We have already purchased the small trees and hedging mentioned in my first post.
We were particularly interested in advice regarding how close we could /couldnt plant to the wall as this is where we have received conflicting advice.
You could still plant climbers first! Lots of colour and wildlife interest and foliage interest too.
I'd also stick with a 2m wide border and plant you trees and shrubs at least a metre out because there they will have better access to water and nutrients and a south-easterly aspect can be very dry. Do all the digging and soil improving first then plant your trees and shrubs in autumn and make sure you soak each one first before taking it out of its pot and teasing out its roots so they go out into the soil rather than carrying on going round. Square planting holes help with that too and a good watering afterwards.
Make sure you plant them far enough apart to allow for spread between them.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
You need to check on the eventual spread/overall diameter of each specific variety when it’s fully matured to get an accurate idea of how much space they need and thus how far to plant from the wall. e.g. which elaeagnus is it, as they vary in size? If it’s eventual width is 1m, 50cm from the wall is fine, if its 3m then 1.5m from the wall etc.
Try marking a series of circles of the mature diameter on the ground with chalk or small stakes and string. This will help you arrange and space them correctly... and also visualise how much they are going to overhang your lawn.
I’m concerned about the Arizona Cypress - to keep it to around 3m you will need to keep lopping off the top and spoiling it’s natural form. I fear it will look squished in a border and just get too big and wide. Could you make a larger planting space, say, in a far corner for that?
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Posts
We have already purchased the small trees and hedging mentioned in my first post.
We were particularly interested in advice regarding how close we could /couldnt plant to the wall as this is where we have received conflicting advice.
I'd also stick with a 2m wide border and plant you trees and shrubs at least a metre out because there they will have better access to water and nutrients and a south-easterly aspect can be very dry. Do all the digging and soil improving first then plant your trees and shrubs in autumn and make sure you soak each one first before taking it out of its pot and teasing out its roots so they go out into the soil rather than carrying on going round. Square planting holes help with that too and a good watering afterwards.
Make sure you plant them far enough apart to allow for spread between them.