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Gap to fill

MeomyeMeomye Posts: 949
in Problem solving
Just as I removed an old bit of hedging, my neighbours have had a tree removed (on their side) which now means we can see right through to one another. Yes, I am going to ask you wonderful people for suggestions to fill the gap quickly ( I know it gets ask a lot). I appreciate I will have to buy a more expensive established plant. This gap is in the middle of a conifer hedge so I would like to have a bit of colour and something evergreen to avoid seeing through. I am considering Photinia Red Robin but would be interested in other suggestions please. Do you think a Choisya would work? I assume the ground will be pretty dry being flanked by conifers, I am on chalk and it will be in the sun most of the day.The gap is approx 6ft wide. Thanks 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Dry and in the sun most of the day - Escallonia? 
    Or how about making it more of a feature and doing a small pergola, perhaps  with a seat, and having some climbers either side? 
    Difficult without seeing the location etc, but it could be a nice spot to sit if it looks back to your house and other garden features and planting  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FlinsterFlinster Posts: 883
    Could you fill the gap with the same conifers to complete the hedge?
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I think it would look odd to have a completely different plant in the middle of some conifers. What had you in mind to do when you removed the old bit? I would go with Fairygirl's suggestion of a pergola/bench/arbour (homemade with trellis would be cheaper if you're handy). More instant result than waiting for a new plant to grow .
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • MeomyeMeomye Posts: 949
    Thanks for replies. @Fairygirl I will investigate Escallonia. Position not quite right for seating or pergola but thanks for suggestion. 
    @Flinster, I have never particularly liked conifers so I don't want any more but it is good for privacy and would be a huge job to get rid of. 
    @Lizzie27 There was an old gnarly Forsythia there (in the middle of the conifer hedge, which I did not put there) which I removed as it wasn't doing much. I did not know the neighbours were going to remove the tree the other side of the (chain link) fence which was offering a bit of privacy. 
    It would not seem at all odd to me to have something different along the hedge because it starts of with lilac then conifer then was forsythia then more conifer so I wanted a different colour if you see what I mean.  :) Thanks
  • Christine288Christine288 Posts: 3
    We have a leylandii hedge which is used to screen off part of the garden and also housing built behind us.  We keep these trees to a specific height as know how fast they grow.  Unfortunately one of these trees has died so we need to remove it.  Would an escallonia fit into such a set up or is their a climber that would stretch across the gap?
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @Meomye , Sorry, get the picture now. What about euronymus ovata aurea, it's evergreen, yellow and green leaves, quite dense and seems to grow fairly fast. Would blend in with the forsythia perhaps. I've given up on escallonia as it seems very prone to the newish escallonia blight/blackspot disease that's spreading fast.
    @Christine288 - have you discounted a new leylandii for the gap. 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Christine288Christine288 Posts: 3
    Think I am being mixed up with Meomye post.  Perhaps I should have started a new post but new to this!   New leylandii would be fine if it is ok to plant where the old one was?  I should also have mentioned that the  hedge is about 7feet high.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @Christine288, are you going to get someone in to remove and dig out the old dead one or do it yourself?  If the latter, it won't be easy I'm afraid. If you replenish the soil well, a new leylandii should be okay in the same spot. Otherwise if the gap is a narrowish one, could you tie branches from the bushes each side across the gap?
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • Christine288Christine288 Posts: 3
    Thanks for this.  We are getting someone in to remove the old one but tying branches across sounds a good idea.  I will have a close look to see if this might work.
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