Phormiums would do the job. Hardy enough to quite a bit below zero if they're in good free draining soil. The standard ones make big plants but some of the named varieties like Yellow Wave are more compact. Evergreen too. There are some good dark plum/reddish ones too.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The berberis definitely seems to be the consensus and there is a lot to like - evergreen foliage, flowers, berries and those lovely big thorns! (oh dear, I'm turning into a not very nice person!) I think definitely a couple at strategic points and I may delay changing the rest of my planting until I see what effect they have. The yellow flowers will go quite well with my current white and purple/blue scheme! Thank you so much, everybody (and a special thank you to you Fairygirl - you seem to know just exactly what I mean!)
Oh - I'm becoming an expert on keeping out unwanted visitors cdanie...they don't like it when you ask them politely so I've taken the more direct approach of making it unpleasant for them if they do!
I had a nice Berberis at a previous house which was more mound forming but I can't remember which one it was. I expect if you google a couple of nurseries online you'll find the ideal ones for your situation. I found it very effective for stopping the postman climbing through to next door's house - trampling all the plants and emerging bulbs on his merry way....
The flowers are scented too, so actually it's a nice shrub to have. Good luck with it
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'm so sorry to hear that you are experiencing the same problems as me Fairygirl. I do quite often wonder at people's behavior! Funnily enough, my postman does exactly the same thing! grrrrrr!
I have the very vicious Berberis around the oil tank, on the Police recommendation. Its grown to a nice 2ft 6 in about 2 years, They went in as bare root, but use small ones so you can keep them pinched out then they grow bushy right from the bottom, the red colour now, is really nice.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Posts
Phormiums would do the job. Hardy enough to quite a bit below zero if they're in good free draining soil. The standard ones make big plants but some of the named varieties like Yellow Wave are more compact. Evergreen too. There are some good dark plum/reddish ones too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Pampas grass, razor edged so nobody gets close to it twice if they can avoid it.
The berberis definitely seems to be the consensus and there is a lot to like - evergreen foliage, flowers, berries and those lovely big thorns! (oh dear, I'm turning into a not very nice person!) I think definitely a couple at strategic points and I may delay changing the rest of my planting until I see what effect they have. The yellow flowers will go quite well with my current white and purple/blue scheme! Thank you so much, everybody (and a special thank you to you Fairygirl - you seem to know just exactly what I mean!)
Oh - I'm becoming an expert on keeping out unwanted visitors cdanie...they don't like it when you ask them politely so I've taken the more direct approach of making it unpleasant for them if they do!
I had a nice Berberis at a previous house which was more mound forming but I can't remember which one it was. I expect if you google a couple of nurseries online you'll find the ideal ones for your situation. I found it very effective for stopping the postman climbing through to next door's house - trampling all the plants and emerging bulbs on his merry way....
The flowers are scented too, so actually it's a nice shrub to have. Good luck with it
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'm so sorry to hear that you are experiencing the same problems as me Fairygirl. I do quite often wonder at people's behavior! Funnily enough, my postman does exactly the same thing! grrrrrr!
Thank you, Verdun. I shall choose with care and maintain the shape to avoid it encroaching into areas where it could do harm. It's a very good point.
I have the very vicious Berberis around the oil tank, on the Police recommendation. Its grown to a nice 2ft 6 in about 2 years, They went in as bare root, but use small ones so you can keep them pinched out then they grow bushy right from the bottom, the red colour now, is really nice.