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What to grow up conifers?

Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
in Plants
Hi,

I have two conifer hedges. Both are healthy and one has good lawn in front of it so I might just leave this one:



However, the other one looks a bit shabby on the ground in front of it:



This one ironically is what you see out our kitchen window as we have floor to ceiling windows so wanted something nicer to
look at 😂

I have put a load of tulips in a trench in the circled bit to make it look good next year. However, I thought it might be nice to grow some climbers up it. I did a bit of a search on GW before posting and people have posted before about it. I would like a rambler like Rambling Rector or Paul’s Himalayan Musk but previous posts have said it can look an ugly mess most the year. Others suggested clematis as it self ties itself.

Would both work? Maybe if I put a low, wide  trellis front the ground to the base of the conifer to start them off? Or do people just think it is best left as is? I love ramblers and clematis so trying to see where I can fit them in but don’t want to go to all that effort if it might not look good on the conifer.

thanks for any advice offered. 
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Posts

  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    I think the people who say it could look a mess most of the year are spot on. The conifers look lovely but by trying to grow something through them you are likely to end up with two lots of plants that don't complement each other at all. Also, conifers can suck the goodness out of the soil and you may notice that the ground about them is very dry so trying to establish another vigorous plant in their vicinity is doomed to failure.
    You could put potted plants in front of the conifer hedge to hide the bare bit at the base or alternatively you could widen the bed in front of the conifers and plant something low growing that doesn't mind poor soil and drought conditions. Some grasses might work. I have some stipa arundiacea that weathered the dry spell this year with barely a drop of water to sustain them. Ivy doesn't seem too bothered about growing near conifers but do not let it grow through the hedge, just keep it confined to ground cover.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Ceres said:
    I think the people who say it could look a mess most of the year are spot on.
    Spot on.

    Is it Leylandii?   They like a lot of light.  Competition might kill off some branches.  And I'm sure you are aware that most conifers will not regrow from brown wood.  So prune/clip little and often.

    I have a Rambling Rector.  Check its height and spread - most unsuitable.

    And if you have any of the plants mentioned, how will you control your conifers.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Alfie_ I agree with @Ceres Trying to grow climbers through conifers rarely works. There is just one that I have seen growing through a conifer with some success Eccremocarpus Scaber. However it requires a really warm site and I have struggled to grow it, others may think it a weed too.

    I don't know how big your lawn is but a sweeping lawn edge might work better. A strongly shaped lawn shows off plants to their best advantage.
    Ideally what you want from a border is a tiered effect, conifers at the back then the middle layer followed by bulbs and small perennials to the front. However because your soil is dry due to the conifers it might be best to try some plants that grow else where in your garden rather than go to any expense. This is a difficult area and it is possible that nothing will be happy. I can see Acanthus further along that is very tough so you have a start it is trial and error. 

    Plants for dry soil such as Geranium macrorrhizum which I believe you grow would work too. If you decide to leave your tulips for a second year they will help cover the old leaves. 

    The two roses you mention are much too big. I have seen 'The Rector' kill off a large tree.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    Ceres said:
    Ivy doesn't seem too bothered about growing near conifers but do not let it grow through the hedge, just keep it confined to ground cover.
    That section on the far left as ivy growing up the conifer trunks; is this why they only grow at the top here? Is it worth stripping the ivy off those trunks or will that not encourage growth lower down now as it is too little too late? 
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Your conifer looks like a Thuja to me @Alfie_.  If it is, it will be less thuggish and demanding than a Leylandii.  You could give it a close prune into a rectangular shape to provide a good backdrop for your spring bulbs.  You could also consider creating a raised bed a short distance in front of the conifer to improve the soil quality and depth for more permanent plantings of some choice shrubs and/or perennials.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    Forgetting everything else, it would be a real pain to grow anything through the hedge because it would make it really really fiddly to trim. If you had a rambling rose then you'd get spiked mercilessly.

    I'd widen the border and hide the bottom with more plants if it was mine. Further out you could grow some of the bush roses if you have the space.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Alfie_ Not sure if I have completely understood. If you want to stop the Ivy climbing up your conifers just cut it regularly at ground level and it will die off. A border with some depth to it will give you room to create the interest you need.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    GardenerSuze said:
    @Alfie_ Not sure if I have completely understood. If you want to stop the Ivy climbing up your conifers just cut it regularly at ground level and it will die off. A border with some depth to it will give you room to create the interest you need.
    Thanks. What I mean is these trunks circled in red:


    Are they also a conifer? I thought they would have growth from top to bottom like the main conifer in that picture. Was wondering if the ivy was stopping it growing properly or is it a different plant? 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The photo isn't clear enough. If it is a conifer [quite likely] it's probably been cut back at some point, which means it's unlikely to grow back. Most of them won't once cut back into brown wood. The ivy has simply made the best of the situation.
    If you want to improve that section, it would be better to remove all of it, and improve the soil before trying anything else.  :)
    Trying to establish other plants, of any kind, at the foot of conifers isn't easy, unless you have persistent, substantial enough rainfall coming in from that side. 
    Even tulips will struggle, as they need moisture at the right time. They also need sun, so if they're going to be happy, it's unlikely that there's adequate rain for most plants to do well. I'd forget most climbers, although Tropaeolum speciosum might be suitable if planted well, and not right at the foot of the hedge. Not evergreen though.

    You'd need plants for dry shade, and/all or a much bigger border in front of all the conifers.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    Fairygirl said:
    The photo isn't clear enough. If it is a conifer [quite likely] it's probably been cut back at some point, which means it's unlikely to grow back. Most of them won't once cut back into brown wood. The ivy has simply made the best of the situation.
    If you want to improve that section, it would be better to remove all of it, and improve the soil before trying anything else.  :)
    Trying to establish other plants, of any kind, at the foot of conifers isn't easy, unless you have persistent, substantial enough rainfall coming in from that side. 
    Even tulips will struggle, as they need moisture at the right time. They also need sun, so if they're going to be happy, it's unlikely that there's adequate rain for most plants to do well. I'd forget most climbers, although Tropaeolum speciosum might be suitable if planted well, and not right at the foot of the hedge. Not evergreen though.

    You'd need plants for dry shade, and/all or a much bigger border in front of all the conifers.  :)
    Thanks for this. Yeh it is just odd it has no growth for most of it but like you said, maybe it was cut back at some point. If I completely removed those conifers with no growth/ivy around trunks and then improved the soil a lot what could be put there instead? 

    I would love something like a tall camellia or a buy ball magnolia. Both evergreen and produce lovely flowers. I know I would need lots of ericaceous compost for the soil improving if it was a camellia but would both these be viable if I completely removed those end conifers? That area is in partial shade so gets about 2-3 hours of sunlight. 
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