Boundary hedge - recommendations please

[vixylix]

Hi all,

We have finally found another house, after the first fell through. I don't want to tempt fate... but I have my first question

The bulk of the garden is at the front of the house, and as the front is south facing this is where I intend to put my veg patch. However, its currently rather open and public and I want some privacy (as well as making sure no one nicks my prize toms ).

As its the front garden and on a road, we can't build a fence higher than a metre - so I'm thinking of some kind of hedge instead. I don't want anything too high as it will block the sun, maybe something that is easy to maintain at about 6ft and width wise wont take up half the garden!

I was thinking about bamboo because then I could utilise the canes - but would this be too much of a thug? Would it provide enough cover? Would it be a nightmare to maintain?

Thanks in advance!

p.s. mods wasnt sure where to put this - please move if its in the wrong place!

[roitelet]

I wouldn't use Bamboo as it can be rather invasive. How about Berberis. It can be kept to a reasonable height and is so thorny that no one would try to get through it.

[vixylix]

thanks Roitelet I'll have a look, its not so much to stop anyone getting through (they can climb over the gate if they're that fussed ), more just as a screen so I'm not gardening publicly!

[ESBkevin]

I rather like the look of beech hedges, it takes a while to grow but is substantial and retains some of its leaves (although brown by then) well into winter. Easy to keep trimmed and looks rather posh compared to most of the evergreen type of things. Alternatively 'box' is nice but you'd have to buy mature stock to get any protection within the first years. Box does look nice when clean cut. I do recall Monty Don having to remove some of his though due to an infestation of something - not what you'd want after waiting for it to mature.

[Jay-ell]

How about an autumn olive hedge - edible fruits and a nitrogen fixer as well

[happyhumph]

How about a mixed natives hedge? You can put in things like sloes, dog rose, wild cherry, elderflower etc which give you a hedgerow harvest as well? Can't remember where I saw it but there are websites that sell different native mixes.

The problem monty had was box blight.

[Containergardener]

A lot of my hedgerow was planted by prev owner (neighbour )
Front we have beech trees at 40ft, leaves a pain for others not us..eek.
Also laurel, elder, various trees, neighbours wild roses.
Side hedges of honeysuckle, rose rugosa, hawthorn , can be cut to shape of size you want. Our hedgerows are like that round here, mixes of things.
At the back we have hawthorn , did have sloes but omg the thorns and dog paws a nightmare.,
Other side we have bamboo(I have a few they "spread" better to leave in pots or with something to stop the spread). I use for canes , also spirea snowmound, Hazel tree, buddleia .

If you prune things you can create a hedge.
Berberis is being used by said neighbour on other side of her. (Deep reds) .

Plenty you could do. If you have a nursery round about go and have a chat what you want.

[Jungle Jane]

I do recall Monty Don having to remove some of his though due to an infestation of something

I remember that episode,he had box blight. I like the variegated leaves of euonymus fortunei silver queen. A neighbour round the corner has the 'silver queen' & 'emerald & gold' varieties mixed in coordinately it looks really pretty although the gold variety doesn't grow as tall as the silver. Good evergreen perennials. Also choisya ternata sundance is a nice bright evergreen with golden leaves.

[vixylix]

Thanks all - lots of food for thought! Never thought about mixing different kinds of hedging!

[Bigmallly]

As its the front garden and on a road, we can't build a fence higher than a metre - so I'm thinking of some kind of hedge instead. I don't want anything too high as it will block the sun, maybe something that is easy to maintain at about 6ft and width wise wont take up half the garden!

This confuses me. You can't put a fence up higher than a metre yet you can grow a 6ft high hedge................

[Bigmallly]

Assuming you want something fast growing, I would go for a thick Raspberry hedge. It's easy to manage, will feed the wildlife & is no big shakes if the local thugs nick a few fruits.

[veggiechicken]

An edible hedge?

Edible hedges: grow a vertical allotment - Telegraph

[Guest]

I would go beech if you want something well behaved that stays tidy for longer or buddleia (butterfly bush) if you just want a screen. Butterfly bush is easily propagated, quick to grow and can be hacked as and when and helps to bring in pollinators.

[happyhumph]

Really interesting article vc

[Scarlet]

I love mixed native hedges but they can send out lots of suckers, especially hawthorn and they won't flower or fruit if you are going to be trimming it to shape and sloes are vicious. I'd go for something more in keeping with your neighbours...or something that flowers to bring in your bees.