Hedging!??
Last post 29-01-2010 10:35 AM by Andyroo. 15 replies.
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11/01/2010 11:25 AM
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- JCB
- Wirral
- 11 Jan 2010
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1
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I'm looking for a reasonably fast growing hedge that will provide privacy and some protection from the wind. Evergreen or Deciduous but must provide some privacy if loses its foliage. Ideally I would like it to grow to about 9ft and either have a colourful foliage or even produce flowers as a feature.
If anyone can help suggest a good start it would be very much appreciated.
Many Thanks
JCB
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11/01/2010 03:17 PM
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- welshpoppy
- North Wales
- 28 May 2008
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2
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I'd recommend Escallonia for a fairly informal hedge. I have one called Donard Brilliance which has comparitively large flowers in a good pinky red, and it would easily get to 9 ft. It's evergreen too. I grow mine as a shrub, but I'm sure that if you trained it into shape early in its life it would make a good hedge. You would have to prune only after flowering or you would not get any flowers the next year. If you can't get Donard Blilliance, E. Appleblossom is easy to get hold of and very pretty.though it doesn't hold it's leaves so well. Macrantha is the one usually sold for hedging, but the flowers are rather small.
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12/01/2010 05:11 PM
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- Rae
- Dorset
- 31 Jul 2007
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221
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The obvious one is Laurel - evergreen with glossy leave - no flowers but fast growing. What can make an attractive "hedge" is a row of bamboo. They are evergreen and sway in the wind - but again no flowers but they respond well to being cut back and will grow to 9ft (you need to find ask at the garden centre for the correct variety). Need lots of water.
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12/01/2010 06:43 PM
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- Phot's-Moll
- The sunny South coast.
- 06 Jan 2007
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4,540
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You could also consider a 'fedge'. This is made by planting climbers up a wire mesh or trellis fence. You could include some annuals to get coverage the first year and add in as many flowering plants as you like. The main advantage of this type of hedge is that it doesn't require the three foot or so width of ground space that a hedge needs, so is a good choice in smaller gardens.
Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.
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14/01/2010 10:45 AM
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- loulou
- glasgow
- 22 Oct 2008
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25
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Another possibility is beech - it keeps its lovely brown crinkly leaves for much of the winter. It can be cut slightly narrower than Laurel, but it won't grow as quickly unfortunately.
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15/01/2010 12:17 PM
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- Obelix
- Belgium
- 24 Nov 2004
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440
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Escallonia is often recommended for exposed sites as it copes well with wind. It would easily reach the 9' you need but maybe over several years.
Laurel is fast but can be too vigorous and need cutting regularly. The large leaves don' look good when done witha hedge trimmer as it leaves so many raw edges to go brown. Laurel is also very dark and dull.
Beech is good and can be planted close together in 2 or 3 staggerd rows for extra density. I've seen it planted 9" apart here in 2 rows but clipped close to provide a thin but dense hedge. Hornbeam would be a better choice for heavy soil.
I have a hawthorn hedge on one boundary. It was planted in winter, cut back to 9" stems and grew 6' in its first year. We keep it trimmed to 6' and about 3' feet thick as it's a wind barrier for our soft fruit beds. It has blossom in spring and berries later on and provides food and shelter for a wide range of birds and beneficial insects as well as cool shade for our cat on hot days.
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15/01/2010 02:09 PM
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No one has mentioned Yew! It will grow nearly 10 inches each year in its first ten years if planted well and will form one of the most beautiful and easy to keep of all hedges - just trim once in late August. The idea of a 'fast growing hedge fills me with dread as it will not just stop growing quickly when it has reached the height you need. It will also probably need cutting more than once a year and topping out every few years. Another problem is that most fast hedges cannot be hard pruned if they get out of hand unlike Yew and Beech which can be cut back to the trunk if need be. Sometimes it is better to wait just a little longer for something good than be a slave to something that grows madly. Wouldn't recommend Laurel unless you prune it with secatuers or treat it as an informal barrier that you just prune bits off each year. Mark
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15/01/2010 02:43 PM
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- Obelix
- Belgium
- 24 Nov 2004
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440
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I was put off yew as it is poisonous and cannot be grown if, like us, you have grazing next door. I have holly on that side now.
Our hawthorn hedge gets cut once a year in autumn after any fledglings have flown. We inherited a conifer hedge - not Leylandii - which also gets cut in autumn but I wouldn't recommend one to anyone. They're dull, suck the life out of the surrounding soil and can't be cut right back to regenerate or control them.
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15/01/2010 03:07 PM
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- Moshe
- Surrey
- 25 Jun 2009
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14
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Has anyone tried Thuja Plicata Astrovirens?
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15/01/2010 10:04 PM
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- Nick
- Somerset
- 15 Jan 2010
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15
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I've just planted some E. Apple Blossom...I agree - think Escallonia is fantastic, and I also wanted to plug it as an absolutely top bumblebee plant too.
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16/01/2010 12:21 PM
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- miranda
- Oxfordshire
- 17 Nov 2004
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4,071
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I like Escallonia too, Nick, for the same reason as you. It will also flower twice a year, early and late, which is another bonus. And the flowers are pretty.
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27/01/2010 02:52 PM
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Before anyone can really answer your question, we need to know more about the site of your proposed hedge. The key questions are always: Sunny or shady? Is the soil very dry, well drained or soggy? Is is chalky?
On the coast or inland? And I suppose that your budget & metres to cover is a side issue as well. A few people have recommended Escallonia: I agree, it's a fab hedge plant, but if your soil is soggy and/or chalky, I wouldn't go near it. (If it is well drained & chalk free, I'd give it 10/10) If you tell us more, we can give you better advice!
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27/01/2010 08:39 PM
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- FionaR
- Kingston
- 27 Jan 2010
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1
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Would you recommend Pyrancanta for hedging on heavy clay acidic soils, North West orientation? I am attracted to it for it's autumn berries (birds love it I believe) and spring blossom. The fact that is evergreen means that it provides all year screening. The only thing that worries me, is that it can look a bit scraggily and might be difficult to keep looking good????
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27/01/2010 09:31 PM
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- sue1002
- Ipswich, Suffolk
- 06 Sep 2005
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9,464
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Pyracantha should be ok for you Fiona providing the soil is free draining as it will tolerate all soils except waterlogged ones. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/rhsplantselector/plantdetail.aspx?plantid=43845 If you prune it two or three times during the spring and summer, you should end up with a nice thick hedge rather than a straggly one.
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27/01/2010 09:40 PM
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Sue is spot on - Pyracantha will do well just about anywhere and even likes soil that is on the damp side, as long as it doesn't get waterlogged. Trimming lightly 2-3 times is recommended to keep it really bushy.
The trick to keeping your hedge from ever getting straggly down below is to make the base slightly wider than the top, a bit like this: / \ but not quite as steep. Pyracantha is very forgiving and if you find it isn't behaving in the future, give it a hard prune in winter and it will branch out again nicely. Birds do indeed go crazy for it!
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