Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Weedy boundary

ontopofthehillontopofthehill Posts: 76
edited April 2023 in Problem solving
This area is tricky. When we arrived it was completely overgrown so we dug it out, I planted all the wrong things which have since been moved. Last year as a temporary measure I dug it out again and made it all wildflowers. Which was lovely for a few months but a mess the rest of the year. I'm currently clearing it out for the third time. Ignore the flagstones, they were just temporarily put there so aren't staying.

Our neighbour is lovely but can't keep on top of the brambles, nettles and gorse coming over the top from her side. Unfortunately we also have an abandoned building site directly in front of our house so the whole boundary line is similar. We already have lots of pockets of super wildness so as much as I love the nature benefits I don't really want to have to look out on it constantly from our living room. There is also a nice view across the water so also don't really want to whack a great big hedge along the boundary which would block that.

I have a photinia, osmanthus burkwoodii and chilean lantern tree in the bed plus some  aubretia/heathers/vinca/astilibe and rock roses growing on the bank. Unfortunately there is now also an insane amount of sheep sorrel (thank you native wildflower mix!), bindweed and the aforementioned brambles etc. I've previously cut it all down and hacked it out repeatedly on both sides but it's a nightmare trying to stay on top of it. In an ideal world want to do a gravel garden but have no idea how that'd work with the way things are. I never use weedkiller but am starting to think it might have to be used judiciously to stop being quite such an ordeal every few months. I have no problem with mattocking out the brambles and nettles on both sides (have permission) +/- a bit of glycophosphate before I consider replanting but have any of you any ideas for what might actually work here?

It's a big bed. Should I be trying to do some kind of low hedge along the top of the bank to reinforce the boundary and reduce the impact of the the brambles etc? If so what would you recommend? I have some hawthorn whips but figure that might not appreciate being hacked down to 2/3 foot the whole time. Any other suggestions for what would work in this space most welcome! Thank you.

Edited to add: North facing neutral/slightly acidic clay, windy but well drained as on slope, gets all day sun despite aspect in summer.


«13

Posts

  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited April 2023
    Yes, definitely a hedge.  You can incorporate brambles in a mixed native hedge and keep it clipped with the rest.  And pick the fruit in season.

    "Good fences make good neighbours"
     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."
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    When you say north facing, where are you determining that? Is it north facing from where you took the pic, or is the bed north facing - as in, the front of it is north facing?
    I think whatever you do, you'll have to plant a barrier to filter wind, but that's where the aspect matters - and which side the wind predominantly comes from. 
    A north facing bed for me would mean the back of that bed would be getting skelped by the wind as it comes out of the south west, to west. The Photinia and Osmanthus will be affected if that's the case. No idea about the Crinodendron, but wind affects all sorts of shrubs/trees while they establish, and if the protection's removed from already established ones, they can suffer very quickly.

    An old trick in garden design is to have a hedge with 'windows'. Gaps that can give you the view, but the hedge still gives your other plants good protection.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ontopofthehillontopofthehill Posts: 76
    edited April 2023
    Thanks both of you, appreciate the advice. @Fairygirl facing towards the painted wall is north so... I dunno. I always find the aspect thing very confusing. ATM we're getting absolutely battered by a southerly wind but its a hill so variable. Small hedge it is!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The bed's roughly east facing then - west is behind it ,and the painted wall is south facing.  :)




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



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ontopofthehillontopofthehill Posts: 76
    Thanks @Fairygirl, appreciate you taking the time to explain cause that concept has eluded me for quite a while 😂 Thinking olearia traversii for the hedge as have a better spot for the hawthorns. Will see how it goes! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It'll be generally exposed because you've removed all the other 'stuff' that would be giving it protection, but it should be fine if you can get a decent enough wind filter in there. I'm not sure whereabouts you are though, and that will also make a difference to how much protection you need to put in place.  :)
    In the meantime, you may need to protect those existing shrubs/trees. 
    Up here, in exposed parts of the north especially, and the islands, a physical barrier of fine netting is used until hedging is properly established. Sometimes, a sacrificial hedge is also needed, with the more desired hedging inside of that   :)

    Glad the rough pic was helpful  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ontopofthehillontopofthehill Posts: 76
    South east Ireland so not too cold, we've a young portuguese laurel hedge across the back garden and did put windbreak netting across there as that was particularly exposed but this side of things isn't as bad. The three of those shrubs are actually doing fine since I planted them so fingers crossed that'll continue! Cheers again.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I was going to say - the Olearia isn't the toughest shrub in the world, but hopefully should be fine for you there.  :)

    Good luck with it all  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Are you quite sure about your compass points in that overlay @Fairygirl?  In a clockwise direction, starting at the top with North, they go NESW, so that bed is actually west facing, I think!  These always confuse me and I thought I'd just check this with you.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited April 2023
    B*gger - you're right @Plantminded - senior moment!  :D
    I really ought to know better since I hillwalk....

    Unfortunately - it's just too late to edit the original post....  :s
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.