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Problem Hedge

lizmaclizmac Posts: 77
in Problem solving
Hi Gardeners
We have a problem with a garden boundary onto an A road.  It has a 6 foot fence which blows down and is in poor repair and behind this is a mixed native hedge.  We are looking to taking the fence down and boosting/improving the hedge to serve as the boundary.  It has lots of ivy growing into it.  Should we start by feeding it with something and should we attempt to remove the ivy.  We do intend to lower it by about 2 feet which may help. Any advice would be gratefully received.  I will attempt to attach a photo

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited February 2021
    I would leave the ivy ... if clipped once or twice a year it can be a marvellous evergreen boundary. Its flowers are an invaluable source of nectar for pollinating insects, it provides berries for birds in winter and the plant is a wonderful nest site for robins, wrens, dunnocks and blackbirds and countless other birds ... it’s a very handsome plant and it’s dense growth makes it a great sound barrier. 

    I’d love to have that hedge, just as it is, in my garden. Deep envy here 😍

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • lizmaclizmac Posts: 77
    Unfortunately it does not look as good as that from the roadside where it is flat against the fence.  Do you think this side will improve once the fence is down and it gets light - that side is north east aspect!  Should we feed it and what with?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Oh yes, once it gets some sunlight it’ll grow some new leaves. It might help to trim the ‘ugly’ side back lightly to stimulate some fresh growth ... and a light feed of Fish, Blood & Bone won’t do any harm and might help, but I’ve never known Hedera helix to need a lot of encouragement to grow. 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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