If you're having a wild area, a native hedge would look good. Hawthorn or blackthorn are great and easy to keep trimmed, and thick at the bottom. Tempting to have an informal hedge (really unpruned shrubs) but that might come into your "too big too bushy" category. Mind, I've not met a hedge yet which stopped weeds coming through... unfortunately...
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I'm not sure anything 'holds back the weeds' DD. We have an area of woodland that is a nightmare as it's overgrown with brambles - that never fruit -and green alkanet which has immense tap roots and is a devil to get up. Having said that it is a magnet for bees which redeems it a little but, no bones about it, it is a THUG!
I'm planning to try Rubus Tricolor, described by the RHS as 'deciduous or evergreen shrubs, often scrambling with bristly or prickly stems bearing simple, lobed, palmate or pinnate leaves and 5-petalled flowers followed by juicy, sometimes edible fruits'.
I've seen it growing in the woodland garden at Dorothy Clive Garden in Shropshire and as brambles seem to grow so readily here thought that might be a good one as it is prostrate rather than arching. Bluebells are wonderful - we have those, as are snowdrops. Be careful about wild garlic as I have read they can takeover given the right conditions. Wood anemones are also beautiful, and as someone suggested honeysuckle - but make sure it's a native one as they will look more natural and have a delicious perfume.
Good luck with your project. I shall be building a hide in our wood next week with my seven year old grandson - magical!
A hide in the wood does indeed sound magical - my son has discovered a 'den' where there is a convergence of trees creating a little 'umbrella' of leaves and branches - imagination of children is so wonderful. Have fun, but watch out for those brambles!
“Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
Hi again DD. I bought some RHS endorsed mixed native wildlife hedging earlier this year from Hedge Nurseries [email protected] which included hazel, hawthorn, buckthorn and beech I think. Worth a look. They had pre-applied Mycorrhizal Root Dip Gel. Mine were 2 year old bare rooted ones ( not the time of year for those, best to leave it until the dormant period). They have achieved an almost 100 per cent survival rate which is pretty good I think. Hawthorn has wonderful berries that the birds love and lovely white blossom in April/May (thought to be behind the saying 'ne'er cast a clout 'til May be out'). Definitely a good choice, watch the thorns with the little one and keep it in check or you'll have a tree in no time.
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If you're having a wild area, a native hedge would look good. Hawthorn or blackthorn are great and easy to keep trimmed, and thick at the bottom. Tempting to have an informal hedge (really unpruned shrubs) but that might come into your "too big too bushy" category. Mind, I've not met a hedge yet which stopped weeds coming through... unfortunately...
I'm not sure anything 'holds back the weeds' DD. We have an area of woodland that is a nightmare as it's overgrown with brambles - that never fruit -and green alkanet which has immense tap roots and is a devil to get up. Having said that it is a magnet for bees which redeems it a little but, no bones about it, it is a THUG!
I'm planning to try Rubus Tricolor, described by the RHS as 'deciduous or evergreen shrubs, often scrambling with bristly or prickly stems bearing simple, lobed, palmate or pinnate leaves and 5-petalled flowers followed by juicy, sometimes edible fruits'.
I've seen it growing in the woodland garden at Dorothy Clive Garden in Shropshire and as brambles seem to grow so readily here thought that might be a good one as it is prostrate rather than arching. Bluebells are wonderful - we have those, as are snowdrops. Be careful about wild garlic as I have read they can takeover given the right conditions. Wood anemones are also beautiful, and as someone suggested honeysuckle - but make sure it's a native one as they will look more natural and have a delicious perfume.
Good luck with your project. I shall be building a hide in our wood next week with my seven year old grandson - magical!
A hide in the wood does indeed sound magical - my son has discovered a 'den' where there is a convergence of trees creating a little 'umbrella' of leaves and branches - imagination of children is so wonderful. Have fun, but watch out for those brambles!
Hawthorn sounds interesting, think I heard Monty talking about it a few weeks ago too. Will have a look at it.
Hi again DD. I bought some RHS endorsed mixed native wildlife hedging earlier this year from Hedge Nurseries [email protected] which included hazel, hawthorn, buckthorn and beech I think. Worth a look. They had pre-applied Mycorrhizal Root Dip Gel. Mine were 2 year old bare rooted ones ( not the time of year for those, best to leave it until the dormant period). They have achieved an almost 100 per cent survival rate which is pretty good I think. Hawthorn has wonderful berries that the birds love and lovely white blossom in April/May (thought to be behind the saying 'ne'er cast a clout 'til May be out'). Definitely a good choice, watch the thorns with the little one and keep it in check or you'll have a tree in no time.