Ideas for front garden hedge please

[Little Mama]

Hello everyone, first post here, hopefully in the right place.

We currently have 8 Laurels (Prunus laurocerasus) making up our front garden hedge, covering about 15ft in length and pruned to approx 6ft high. The hedge is currently 12-13ft from the house.

We've decided to replace this as nothing else in the front garden is thriving but we are at a loss as to what to replace it with.

OH would like Box but it will take a while to reach a decent height.

I am open to suggestions but would like hedge to meet the following requirements:-


1. Suitable root system so as not to cause structural issues to property.

2. Non invasive root system.

3. We live on South Coast so do have an element of clay soil.

4. Would prefer evergreen as on a fairly busy road and would like privacy so something that will reach 5-6ft fairly quickly would be great.

5. Would like something that will not stifle other plants being grown in front garden.

I hope that makes sense and look forward to any suggestions you may have.

Thanks everyone.

LM

[Little Mama]

Should mention that the garden is south facing and planting would be against an 18 inch high front garden wall.

[Queen bee]

Why do you want to replace beautiful Laurel hedge. Fantastic privacy, poloution tolerant, takes any amount of pruning and rich greeness ayr.. Ok well. I suppose Eleagnus, Escalonia and Oleria are the obvious ones for the coast. I would suggest tamarix but is rather loose and airy growing as opposed to hedgelike. May be you are not so near that salt winds are an issue. Rosemary and Rosa rugosa are fantastics if slightly invasive. Rhamnus alternofolia argentio variegata , is a beauty. I think most large evergreen hedges compete for water and nutrients with other nearby plants so I suggest watering, feeding and a heavy mulch of them. Hope this is some help qb.

[Little Mama]

Thanks for that list Queen bee, I'll be busy looking those up.

We're fairly close to the coast, prob 500m as the crow flies but have never encountered any problems growing anything.

The main reason for considering the Laurel's removal is that over half the front garden is parking and we are concerned about the effect such a hedge would have on the ground in terms of drying out and root invasion/spread.

Thanks again.
LM

[Two_Sheds]

lonicera nitida

quicker than box but looks similar, you can topiarise it, and also grow other plants nearby without it bothering them

My mum has one and I've taken cuttings to start some "box balls" at school

[Kristen]

Now there's an interesting idea. I want some Topiary, but it will take ages. I could grow Lonicera (or even Privet for that matter) short term, and grow on some Box or Yew for transplanting later [by the Great-Grandchildren I expect!]

[Little Mama]

Wow thanks Two Sheds, never heard of that one before but sounds like it might fit the bill all round.

[Little Mama]

Can't seem to find what sort of rooting habit the Lonicera Nitada has or how far from buildings it has to be. Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance.
LM

[Queen bee]

I don't think root spread is a problem with lonicera, especially the golden form 'Bagginsons Gold'. I have it here in the garden and it isn't causing problems. Good luck with it.
qb

[Glutton4...]

I don't think root spread is a problem with lonicera, especially the golden form 'Bagginsons Gold'. I have it here in the garden and it isn't causing problems. Good luck with it.
qb

Personally I HAAAATE Lonicera Nitida, and Baggesens Gold is the PITS!! But, I stress, that is only my opinion.

I lovely hedge can be made from Photinia x Fraseri. 'Red Robin' in particular, has lovely red leaves on the new growth. It can be hard pruned and is quite forgiving, and evergreen. I had one or two as shrubs in my old garden, and when I forgot to prune them, then got 'scissor-happy' they grew even thicker, with more leaves.

[Scarlet]

I had one or two as shrubs in my old garden, and when I forgot to prune them, then got 'scissor-happy' they grew even thicker, with more leaves.

Thats good to know - I have one that has gone mad! It really needs a little taming, a job for the weekend...