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What to replace box hedging with?

christian.mortonchristian.morton Posts: 22
in Plants
Hi All,

Complete novice here and know nothing about plants. My garden uses a lot of box hedge for borders and over two seasons has been completely destroyed by the box caterpillar. I'm now resigned to digging the small hedges up and want to replace with something easy to maintain and as pleasing looking.

Is there a "go to" plant to replace box hedge? Or can you recommend something with similar coverage that a novice can plant? I'm most keen for something that looks good against the house in the first picture.







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Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Euonymus Green Spire for upright shapes like cones or pillars, E. Jean Hugues for hedges. I went on a tour with the head gardener of Plas Cadnant a couple of weeks ago and they are gradually replacing their box with Jean Hugues. He said the planting distance needs to be a bit closer than box because the habit is a bit more upright and less spreading. Because of that, I don't know whether it would make good ball shapes.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • zugeniezugenie Posts: 831
    Depending on soil/sun levels I would put lavender in the spot against the house
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Pittosporum.
    There are many varieties (I have a group of 12 P. Golf Ball edging my drive) and a variegated one in the garden about 15ft. They are all evergreen.
    Even the ones that grow big can be pruned small.
    I know @KeenOnGreen is a big fan too and has several.

    For something completely different, a group of Hakonechloa would look good.
    The leaves die in winter, but the winter display of dried grasses with flowerheads still looks good especially in a group. I have 2 groups of 5.


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Ilex crenata is often recommended, but not sure how successful it would be planted that close to a wall. However they'd certainly be fine in the other locations and make good ball shapes apparently. 
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    Euonymus Green Spire and Pittosporum (Golf Ball or Midget), are good suggestions. 

    That's a very narrow bed for a hedge. I personally wouldn't want any hedge or shrubs right up against a house wall. Have you considered putting something completely, such as small alpines/sedums. It looks like it's probably quite a dry bed, is that the case?
  • robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
    I think a direct replacement for box could be the box-leaf honeysuckle but I'd prefer to use something like Cotoneaster franchetti as it, as well as being evergreen, provides flowers for pollinators and berries for the small birds.
    Happy gardening!
    https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Depending on the site, Lonicera nitida will make a decent hedge - needs regular trimming to keep it in shape.   
  • christian.mortonchristian.morton Posts: 22
    Thanks for the advice all...plenty to be googling!

    Interested about the suggestion about hedge being too close to the wall...I guess my other option would be to gravel where the hedge is now and put some potted "golf ball" shaped plants along the front. I just want it to look neat and not bare when I remove the dead box hedge. Would this be a better idea? 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    How much sun that area gets and a rough idea of your location and soil type would help us with ideas.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Yes, I think so.  Save a lot of expense and a lot of watering. Cream coloured gravel would contrast nicely with the brick. You might have to weed it occasionally but that shouldn't be a problem.

    Plants in pots for the front curved bed would also look good.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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