A new hedge on the boundary between neighbours

SueAtoo · May 2023

Do you really want a deciduous hedge? It can look very bare in winter.

Fairygirl · May 2023

Beech retains it's foliage, as I said earlier, as does hornbeam.

Latimer · May 2023

@KT53 there’s no issue with hedges, our neighbours on the other side have one between their properties

Latimer · May 2023

@SueAtoo I haven’t really thought about what I’d use but I do like the idea of beech. I’ve never really looked at hornbeam but if @Fairygirl likes it it must be good! 😊

Waterbut · May 2023

Neighbours can be funny about hedges and fences as I know all about that. Are they going to be happy about you going into their garden to cut the hedge on their side marching over their nice lawn or are you going to just let it become overgrown on their side hoping they do something about it. Then if you cut it are you going to clean up their garden afterwards or hope they do it. Perhaps dig a bed and put roses in it would be better as long as it is within your boundary. But whatever you do discuss it with them.

Latimer · May 2023

@arossrob that’s exactly why I looked for some experienced advice 😀

I’m obviously not going to march into their garden if they don’t want me to, I’ll offer to cut their side and if they take me up on the offer I’ll do it to the best of my ability and clean up when I’m done.

As for discussing it with them, I’m pretty sure that’s what I said I’d do in my first post.

I’m considering a hedge because I’d like to create a more privacy for a seating area so roses wouldn’t work

Fairygirl · May 2023

I just prefer hornbeam @Latimer, but they're very similar in habit.
Beech is good if you're in a drier site, while hornbeam will tolerate very wet conditions.

I think Latimer has made it very clear that he intends speaking with the neighbours re the hedge cutting. If it's on his property, the neighbours don't have any input anyway.
I'm sure he'll be very responsible regarding it's care/maintenance, and what happens down the years with other neighbours is immaterial.
Just as it was with my parents' hedge. Just as it was with my old house round the corner from here when the hornbeam hedge was ripped out and replaced with leylandii...

Latimer · May 2023

@Fairygirl we are on clay here but it doesn’t appear to be very heavy. My parents house is the same and, as I said, their beech is growing huge so I suspect I could use either

Plantminded · May 2023

I was just wondering whether a hedge down that boundary would give you sufficient privacy for your seating area, ie can the front of your house be seen from other directions? I'd be inclined to decide on the position of your seating area first then plant a hedge close to the area in an L shape or U shape or whatever shape screens your area adequately. Less hedge to maintain and less likely to cause problems with your current and future neighbours.

Fairygirl · May 2023

Either would probably be fine, yes. Beech was probably more readily available many decades ago, when a lot of these hedges were put in.
All clay round here and no shortage of beech hedging. If the clay's not improved in any way, that could be a problem in wet areas, but many of them are along boundaries with pavements which helps because of the footings etc, and if they're densely planted, they establish well and take up all the water easily. They then don't get waterlogged too readily either as the dense foliage helps prevent water getting through to excess

My Dad always cut his hedge on both sides, and cleared up properly, so never a problem with the neighbours. There's no chance he wouldn't have done so, and I'm sure you're the same @Latimer, and will reassure the neighbours on that score

A new hedge on the boundary between neighbours

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