Windbreaker/hedge for my alotment
Last post 27-10-2009 12:29 PM by EvaInNL. 6 replies.
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24/10/2009 08:33 AM
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- EvaInNL
- Holland
- 25 Sep 2009
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61
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Can anyone give me some ideas on what to plant on my new alotment that could act as a windbreaker? The plot is open to the elements on all sides and on a slight incline. I was wondering if shrubs like a blackberry would do the trick. The length of the plot is about 18 metres, and I'd like some alternatives that could stay in place all year...
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24/10/2009 02:26 PM
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- miranda
- Oxfordshire
- 17 Nov 2004
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2,977
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Fruit bushes sound like a good idea, Eva. There is a page about planting blackberry as a windbreak here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/apr/06/gardens53
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25/10/2009 07:47 AM
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- EvaInNL
- Holland
- 25 Sep 2009
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61
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Thank you so much Miranda (yet again!), I've just bookmarked that article so i don't forget. I'm planning to go out and buy the bushes next weekend, i'm very lucky as i only live about 10 minutes away from where all the dutch fruit tree growers are (boskoop). I've been told that even if it isn't the right season to plant, i can stilll choose my plants/trees and they'll take care of them until they're ready to be planted.
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25/10/2009 01:26 PM
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- miranda
- Oxfordshire
- 17 Nov 2004
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2,977
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Lucky you, Boskoop is a really handy place to be! The people at the nurseries will give you advice on choosing the right plants too, so make use of their experience. I lived in Amsterdam for a while and have good memories of the flower markets - the Dutch are very good with plants.
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26/10/2009 01:44 PM
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- Obelix
- Belgium
- 24 Nov 2004
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378
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I live in central Belgium and we have hawthorn to protect our fruit beds - blackberries, tayberries, raspberries and a damson. In our veggie patch I have a row of blackcurrants and redcurrants along the side of the rhubarb patch; They are exposed to strong northerly and westerly winds and get no direct sun from late October to mid March or so. They produce loads of fruit and I think they'd make excellent windbreaks - better than blackberry as this needs training and pruning to keep the fruiting branches renewed and to stop it spreading everywhere. We also have some blueberries nearby so you could consider some of those too if you can give them acid soil or compost to grow in.
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27/10/2009 12:16 PM
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- EvaInNL
- Holland
- 25 Sep 2009
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61
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hi miranda, i hope i can live up to that reputation! :o) but no-one beats the brits at gardening, even a french garden show presenter admitted that (although he looked very pained as he said it!) 
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27/10/2009 12:29 PM
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- EvaInNL
- Holland
- 25 Sep 2009
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61
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of course you're absolutey right about the blackberries spreading like mad obelix, and it makes for a lot of extra work (or no work and very upset neighbours!). i will go ahead with planting 2 or 3 and then mix them up with fire thorns and the hawthorn idea would work great too. so thanks for that tip! i guess the birds and insects will be very hapy with me!
as for the red- and black currants, i want to start out with just 1 or 2, even my mom can't seem to get them to prosper, might be because we are close to the coast, i don't know. if they do well i can always plant more!
blueberries, yep, also on my list! my parents gave me 3 huge tree pots so that makes it easier to get the acidity of the soil right. i'm thinking of putting them between the trees as they can take a bit of shade. and otherwise i might run out of room on my plot!
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