I had a lavender hedge for a few years, but then even with careful pruning each year (and that is tricky because of the bees) it became leggy and 'knackered'. I found out that even commercial growers change their plants every 6 or 8 years. Rosemary would be great, but how about privet, you can get golden and possibly there is a variagated one. It is very forgiving; you can cut it back hard, it flowers, birds love nesting in it (though possibly not if it is only 1 metre high).
re lonicera flowers question. There may be exceptions but generally speaking a hedge that's tight clipped won't flower. Hedging lonicera flowers aren't anything to get excited about though.
You're probably more confused now than when you started Bill. There are as many opinions in a forum as there are forum members. Everyone has their different experiences and preferences.
You might try walking round local housing areas to see what other people have used. If you see one you like take a few pics. If you don't know what it is someone on this forum will ID it for you.
Originally you were thinking of box. I suggested lonicera nitida earlier because it is the most like box. As it is in the honeysuckle family and you are asking about flowers I wonder if you think it is like a honeysuckle. It Isn't. It's a shrub, like box, used for hedging and topiary, the flowers are pretty insignificant. Another link to hedges direct - http://www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/acatalog/lonicera_nitida_.html
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Yes its a tough decission as I will be with it for a long time and its going to be some investment to make and so not easily or cheaply changed. Fortunately I am in no rush really.
I ask about the flowers, knowing they are insignificant, because from the photos I've seen, the flowers are on the stem, not at the end of a stem or growing out of the plant. If this is the case and some flowers will persist, then it will attract insects.
I am torn between wanting it to look "good" as its a large main corner plot (we all have our pride) and sodding it all and making it purely for the birds and the bees!
I like the idea of a native hedge, but am daunted by the prospect of having my hands full dealing with it, with my limited experience...
The help and suggestions here has been amazing, but not so confusing now, just difficult to decide.
On a similar query recently I suggested that the best option would be yew: good looking, supremely hardy, easy to shape, disease free. Not as slow-growing as people claim - 15-18 inch bushy plants that have been shaped to multiple shoots by a good nursery will quickly put on height. Plant them 2-3 feet back from the edge of the pavement and put a 'temporary' knee-rail fence on the pavement side of them to discourage people from cutting the corner.
Berberis is spiky and a bit of a devil to cut in this situation - you'll need to do it several times a year to keep it from spiking little children on the pavement; lavender is only short-lived and one or two other things mentioned can also get a bit leggy.
Once you've got a good, sound, dog-proof boundary you can do what you like on your side with more informal plants.
okay decision made, plants ordered and arrive tomorrow. Could be a mistake, but we'll see. I decided on the box hedge. It was my first thought and there are 4 good examples near to my house and all are healthy and look good. I looked at all the other options either other peoples hedges or in garden centres, but my mind was already on the box and nothing else seemed to be right. Also I am putting lavendar along the path leading to the door.
Unfortunately due to cost, the box plants will be very small to start with, so I think I will have to put up some kind of other barrier until it is established... like Rudolf says.
I also have an apple, pear and plum tree arriving for the back garden. Together with 2 sorbus: J rock for the front and Chinese Lace for the back.
I have spoke to a local saw mill who is going to make 2 raised beds, one for the back for veggies and the other for herbs at the front.
I have a long list of shrubs and herbacious plants for the grden side of the hedge, but they will come a couple at a time as and when can be afforded and time permitting.
Posts
I had a lavender hedge for a few years, but then even with careful pruning each year (and that is tricky because of the bees) it became leggy and 'knackered'. I found out that even commercial growers change their plants every 6 or 8 years. Rosemary would be great, but how about privet, you can get golden and possibly there is a variagated one. It is very forgiving; you can cut it back hard, it flowers, birds love nesting in it (though possibly not if it is only 1 metre high).
re lonicera flowers question. There may be exceptions but generally speaking a hedge that's tight clipped won't flower. Hedging lonicera flowers aren't anything to get excited about though.
You're probably more confused now than when you started Bill. There are as many opinions in a forum as there are forum members. Everyone has their different experiences and preferences.
You might try walking round local housing areas to see what other people have used. If you see one you like take a few pics. If you don't know what it is someone on this forum will ID it for you.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Originally you were thinking of box. I suggested lonicera nitida earlier because it is the most like box. As it is in the honeysuckle family and you are asking about flowers I wonder if you think it is like a honeysuckle. It Isn't. It's a shrub, like box, used for hedging and topiary, the flowers are pretty insignificant. Another link to hedges direct - http://www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/acatalog/lonicera_nitida_.html
Verdun, would you ever be able to send a photo of your garden? It sounds great.
I like Verdun's idea of a good mixture; you could even have something in flower virtually all the year round.
Have looked at the hedging web site (see above) and they really have the most amazing selection.
Yes its a tough decission as I will be with it for a long time and its going to be some investment to make and so not easily or cheaply changed. Fortunately I am in no rush really.
I ask about the flowers, knowing they are insignificant, because from the photos I've seen, the flowers are on the stem, not at the end of a stem or growing out of the plant. If this is the case and some flowers will persist, then it will attract insects.
I am torn between wanting it to look "good" as its a large main corner plot (we all have our pride) and sodding it all and making it purely for the birds and the bees!
I like the idea of a native hedge, but am daunted by the prospect of having my hands full dealing with it, with my limited experience...
The help and suggestions here has been amazing, but not so confusing now, just difficult to decide.
On a similar query recently I suggested that the best option would be yew: good looking, supremely hardy, easy to shape, disease free. Not as slow-growing as people claim - 15-18 inch bushy plants that have been shaped to multiple shoots by a good nursery will quickly put on height. Plant them 2-3 feet back from the edge of the pavement and put a 'temporary' knee-rail fence on the pavement side of them to discourage people from cutting the corner.
Berberis is spiky and a bit of a devil to cut in this situation - you'll need to do it several times a year to keep it from spiking little children on the pavement; lavender is only short-lived and one or two other things mentioned can also get a bit leggy.
Once you've got a good, sound, dog-proof boundary you can do what you like on your side with more informal plants.
okay decision made, plants ordered and arrive tomorrow. Could be a mistake, but we'll see. I decided on the box hedge. It was my first thought and there are 4 good examples near to my house and all are healthy and look good. I looked at all the other options either other peoples hedges or in garden centres, but my mind was already on the box and nothing else seemed to be right. Also I am putting lavendar along the path leading to the door.
Unfortunately due to cost, the box plants will be very small to start with, so I think I will have to put up some kind of other barrier until it is established... like Rudolf says.
I also have an apple, pear and plum tree arriving for the back garden. Together with 2 sorbus: J rock for the front and Chinese Lace for the back.
I have spoke to a local saw mill who is going to make 2 raised beds, one for the back for veggies and the other for herbs at the front.
I have a long list of shrubs and herbacious plants for the grden side of the hedge, but they will come a couple at a time as and when can be afforded and time permitting.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Bill