas. Lastly these areas provide benefits to humans including blocking out roads, or industrial sites, filtering the air of pollutants, providing stormwater filtration, and giving opportunities to enjoy nature (I explored many woodlots, powerline corridors, and old fields in Wilmington and thought I was in the wilderness at times). Any garden or property can become a good bird or wildlife habitat with the addition or preservation of hedgerows, wooded borders, and supplementing fences and walls with vegetative borders. On a larger scale, hedgerows, windbreaks, copses, and riparian buffers can link larger woodlots, parks, and wetlands together, helping to expand wildlife habitat, combat stagnant populations and increase biodiversity. Increased diversity leads to healthier ecosystems while human benefits can include an increase in pollinators, predators to control pests such as rats, plant eating insects, or mosquitos, and more competition for highly successful animals like raccoons or coyotes (which thrive in urbanized settings without natural checks). Connected ecosystems also increase habitat for game animals, protect fisheries and provide direct opportunities for people to enjoy nature, fish, and can help combat water pollution rivers and creeks. 

Wildlife Benefits 

Towhees and other shurbland birds are declining rapidly due to habitat loss. This bird needs shrubby areas with minimal tree canopy, similar to the habitats that Bobwhites use.

Birds of prey forage along hedgerows and forest clearings for mice, voles, and large insects. This is a Red Shouldered Hawk

Birds: Border habitats can support dozens of bird species throughout the year and can be as productive as woodlands. In the Carolinas, rural or suburban hedgerows, copses, and wooded borders often host more birds than unbroken forests as many species forage or nest along the edges of forests or utilize meadows, clearings, and riparian buffers. During spring and autumn migration, songbirds gather in hedgerows, windbreaks, and other borders to feed on insects and fruits while seeking shelter from predators. These habitats host grassland or meadowland species like meadowlarks or Savannah Sparrow alongside woodland birds such as warblers, vireos, and tanagers. Hedgerows are vital for species that rely on transitional habitats such as meadows, shrublands, and fire-maintained habitats. Northern Bobwhites are rapidly declining in the Carolinas due to the loss of habitat from suburban development, large-scale agriculture, and silviculture (tree farming) operations. However farms and even suburbs with hedgerows, copses, and meadows can provide critical habitat for Bobwhites. Field Sparrows, Eastern Towhees, Yellow Breasted Chats, Blue Grosbeaks, and Brown Thrashers all rely on border habitats for breeding and are declining as old farmland and shrublands turn into forest, while suburban sprawl destroys other habitats. Woodland birds also benefit greatly with chickadees, titmice, warblers, thrushes, woodpeckers, and wrens nesting and foraging in mature hedgerows, copses, and windbreaks, while larger wood habitats might support forest interior species like Ovenbird, Kentucky Warblers, or Scarlet Tanagers depending on the location. 

Fox Squirrels prefer hedgerows or open areas with trees over forests where Grey Squirrels (or in the mountains, Red Squirrels) thrive

White Tailed Deer often use wooded corridors to reach other habitat areas.

Mammals: The majority of mammals in the Carolinas have already adapted to human-altered landscapes and are quite successful in rural and exurban settings. Even cities like Wilmington and Raleigh NC have established populations of mammals including deer, bears, and mammalian predators due to adaptation, and the presence of large protected areas. Hedgerows, and wooded borders provide corridors for mammals and have played an important role in supporting endangered animals in other regions (including North Carolina's Red Wolf populations). In our area, tree squirrels are just as prolific in hedgerows, copses, and windbreaks as they are in forests. Grey and Fox Squirrels help to expand the forest by burying tree nuts, provide food for hawks, owls, and mammalian predators, and engineer the landscape. Squirrels can also cross roads safely if there are enough trees (or powerlines) in the area. Native mice and the Woodrat are also important for the ecosystem and unlike the nonnative rat and House Mouse species, they are less likely to become problems in the home. Mammalian predators travel along corridors to hunt prey, while bats depend on trees and shrubs for roosts. 

This is not a snake, this is a Glass Lizard or Slowworm, they eat insect pests

Treefrogs like this Grey Treefrog often live in hedges or woodland edges

Reptiles and Amphibians: A hedgerow or coppice can provide valuable habitat for reptiles and amphibians (herps). Lizards, skinks, snakes, and frogs all travel along shrubby or herbaceous border and help to control rodent and insect populations. Providing hedges and other borders may also help to keep snakes away from houses or outbuildings as they would have other places to live. Species that are often present in hedgerows and wooded borders include the Eastern Fence Lizard, Green Anole, Five Lined and Broad Headed Skink, Glass Lizard "Slowworm", Gartner Snake, Hognose Snake, Southern Toad, Green Treefrog, and Squirrel Treefrog among others. Borders leading to ephemeral (temporary) and permanent wetlands and ponds can provide a safe route for frogs and salamanders to reach their breeding grounds. Box Turtles can thrive in home gardens if there is enough vegetation to sustain them and safe places to lay eggs. Hedges and coppices provide ideal habitats for Box Turtles as well as for  nearby pond turtles (like Sliders). 

American Bumblebees like many bees (including the Honeybee) are declining, flowering plants and shrubs provide important food. Bumblebees also nest in copses or hedges in burrows or hollows.

Cicada Killer Wasp with a Swamp Cicada in her possession 

Golden Silk Orbweaver

Beneficial Insects: Providing or maintaining hedgerows and borders can boost beneficial insect populations in the area and attract predatory species to control pests such as mosquitos, cockroaches and lawn/garden pests. Bees and wasps need wildflowers and flowering shrubs throughout the season to survive, while most butterflies and moths depend on native plants and trees for larval host plants. A hedgerow or woodland can support a long-list of insects and other invertebrates that help maintain the health of the soil, decompose detritus, and complete the local food web. Isopods such as pillbugs, leaf dwelling insects like crickets, earthworms, or the species of snails and slugs in our area all benefit from hedgerows and copses. In turn, these invertebrates provide food for birds such as American Robins, Wood Thrushes, and Carolina Wrens, as well as moles, skinks, and other predators. Spiders also thrive in hedges and like snakes, these often disliked creatures help to control unwanted or dangerous pests including mosquitos. Planting borders of wildflowers, or garden perennials (especially natives) can turn any garden or property into an healthy ecosystem and provide nectar and pollen for native bees as well as area honeybee populations.

Creating Hedgerows and Borders

American Robins and other birds will flock to fruit bearing shrubs in the winter.

Every garden and property in the Carolinas should have some kind of hedgerow or wooded border as they are easy to implement, can be attractive to the overall landscape, and don't have to be overgrown or weedy. Ordinary hedges and foundation plantings can also be beneficial but these are generally high- maintenance and offer little value (especially if nonnative species are used). I also do not advise the use of foundation shrubs unless they are very low-growing species (like Dwarf Yaupon Holly, or certain roses) as these will require constant pruning and could takeover quickly. A hedgerow can be planted along the property border, as a backdrop to a garden, or along an existing woodland. If you have a creek, stream, or tributary, buffers are even more important as they provide stormwater filtration, help prevent erosion, and may even mitigate flooding. A hedgerow or windbreak with a mix of shrubs, trees, vines, and herbaceous plants can boost your garden's birdlife significantly, bring beneficial insects, and in the long-run reduce maintenance costs and labor (as these areas do not have to be mowed or pruned as often). 

Placement: Hedgerows, and wooded borders should be placed along the edge of the property or in an area that is not intended to be formal or used for daily activities. The back garden or the sides of a suburban or urban property (depending on the setup) are ideal for hedgerows, or buffers. These areas should have enough space for shrubs and trees to grow naturally without interfering with buildings, powerlines, or roads. The areas should also be accessible as there will still be some maintenance such as periodic trimming, the removal of invasives or unwanted trees, and other important tasks. 

Hedges and planted borders can be placed anywhere you want to divide a landscape feature, or mark a property line, while coppices can be incorporated into any woodland or meadow garden. On large property and rural sites, windbreaks are the most beneficial when they are placed along the path of prevailing winds so the trees can protect buildings from strong winds.

Maintenance: Unlike hedges and foundation shrubs, hedgerows, and wooded borders require very little maintenance and can be more-or-less kept in natural. In most cases, all you will need to do is trim back or cut unwanted vegetation from autumn to early spring, keep after invasive plants like privet, and on smaller properties, remove unwanted tree saplings before they get too big. A healthy hedgerow with a mix of native plants, and hardy nonnatives (like azaleas, camellias, gardenias, and forsythia) can hold its own and require absolutely no pesticide or herbicide treatments. Other maintenance items can include periodically removing leaf litter and dead debris to reduce fire risk and keep the shrubs and trees healthy, controlling aggressive vines like Smilax or Muscatine Grape which could choke out trees, and other things as desired to maintain aesthetics. 

Coppicing: Coppices require periodic pruning to maintain their structure with cutting being performed on 10-18 year cycles (if they were being harvested for resources). You can also cut certain shrubs such as azaleas, cherry laurels, wild cherries (Black Cherry, Choke Cherry), Wax Myrtle, and even Sweetgum saplings to the ground to create coppices. All cutting should be done during the winter months. I would do so every 3-5 years on rotating cycles although this should only be done on shrubs that form colonies. At Greenfield Lake Park in Wilmington city crews cut vegetation along the lakeshore every 3-4 years (likely for other reasons) creating coppices. Learn more about the history and role of coppicing in this article from Wikipedia

Herbaceous Borders: Herbaceous Borders need more upkeep than hedgerows or coppices in order to keep them from being overtaken by vines, shrubs, and trees. Perennial borders and meadows need to be weeded until the plants are established, while tree saplings, vines, and unwanted plants should be removed as well. More natural borders including ones bordering hedges, copses, or woodlands can be left alone although periodic disking, mowing, or cutting will be required so these areas do not get overtaken by woody vegetation. Sunlight is crucial for flowering plants to thrive so it may be important to trim nearby trees to maintain enough light (or woodland plants and shade tolerant species can be used instead). Unlike formal flowerbeds, Perennial borders can look good all summer and should be left with minimal disturbance until the end of the growing season, depending on the situation. 

Cardinals nest mostly in shrubs or trees with forking branches or dense growth

Pruning for Nest Sites: Hedgerows and other shrub or vine elements can be one of the best ways to host nesting songbirds, doves, and cuckoos. Trees and shrubs that have forking branches, cane-like structures, or crotches are more likely to be used by open nesting songbirds. Selective cutting of branches can boost the health of certain species by providing more sunlight and avoiding crossing branches (which can lead to girdling). It also promotes new sprouts which creates forks and nooks for birds to place their nests. Azaleas, boxwoods, Wax Myrtles, hawthorns, camellias, and hollies are all ideal nest shrubs that respond well to pruning. Tightly pruned hedge and foundation shrubs provide nest sites for Brown Thrashers, mockingbirds, cardinals, and Song or Field Sparrows. Trees like Crepe Myrtles can be pruned back to the main trunks to create dense growth (similar to coppicing) which creates suitable nest sites for American Robins or Wood Thrushes, orioles, House Finches, and other birds that nest higher up. In general it is best to follow advice from landscaping and gardening resources as each shrub or tree is different and people have different goals for their landscapes. In our area, Camellias bloom during the winter, while Azaleas are early spring bloomers, so cutting during the winter will likely remove buds.  

Plant Choices: You can use virtually any plant or tree in a hedgerow or border although I always recommend using native plants or plants that provide benefits to wildlife. Avoid using invasive species such as privets, European Buckthorn, Autumn Olive, Tallow Tree, Chinaberry, or Bradford Pear, and vines like Chinese/Japanese Wisteria, Japanese Honeysuckle, or English Ivy. These plants will not only take over your garden or property, but will also spread into woodlands, parks, and neighboring properties, where they outcompete native plants and cause headaches to other gardeners. Below is a list of plants that I recommend for hedgerows, hedges, coppices, copses/wooded borders, and other borders. These plants apply to Southeastern North Carolina landscapes and include both native and nonnative species.

Plants for Hedgerows 

Carolina Rose is a nice flowering shrub for sunny hedgerows

• Eastern Red Cedar 
• Common Juniper 
• Hawthorns and Crab Apples
• Crepe Myrtle 
• American Holly (tree)
• English or Japanese Holly (shrubby)
• Carolina Cherry Laurel 
• Hackberry 
• Spicebush
• Viburnum
• Wax Myrtle or Bayberry 
• Fetter Bush 
• Elderberry 
• Red Mulberry (can be messy near paths)
• American Beautyberry 
• Blueberries and Elderberries 
• Blackberries and Brambles (both shrub and vining) 
• Carolina Rose, Swamp Rose (in wetter areas) or any shrub rose 
• Cherokee Rose, or Rugosa Rose (climber)
• Coral Honeysuckle (shrubby vine) 
• Virginia Creeper (vine)
• Muscatine (Fox) and Summer Grape (vine)
• Trumpet Vine (vine, can be aggressive)
• Smilax (vine, thorny) 

Plants for Hedges and Borders

Coral Honeysuckle is a shrubby vine that mixes well with azaleas, roses, or camellias and a simple trellis or arbor.   

• Common Juniper 
• Creeping Juniper 
• Leyland Cypress 
• Yew 
• Wahoo (Burning Bush)
• Blueberries (any Vaccinium species)
• Dwarf Yaupon Holly (best for foundation plantings or driveways)
• Boxwood 
• Knockout and Tea Roses (Carolina Rose will work too)
• Azaleas (including native Pinxter and Swamp Azaleas)
• Camellias 
• Most hollies 
• Coral Honeysuckle (well-behaved vine with shrubby structure)
• Beautyberry 
• Viburnum
• Hydrangea (for more wooded or shaded settings) 
• Dwarf Crepe Myrtle

Plants for Coppices

A Cherry Laurel growing as a coppice (with a kinglet feeding to the left). This tree went down during Hurricane Florence but regrew from the stump.

• Azaleas (evergreen species only)
• Boxwood 
• Carolina Cherry Laurel 
• Wax Myrtle or Bayberry 
• Blackberry or other brambles
• Cherokee or other Climbing Roses (Do not use Multiflora Rose) 
• Most pioneer trees tend to form stump sprouts when cut (magnolias, elms, sweetgums, many oaks, hickories, and hackberry also respond to coppicing) 
•  Many fruit trees also respond to coppicing (apples, peaches, pears, figs, mulberries, etc)

Plants for Wooded Borders and Windbreaks

Live Oaks are good windbreak trees if you have the space for their size and live near the coast.

• Longleaf Pine or Shortleaf Pine (I recommend these over Loblolly Pine or Pitch Pine)
• Baldcypress or Pond Cypress (deciduous conifer for wetter areas, very sturdy)
• Hemlocks (for Appalachia and western piedmont only) 
• Southern Magnolia (broadleaf evergreen, very large)
• Live Oak (for Coastal Carolina only)
• White Oaks 
• Willow, Water, or Shingle Oaks (smaller but faster growing oaks)
• Hickories (any species, Mockernut, Shagbark, Red, and Pecan are the best)
• Elms 
• Sycamore 
• Red Maple or Sugar Maple (Silver Maples are weaker trees overall)
• Sweetgum (will form colonies but is a robust tree for wetter areas)

Understory and Subcanopy Trees or Shrubs

• Common Juniper (good conifer for nesting birds)
• River Birch (for understories in sunnier areas)
• Eastern Dogwood (for understories in shady areas) 
• Redbud (to supplement larger trees)
• Crepe Myrtle (summer flowering tree, nonnative)
• Fringe Tree 
• Carolina Cherry Laurel 
• American Holly 
• Hawthorns and Crabapples (sunnier spots), Japanese Cherry will work too
• Serviceberry 
• Hackberry (favorite of songbirds)
• Black Cherry or Chokeberry (favorite fruit of songbirds)
• Sugarberry/Sourwood (a tall-growing relative of blueberry family)

Plants for Perennial Borders 

Copper Canyon Daisy is ideal plants for herbaceous hedges

• Salvia (multiple species) 
• Coneflowers (Rudbeckia or Echinacea species)
• Goldenrods (Tall Goldenrod can be more aggressive than other species) 
• Narrowleaf and Swamp Sunflower (prune mid-summer to make bushier)
• Copper Canyon Daisy (shrubby aster species)
• Indigo species (I recommend the White Baptista) 
• Butterfly Milkweed and Butterfly Weed (most attractive of the milkweeds)
• Iris (any species, use Blue Flag in wetter areas) 
• Garden Phlox and Carolina Phlox 
• Lantana (almost a shrub but dies back completely)