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What to grow against a hedge?
Kay Purdie
Posts: 3
in Talkback
Hi. I've just moved house. The garden is divided from our neighbours by a hedge which is nice but a bit dull. I think it's a hawthorn hedge with an bed in front of it (about .5 of a metre. This is currently full of mombresia. I'd like a bit less 'orange'. What can I grown in front of it that will look attractive and do well.
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Can you give us more info? Which way does it face? How far north/east/west are you? What kind of soil - loam/chalky/clay/sandy? What are your neighbours growing?
This info will help us advise as it affects what can grow well.
Hawthorn will look dull at this time of year but can be clipped now to make it neat and smart. It has blossom in spring and berries in autumns and is an excellent hedge for birds and beneficial insects as well as having thorns to deter intruders.
Obelixx. Thanks for your response. The hedge is south facing. I'm in Harrogate. It's quite windy but so far the garden seems relatively sheltered. The soil is clay.
The neighbours are growing Mombresia on the other side of the hedge. Hence I have loads growing through my side.
Logan - hardy geraniums - good idea. I grew loads of these in the south but not seeing many in people's Harrogate gardens.
I should have thought loads of plants would cope there, especially if this autumn you can pile on a thick layer of mulch such as well rotted garden compost or maybe some cheap potting compost bought at the end of the season. This will be worked in by the worms over winter and will improve aeration and moisture levels.
Dig out some of the montbretia/crocosmia first if you can as it will spread further if you let it.
In the mean time, have a look at achillea - loads of colours - aquilegias - again, loads of colours - shasta daisies, Japanese anemones, roses, physostegia, veronicas, phlomis, hardy geraniums, lysimachia alba clethroides, phlox, hemerocallis, echinaceas (slug magnets) lychnis chalcedonica, peonies, persicaria.
That should be a good start and cover lots of shapes and sizes of plant and their foliage forms and flower colours.
Thanks for the suggestions. I've bought Japanese anemone today!