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Shrub ideas for an awkward site - shade and a wind tunnel

Anna33Anna33 Posts: 316
in Problem solving
I've got a new part of the garden that I'm in the process of planting up, but having been watching it to see what the conditions are like, part of it gets a bit battered by the wind.

The wind tunnels straight down the side of the house and hits one corner of the new bed with gusto, so I was thinking that a really sturdy shrub could be used as a bit of a windbreak.

Ideally I'd like something that can cope with a lot of shade (it gets some sun at times throughout the day, so it's not entirely deep shade), and will grow to be fairly "blocky" so as to act as a bit of a windbreak for the other plants. Soil condition is clay, I've dug in loads of muck a few weeks back but it's never been cultivated before will be getting ongoing improvement.

Does anyone have any recommendations for what might fit this awkward spot, won't mind being a bit battered by the wind, and provide a bit of a windbreak?

(and yes, I know there is a mahonia in the pictures which fits this awkward spot, but that's just bedded in temporarily as it's planned for elsewhere, and isn't "blocky" enough for what I had in mind  :) )


Photos below:

Wind tunnel leading on to the new bed:



Plant will go on this corner here:


Another view of the planned planting spot:



Posts

  • Robert WestRobert West Posts: 241
    Euonymous? I planted a few along a similar wind tunnel in full shade. They were only small but are growing well and will hopefully protect other plants. I also have an osmanthus that's done really well in those conditions.  They look similar to holly. Holly might work too. 
  • Anna33Anna33 Posts: 316
    Thank you, really useful! Not sure I want holly in this spot, although I do love it elsewhere, but the Euonymous idea might work.  What type did you plant?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Eleagnus will work well. They'll take any abuse, and get to a good size. You need something that will get to at least a metre for it to be of any benefit.
    Viburnums too - but not all are evergreen to choose carefully. 
    Alternatively, a trellis screen with climbers. The good quality trellis with smaller holes will provide a windbreak even without plants  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Anna33Anna33 Posts: 316
    @Fairygirl , have just looked up Eleagnus, and that's another really nice one, again the sort of thing I had in mind.

    And I've ruled out something structural, as we already dug out bits of old concrete from part of that patch, so I don't want to be putting any back in eg round the trellis posts. Also, I'm way too indecisive, so would probably still be here this time next year thinking about what/where/how on any permanent structure...! Plants it is......
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    I've got a lonicera nitida in that sort of location, also in clay. It seems to be pretty oblivious to the wind, which is unusual, IME, for an evergreen. They are happy being clipped to make a neat shape. They don't seem to be tall though, so it depends a bit what you need. Holly is the other option
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • PoppypussPoppypuss Posts: 143
    I’ll second lonicera which make a great hedge. If you want something a bit more architectural then try a fatsia japonica, I have one now over 6 foot in a similar wind tunnel area and it’s also great for wild life. 
  • Anna33Anna33 Posts: 316
    @Poppypuss, thank you! I think I'm going to go with either Eleagnus or Euonymous, but really appreciate all the recommendations.
  • delskidelski Posts: 274
    I have a similar wind tunnel (shade in morning and full sun from 13:00 onwards) with the first plant to catch the wind is a c. montana along the fence before hitting a holly. I planted a cordyline australis 'red star' in front of the holly which is very slow growing but doesn't seem bothered by the wind. I'll find out later if this was a bad idea to plant it there but so far I like the red foliage contrasting with the green.
    I have lots of varieties of euonymus and they seem to take everything that is thrown at them! They just take a while to get to even 0.5m tall.
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