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Rugosa hedging / border question

--Duncan----Duncan-- Posts: 19
in Plants
Good afternoon all, I'm looking for a bit of advice as I've decided to overhaul the main border at the bottom of our garden.  It was really narrow before, so I've extended the depth to just over 6ft.  

There are rhododendrons growing at each end which I'm keeping along with the rowan, but the rest is up for grabs! I've got a reasonable idea of plants and colours for the front and mid-sections.  

I planted a couple of bare root rugosa's yesterday as I was thinking they would make a nice hedge along the fence but having read some comments on the forum today I'm worried I've made a mistake as the rugosas sound like bullies which will take over the border!

So, my question is: do I cut my losses and start over with a more manageable hedge or even forgo hedging altogether, as the garden backs onto a river and a cliff face which provides its own backdrop and doesn't eat into the 6ft I have to play with?  

Many thanks,

Duncan


Posts

  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    I would rather have the river view. If it was my garden, i would remove the fence, and have a seat looking down at the river!  :)
    Sunny Dundee
  • --Duncan----Duncan-- Posts: 19
    Aw I know me too! Unfortunately it's a public footpath though so that's not an option :( I think you're right though about not going for hedging, I'm thinking some well chosen shrubs instead that make more a flow from garden to brambly riverbank...
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Keep the rugosas though. If you don't want them there find another space. They smell wonderful and are pretty.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    It depends on how much effort you want to put into managing the rugosa. They are thugs and have vicious thorns but the flowers are lovely, the scent is stunning and the hips spectacular. They would certainly meet the wild and wooly natural effect and be an effective barrier to unwanted visitors coming over the fence. 
    If you want a trim tidy divide between your property and the public walkway evergreen shrubs would be more suitable.
    I have a rugosa in my garden which was there when I moved in. I have never touched it, the roots are in what appears to be rubble at the bottom of a low bank, faces South, never watered, fed, or pruned. It has very slowly begun to spread but each year it delights me when the first magenta flowers appear. I would never have chosen that colour for my garden. The scent is wonderful and at the moment I am enjoying the brilliant red hips. They grow wild in the sand dunes so obviously do not need cosseting.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    A lot depends on where you are and how exposed that bed is.   I planted a rugosa hedge along the boundary of my last garden after swiping some hips from a public car park and sowing the seeds.

    Unfortunately, my spot was exposed to strong north westerly winds so the plants suffered in winter and looked dreadful but their roots were happy enough to spread and thug in the fertile soil.  I ended up pulling out every single one.

    If your soil is good and the aspect favourable, your rugosas will be fine but you'll need to keep an eye on them in case they sucker about the place.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • --Duncan----Duncan-- Posts: 19
    Thanks so much everyone, have decided to relocate the rugosas to a more suitable border and currently enjoying selecting shrubs for the main border. 😃
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