The evergreen shrubs mentioned in my previous note can all be grown either as hedges or as individual shrubs. I have several of these arranged as a mixed screen, keeping them all at the same height but allowing space between them to maintain their individual character. No leaves to sweep up in the autumn and a permanent, green screen!
I would use pleached Hornbeam as it hangs onto it leaves quite well in the winter. I have used these to hide my neighbor and they do work well. I have also used pleached Magnolia Grandiflora which is evergreen as well as pleached photinia when I took down the Cupressus Leylandii which screened me for my neighbor but were huge. I did not plant these they were in my garden when I bought the house. I gained 6 foot of land when I took them all down so don't use these. The pleached magnolia and photinia work just as well for screening my neighbor and he is happy with the change as well as it has made his garden lighter. The magnolia is also scented which added another bonus.
@wrightt sounds similar to us with gaining a much larger garden after taking out all the Leylandii. Are there any particular pros & cons you've found between the hornbeam, magnolia & photinia?
@Woodgreen we have a strip of land behind the fence that is accessible so should be ok to prune from that side thanks.
The evergreen shrubs mentioned in my previous note can all be grown either as hedges or as individual shrubs. I have several of these arranged as a mixed screen, keeping them all at the same height but allowing space between them to maintain their individual character. No leaves to sweep up in the autumn and a permanent, green screen!
The griselinia you mentioned looks like a good alternative to laurel for screening along our bottom wall
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@Woodgreen we have a strip of land behind the fence that is accessible so should be ok to prune from that side thanks.
No trimming required.
Betula ulilis...many named ones...see links
https://bunkershillgardenshop.co.uk/betula-jacquemontii-feathered-himalayan-birch-200-250cm/
https://www.google.com/search?q=betula+utilis+jacquemontii+screen&client=firefox-b-d&sxsrf=ALiCzsYIQDDBkP68Z0Qn4wtaXwpnBoAcpw:1658519445112&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjdzYOzoo35AhVpSEEAHeWRCBcQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1280&bih=595&dpr=1.5#imgrc=YSTzNiqch_A-fM
https://www.google.com/search?q=Betula+utilis+jacquemontii+screen&client=firefox-b-d&sxsrf=ALiCzsamB2hxIb7IBLIyw1ukn03bwR0iDg:1658519171044&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiwgKywoY35AhXTSsAKHQtCCzMQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1280&bih=595&dpr=1.5
https://www.google.com/search?q=betula+utilis+jacquemontii+'snow+queen'+screen&client=firefox-b-d&sxsrf=ALiCzsb1aivWL0GFLnbQKhAZ70yKAnSApQ:1658519314393&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiVndn0oY35AhWIYcAKHRX8COsQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1280&bih=595&dpr=1.5