Hedging for difficult conditions

alfharris8 · April 2023

Could anyone please give suggestions for hedging plants that have best chance for growing in a position with poor soil and little growing space.
Native plants would be preferable.
Thank you.

AnniD · April 2023

Privet ? Depends how much height and depth you have to fill.
Is it sunny or shady position ?

bcpathome · April 2023

Yes privit or forsythia.

robairdmacraignil · April 2023

White thorn has nice flowers at the moment and berries for the birds and is one of the toughest plants for difficult conditions. The thick thorny growth that develops when it is trimmed provides good nesting sites for birds as well. Common Holly might be another option if you want something evergreen.

Happy gardening!

alfharris8 · April 2023

@AnniD - it's a long boundary hedge in a a fairly sunny, open position but gets a little shadier down onew end.
It's already a hedge with privet, beech and a few other odds in there.
Towards the bottom shadier end, the hedge in planted in a bank, old wall that seems to have little to get plants into and I'd get like to thicken it up and get a bit of height if possible.

alfharris8 · April 2023

@robairdmacraignil - thank you.
Is that the same as Hawthorn?

Fairygirl · April 2023

Blackthorn I presume - not heard it called white thorn. I expect it's to do with the colour of flowers. It suckers like mad though. I'm in the process of removing mine. It certainly grows in poor soil and difficult sites though.
Hawthorn gets flowers after foliage, blackthorn's the other way round.

Just how little is little @alfharris8 in terms of soil and room?

Dovefromabove · April 2023

Hawthorn is sometimes known as Whitethorn,

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/hawthorn/

Fairygirl · April 2023

Every day's a school day @Dovefromabove

I wondered if it was blackthorn because @robairdmacraignil said the flowers were out on it, and it's too early for them on hawthorn, although I don't know if that's just here, as with many plants.

M33R4 · April 2023

alfharris8 said:....Towards the bottom shadier end, the hedge in planted in a bank, old wall that seems to have little to get plants into ...

I am wondering if the ground in that area is poor with lots of non organic, drain pipes or even rocks offering little substance for plants to thrive in?

Perhaps add organic matter and lots of feed. I planted a privet hedge 3 years ago in my driveway which has a lot of gravel mixed with clay and compacted by car weight over the years. In a nice base the privet would have grown much faster but it's taking its time as it stands. I fed it seaweed last year and they shot up nearly 2 feet in one year so the plan is to feed regularly this growing season to encourage height primarily like you mention alfharris8

Fairygirl · April 2023

Yes - there would need to be something added to the space to get whips established- decent soil rather than compost. I'd wait until bare root season anyway as it's easier then - especially with the weather at that point. Autumn is ideal.

Hedging for difficult conditions

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