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Creating a hedge - advise required
Hi,
I'm planning on creating a hedge around our corner plot as its currently open.
We would like a reasonably fast growing hedge so it creates a screen quickly and I plan to buy plants/trees around 2-4ft high - We only plan to let it grow to a max of 6ft.
They will be planted approx 15ft+ from the house and next to a public pavement around the boarder.
I want to ensure anything we plant does not have roots that will damage our house or the pavement and will be economical on price as we'll need quite a few to screen our garden,
Any tips/advice appreciated.
Many Thanks
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Posts
Conifers are the answer.
Leylandii or English Yew.
I have been looking into doing something very similar myself and all my research kept leading me back to these two trees. I think the English yew is a bit slower and may take a few years to get established and to the height you want. Leylandii grows faster and taller but I think english yew forms a thicker screen and are easier to manage.
My research basically lead me to find planting the trees about 60cm apart should be enough to form a nice thick hedge. Also soil drainage is key and it is worth doing a test by digging a hole and filling with water and checking it drains off in 30 mins to an hour.
I ended up going with english yew as it was cheaper and also requires less maintenance. Read up on it, there's plenty of info on RHS etc and the rest of the web about this.
Good luck!
PS - english yew dont like rock salt so if its on a public highway that gets sprayed with salt it might be worth putting a temporary screen up until the trees are established.
Hi, Thank you for the details - the yew does seem good on price from a website I have looked at and you can buy them around 1m.
I'll read more.
Thanks again
We get more queries about problems with Leylandii on this board than almost anything else except cats.
If you want a formal hedge I'd go for either holly which is good for security and for wildlife, or a beech or hornbeam hedge which, when clipped will retain it's autumn leaves all winter.
Otherwise I'd go for a mixed hedge of English natives, e.g. holly, hawthorn, hazel, elder, spindle etc - you could then have honeysuckle and wild rose weaving through it. Wonderful for wildlife and a really attractive hedge.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thank you - I like the look of Laurel and have found a website that offers the following
40 x Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus Rotundilfolia) - 90/120cm in 5 litre
I think these would offer an attractive hedge?
I would go to a nursery , not a garden center , and ask about hedging . We plant hedges in autumn or early spring here , Container plants on line are a bit hit and miss . Leylandi are a law suit in waiting