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Mixed hedge suggestions

HerderOfCatsHerderOfCats Posts: 6
edited March 2023 in Plants
Hi everyone

We have a border which until a couple of months ago was filled with a rather boring leylandii hedge. They've now been cleared and we're left with a 12-15 metre border bounded by a large holly bush at one end and a panel fence at the other.

The border is around 1 metre wide and has a fairly heavy clay soil.

Could anyone offer suggestions on plants for a mixed hedge? We would like:
  • Relatively dense - more to ensure next to no weeding will be required when the hedge is mature than for screening (yes I'm lazy :D ). 
  • Easily maintained at a height of 1.5 to 2 metres
  • Ideally no thorns - at least not the the more vicious ones such as hawthorn or pyracantha, rose type thorns are probably ok
  • At least some of the hedge to consist of flowering specimens
We've had a few ideas (yew, cotoneaster, forsythia) but nothing definite.

Thanks

Ian

Posts

  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    hazel, hornbeam or beech, elder, wayfarer tree (viburnum lantana), cherry plum or bird cherry, wild privet. Personally I prefer mixed hedging to give a bit more variety of colour and blossom times, so mixing some of these with the yew and cotoneaster on your list and maybe holly if you can cope with the prickles would give colour all year and lots of things for the birds and insects to enjoy
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Have a look at what hedging suppliers are offering in the way of mixed native hedging packs. If you're quick you might just squeak into the end of the bare-root season, which is by far the cheapest way to buy hedging plants. Don't completely rule out thorns/prickles - good for security.
    PS love your username 😻
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • HerderOfCatsHerderOfCats Posts: 6
    edited March 2023
    Thanks, I've googled those and definitely like the look of the cherry plums.
  • SueAtooSueAtoo Posts: 380
    Eleagnus ordinary green or variegated for autumn scent.
    East Dorset, new (to me) rather neglected garden.
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