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A tall shrub to go in front of the evil leylandii?

Last post 08-08-2012 7:11 PM by erica67. 4 replies.

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  • 04/07/2012 03:11 PM
    • Drsquarah
    • West midlands
    • 04 Jul 2012
    • 1
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    I'm sure this has been covered in several guises but apologies for not finding the exact situation I'm in. My neighbour has a 20ft leylandii just the other side of my south-east facing bed. My soil is normally super condition, mildly alkaline but obviously here it's dry and dusty. I have a 1m round box at the front of the bed (previous owner) and a rather weedy choisya which is slowly growing but I'm looking for a tall thin shrub to go in the relatively small area at the back of the bed in front of the fence. I've been shoving loads of compost into the bed with bark chips on top but that area is bone dry.

    Thanks in advance.
  • 04/07/2012 07:47 PM
    In reply to
    • Julie
    • London
    • 28 Apr 2009
    • 410
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    So you get plenty of sun there? Hollyhocks do fine in a dry situation and are tall and thin. I guess they aren't exactly a "shrub" though. Buddleja seem to do great anywhere but especially in lime.

  • 06/07/2012 04:02 PM
    In reply to
    • loulou
    • glasgow
    • 22 Oct 2008
    • 25
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    I agree Buddleja are extremely resilient, they survive almost anything ;) Another solution might be to put a large well-drained container beneath the surface of the soil and plant your new shrub in that, so you can provide the ideal soil conditions whatever you choose. A lemon cypress might fit the bill?

  • 09/07/2012 09:23 AM
    In reply to
    • ceredig58
    • Ceredigion
    • 15 May 2012
    • 27
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    I have a 10' leylandii hedge along a small section of my garden 90' boundary, but I turned the area into shrubbery. i have various forms of elder, viburnums, one Physocarpus A rather lazy Cotinus, (refuses to stand up) all of which are mostly deciduous but quick growing. I also have a huge Mahonia media, Ceanothus, and a large clump of Rosa rugosa, which although is decidous hides the hedge all year round with its multiple thorny stems.

  • 08/08/2012 07:11 PM
    In reply to
    • erica67
    • London
    • 01 Jun 2012
    • 8
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    I have a similar problem and I have been reading up about Rosa rugosa and I am almost decided to have a row of a rose called Wild Eric along an ugly fence my neighbour has put up. I am informed that this rose can be almst neglected and will grow to 4 or 5 foot. Maybe if the rose idea is nice enough your neighbour will cut down his leylandii so he can see your rose.