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Flower bed next to Leylandi Hedge

OffshoreOffshore Posts: 14
in Problem solving
Hi,

The plants in my flower bed next to a Leylandi hedge have performed badly - not surprisingly !

I am thinking of digging out a deep trench and lining it with polythene or plant suppression membrane - to try and stop hedge roots removing moisture and nutrients from the soil within it.

Has anybody tried this and was it successful ? Thank you

Posts

  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 812
    I depends on which way the bed faces too, N, E, S or W?

    I'd forget it and put more appropriate plants in there instead.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Hello Offshore, not quite as you have described but.... Our back garden is north facing, we have huge Leylandii in neighbouring garden,(untouched for donkeys years) The bed in question is shaded,(we have a eucalyptus) planted ferns,etc shade loving plants. I dug a trench,lined with plastic, hubby put ground cover stuff on the fence at the bottom,it hasn't worked. 
  • izzy8izzy8 Posts: 147
    edited August 2022
    Even with a deep trench the tree roots are probably .deeper.  Lining with plastic will hold moisture but will also dry out quicker. Try plants for dry  areas, Certain types of Geranium and ferns, Epimedium and Centranthus are also suitable.  I like to make things easier and go with the conditions I have .
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't think I'd bother trying to have a bed there @Offshore . You'd constantly be fighting the site, and even if the bed faced into the prevailing weather, it would dry out quickly, so plant choices could be quite limited. If you're in one of the many parts of the UK which are struggling to keep plants moist enough through summer, that's also a huge factor. 
    If you're desperate for a border there, it would be better to build a raised bed in front of it, leaving a gap for maintaining the hedge. You could then fill it appropriately, although it would also need to be lined to help retain moisture, and protect whatever material you use. Stone or brick would be easier than timber in that respect though.
    Depending on what aspect the bed is, you could then choose suitable planting, and that will also depend on whether you want an 'all year round' look, or if it's just seasonal.  :)  

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • OffshoreOffshore Posts: 14
    Nanny Beach said:
    Hello Offshore, not quite as you have described but.... Our back garden is north facing, we have huge Leylandii in neighbouring garden,(untouched for donkeys years) The bed in question is shaded,(we have a eucalyptus) planted ferns,etc shade loving plants. I dug a trench,lined with plastic, hubby put ground cover stuff on the fence at the bottom,it hasn't worked. 
    May I ask why it didn't work ? Thanks
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    edited August 2022
    Hi Offshore, the trees are so enormous,they leach all the moisture out of the soil. We even tried putting plastic pipes,to water directly,but the summers have got dryer, this was meant to be a bog garden. There was a beautiful rodgersia we inherited, leaves a foot across,in 2012, which died. We have made a little stumpery,a bit further along, complete shade,but needs Frequent watering.
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