Maybe I miss read then, I thought Chris said he only had a foot wide space, the plants then would be planted very close to the fence behind, no room to prune there and the branches could push the fence down.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
I don't think there is a fence. @Liriodendron mentioned using a fence and climbers as an alternative though.
A photo always helps to make suggestions easier @chris92bellZB39WH8u If you have room to allow a wider hedge, it's less of a problem re the laurel. If you just have it bordering a lawn for example [ as with many gardens] and you don't mind making the border wider.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
While they won't spill over the edge, you could try Cyclamen hederifolium (aka C. neapolitanum) which carry evergreen leaves for much of the year, apart from high summer when they die back for a few weeks as they go dormant. Flowering starts roughly the end of august for about 2 months, after which the pretty new leaves which also formed will remain as ground cover over the winter and spring. They can cope with very little light, aren't fussy about the soil type and will slowly spread via self-seeding (the seeds are distributed by ants.) I've seen them growing under all types of hedge and think they bring a lovely 'natural woodland' look, if that's something which fits with the rest of your garden.
I don't think there is a fence. @Liriodendron mentioned using a fence and climbers as an alternative though.
A photo always helps to make suggestions easier @chris92bellZB39WH8u If you have room to allow a wider hedge, it's less of a problem re the laurel. If you just have it bordering a lawn for example [ as with many gardens] and you don't mind making the border wider.
Apologies all, I posted when it was dark and now its awful rain. But here is an image to better explain my scenario. The'garden' was all pebbles. I raked them back and lifted the membrane, then dug out a border approx 1ft wide by 1ft deep. This was all clay, as you can see from the puddles collecting! . So I plan to backfill with good soil and plant the hedge there. The hedge can maybe span 3-4ft in total width,going across the pebbles and over the sleepers. I will then rake the pebbles back to cover the top of the soil. My garden is to the left of the sleepers, the pebbles on the right is mine, but the tarmac is my neighbours drive so I'll have to keep it trimmed back on that side for their access. Under the pebbles is lawn that the previous owner decided to cover up.
Hope that helps ☺ I can't believe the feedback tbh, I thought the post would go unnoticed! ☺
That helps a lot I'd dig out a much bigger/wider area. Then add loads of organic matter - rotted manure is the best solution, and you can add some bog standard compost as well. If you had home made compost and leaf mould, they'd also be ideal, but I'm guessing you don't. That will help break up the clay and improve the drainage, which is vital. If you don't do that, you'll just end up with a sticky bog and the plants will struggle to thrive - even laurel. Prepping the site is as important as planting - if not more important.
Ground that's been covered for a long time, is sterile and compacted, and when it's clay, that makes it worse. Once it's improved, your hedge will establish and grow well.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
That helps a lot I'd dig out a much bigger/wider area. Then add loads of organic matter - rotted manure is the best solution, and you can add some bog standard compost as well. If you had home made compost and leaf mould, they'd also be ideal, but I'm guessing you don't. That will help break up the clay and improve the drainage, which is vital. If you don't do that, you'll just end up with a sticky bog and the plants will struggle to thrive - even laurel. Prepping the site is as important as planting - if not more important.
Ground that's been covered for a long time, is sterile and compacted, and when it's clay, that makes it worse. Once it's improved, your hedge will establish and grow well.
Thanks! I have homemade compost, but not any broken down leaf mould, it was only collected this autumn I could still throw it in the bottom though? It's still just 'leaves' at the moment.
I can see why you might not want a garden consisting entirely of pebbles... not terribly inspiring.
The foot-wide "trough" you've dug might act as a sump now, though. I'd bite the bullet and lift a bit more membrane, then dig a wider and deeper area, incorporating organic matter like manure (which you can buy ready-rotted, so not horribly smelly) in bags from a garden centre. Breaking up the bottom of your trench is important too, so water drains away. Certainly the state of the existing soil is not inspiring...
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I'd add the compost, but maybe 'leave the leaves' - they'll be more use to you next year. Just pile in lots of 'stuff', and let it all settle, and as @Liriodendron says - break the bottom of the hole up a bit first with a fork. That will help a good bit too. The soil level will drop a bit over winter, but you can then order your hedging, and the ground should be much healthier by later winter/early spring for getting them planted. You'll probably need a bit of extra compost etc to top up the border before planting.
Most of the hedging suppliers will allow you to request a date for delivery too. There are plenty of good ones - Hopes Grove nursery and Hedges Direct are just two. If you take a look at their sites, you'll get plenty of info. Bare root plants are much cheaper than potted, but the season is only from around October to March, because they're lifted and sent out with little soil round them, and therefore need planting asap. You can often leave them just lightly covered, and kept moist, for a while if you can't plant right away.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
A photo always helps to make suggestions easier @chris92bellZB39WH8u
If you have room to allow a wider hedge, it's less of a problem re the laurel. If you just have it bordering a lawn for example [ as with many gardens] and you don't mind making the border wider.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The
Under the pebbles is lawn that the previous owner decided to cover up.
Hope that helps ☺ I can't believe the feedback tbh, I thought the post would go unnoticed! ☺
I'd dig out a much bigger/wider area. Then add loads of organic matter - rotted manure is the best solution, and you can add some bog standard compost as well. If you had home made compost and leaf mould, they'd also be ideal, but I'm guessing you don't.
That will help break up the clay and improve the drainage, which is vital.
If you don't do that, you'll just end up with a sticky bog and the plants will struggle to thrive - even laurel. Prepping the site is as important as planting - if not more important.
Ground that's been covered for a long time, is sterile and compacted, and when it's clay, that makes it worse. Once it's improved, your hedge will establish and grow well.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The foot-wide "trough" you've dug might act as a sump now, though. I'd bite the bullet and lift a bit more membrane, then dig a wider and deeper area, incorporating organic matter like manure (which you can buy ready-rotted, so not horribly smelly) in bags from a garden centre. Breaking up the bottom of your trench is important too, so water drains away. Certainly the state of the existing soil is not inspiring...
I'd add the compost, but maybe 'leave the leaves' - they'll be more use to you next year. Just pile in lots of 'stuff', and let it all settle, and as @Liriodendron says - break the bottom of the hole up a bit first with a fork. That will help a good bit too.
The soil level will drop a bit over winter, but you can then order your hedging, and the ground should be much healthier by later winter/early spring for getting them planted. You'll probably need a bit of extra compost etc to top up the border before planting.
Most of the hedging suppliers will allow you to request a date for delivery too. There are plenty of good ones - Hopes Grove nursery and Hedges Direct are just two. If you take a look at their sites, you'll get plenty of info. Bare root plants are much cheaper than potted, but the season is only from around October to March, because they're lifted and sent out with little soil round them, and therefore need planting asap. You can often leave them just lightly covered, and kept moist, for a while if you can't plant right away.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...