This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Natural Wind Barrier but not Sun Blocker Wanted!
michdeb
Posts: 4
In our new house, we are at the top of a hill and the wind rushes up our driveway. Currently there's a cornus hedge about 8 foot high at the top of our driveway to protect the patio from the wind, but it blocks all the late evening sun and I want to replace it.
I want something natural that will move and let the light through but deflect the wind, but the bed is only 6 foot wide by 2 foot deep (can't be changed due to the concrete patio and driveway).
Had thought about bamboo but have been advised that wouldn't work, and am worried that a climber on trellis wont be 'man enough' to stand up to the wind . Anyone have any bright ideas please??
Thanks
0
Posts
Dogwood is often planted for the colour of the new stems which grow after hard pruning back to ground level each year. If your hedge has got to 8ft high it sounds like it would benefit from regular hard pruning.
Search 'glass balustrades' and you will find a lot of ideas that might be suitable. We have friends who have these on first floor decks and they are pretty good, but not as cheap as a plant.
Thank you but ideally I would like plants whi h let some light through, either when they move in the wind (like grasses or bamboo) or which are not too dense.
I'm wondering whether one of the Miscanthus varieties would suit your purpose. I don't grow it but others here do - hopefully they'll comment.
You would have to cut it hard back to ground level in the spring, so you wouldn't have a permanent 'hedge'.
http://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/home-garden/gardening/advice-tips/winter-garden/tall-grasses-for-winter.aspx
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I don't know pansy face thompson & morgan told me it wouldn't when I asked them regards an order I wanted to place.
Bamboo gets pretty tall and dense so would block sun.
If your budget doesn't extend to glass panels, I think your best bet is to coppice that cornus next spring as Steephill advises. If it does grow back too dense just thin out some stems or else just erect good strong trellis panels on posts buried in concrete and grow something in front. Doesn't have to be attached so could be other shrubs or perennials.
A well-constructed trellis (really stout posts and good quality trellis) should withstand the wind and create a baffle. You could choose whatever density of trellis suits your requirement to let light through and choose some hardy climbers to break up the appearance. Too many dense climbers would increase the wind resistance and compromise the stability of the panels.