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Raising garden level & Laurel hedge

thepipsthepips Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hi
We are considering raising the side section of our garden to the level of the house by about 3-4 foot. We already have an established cherry laurel hedge in situ along the boundary. It is about 5ft high.

My question is: will the laurel hedge survive being submerged like this & continue to grow?

Thanks in advance.

Pip

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    No, raising the ground level by anything more than about 6 inches will kill the vast majority of trees and woody shrubs.  What are you going to use to support 3 or 4 feet of soil on the boundary?
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    You'd need a pretty strong retaining wall for that height, and a huge volume of whatever you plan to fill it with. It might be easier to build a raised deck, then the hedge can just be allowed to get taller.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    I agree with @JennyJ, a raised deck is probably your best option, stopping short of the eventual width of the hedge. Bear in mind that if you build a solid retaining wall, the hedge won’t benefit from the rainwater runoff from the existing slope, so you will need to irrigate it frequently to keep it alive - it won’t survive on just rain on the foliage.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • thepipsthepips Posts: 6
    JennyJ said:
    You'd need a pretty strong retaining wall for that height, and a huge volume of whatever you plan to fill it with. It might be easier to build a raised deck, then the hedge can just be allowed to get taller.
    Thank you Jenny. Yes. There is a wall there already. Yes, absolutely the raised deck is another option - but I just prefer the greenery. I
    might have to live with it! Thank you.
  • thepipsthepips Posts: 6
    Nollie said:
    I agree with @JennyJ, a raised deck is probably your best option, stopping short of the eventual width of the hedge. Bear in mind that if you build a solid retaining wall, the hedge won’t benefit from the rainwater runoff from the existing slope, so you will need to irrigate it frequently to keep it alive - it won’t survive on just rain on the foliage.
    Thanks Nollie. There is no slope. Maybe I should attach photos, but unsure how to do that. Thank you.
  • thepipsthepips Posts: 6
    BobTheGardener said:
    No, raising the ground level by anything more than about 6 inches will kill the vast majority of trees and woody shrubs.  What are you going to use to support 3 or 4 feet of soil on the boundary?
    Hi Bob. Hmmm. I think I need to attach some photos! I’m not very good at explaining this! Thanks!
  • thepipsthepips Posts: 6
    thepips said:
    Hi
    We are considering raising the side section of our garden to the level of the house by about 3-4 foot. We already have an established cherry laurel hedge in situ along the boundary. It is about 5ft high.

    My question is: will the laurel hedge survive being submerged like this & continue to grow?

    Thanks in advance.

    Pip
    Ok. Here are a couple of photos.
  • thepipsthepips Posts: 6

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    What's the reason for wanting to raise the level?
    There are all sorts of problems that could arise with the house wall if you stick a load of soil to that height against it.  :/

    The hedge certainly won't survive being buried, as the others have said. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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