Hairyloon
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HedgingI do not like privit, it seems to me neither use, nor ornament, so I am looking to replace my privit hedge with something better.
I did a while back thing gooseberry would make a good hedge: suitably spiky, and with the bonus of fruit, but they'd likely be a bit bare in the winter.
Any thoughts anyone?
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Ixy
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blackthorn? you can have as many bushes as you like for us for nothing - you'd just have to come dig them up  then you'd have your own fruit but it's very 'hedgy' and would keep unwanted visitors out 
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ksia
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I like laurel hedges.
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Jamanda
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Can't eat 'em though. Sloes are a good idea.
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Rob R
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| Ixy wrote: | | blackthorn? you can have as many bushes as you like for us for nothing |
Hey, hey hang on there 
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cab
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Re: Hedging | Hairyloon wrote: |
Any thoughts anyone? |
Lots. Which ones may be helpful will depend on your soil pH and how much sun the site gets. So, tell us more... 
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OtleyLad
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Our garden is bordered down one side with a holly hedge about 100m long. Its certainly people/stock proof but its a nightmare to keep in check.
The thing is that when you trim it you end up with a huge pile of very spiky leaves. They are nasty to handle and its hard not to drop a few for someone to tread on later. Each year my arms are scratched to pieces.
I like blackthorn bushes (they look good when in blossom in spring and provide useful fruit) but they are spiky. If its more of a domestic hedge I would look for something more people friendly like hazel - lovely nuts and much easier to handle.
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Gervase
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What's the hedge for?
Sorry - that sounds daft, but is it to keep stock out, to deter young ne'erdowells or simply to provide a reasonably dense barrier between you and the outside world?
Willow and hazel grow quickly and can be laid to make an attractive and stock-proof fence, but will require a bit of work every couple of years or so.
Blackthorn's much slower growing but gives you sloes, and will only require work every few years. Blackthorn spikes are horrible, though, and wounds nearly always go septic, so you'll need heavy gloves and a healthy respect.
Laurel is nice and dense, but poisonous to stock, as is yew (which is also very slow growing).
As a general-purpose planting, mixture of hazel, blackthorn, hawthorn and hornbeam would give you a lovely traditional hedge which, in time, would be wonderfully stockproof. But it would also be overkill if you just want something down the side of suburban garden, taking up a good five feet of width.
For a more domestic setting, Japonica is effective - dense, spiky, evergreen and with attractive orange berries.
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Hairyloon
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Re: HedgingThanks for the ideas, but blackthorn & hazel would have the same problem as gooseberry: bare in winter. Might go a mix.
| cab wrote: | | Hairyloon wrote: |
Any thoughts anyone? |
Lots. Which ones may be helpful will depend on your soil pH and how much sun the site gets. So, tell us more... |
Not tested pH.
What would you expect for soil that has been under privit for 50-60 years?
It can always be adjusted easy enough anyway.
It is reasonably sunny: 'tis the hedge that causes most of the shade.
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Lorrainelovesplants
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Why not try a mix of hazel,(for the nuts), rugosa rose (for the scented flowers, hips and keep intruders out) and variegated holly (Christmas wreaths, berries feed the birds & keeps intruders out).
Something nice to look at all year, although not the neatest hedge in the world.
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Hairyloon
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| Gervase wrote: | What's the hedge for?
Sorry - that sounds daft... |
Not daft at all. It is to divide my garden from next doors garden.
I was quite tempted by a fence, but I think I've changed my mind.
| Quote: | | Blackthorn's much slower growing but gives you sloes, and will only require work every few years. Blackthorn spikes are horrible, though, and wounds nearly always go septic, so you'll need heavy gloves and a healthy respect. |
I am quite familiar with the workings of blackthorn. Possibly not appropriate with varous kids about.
| Quote: | | Laurel is nice and dense, but poisonous to stock, as is yew (which is also very slow growing). |
Laurel IMO has no redeeming features. Yew is a possible,
| Quote: | | For a more domestic setting, Japonica is effective - dense, spiky, evergreen and with attractive orange berries. |
Japonica (if it is what I think) is the devil in plant form; it makes holly look cuddly.
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Gervase
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Privet thrives on a slightly acid soil - around 6.0 to 7.0. Here's a thought - you could be the only person actually making real Yorkshire Tea. Camellia sinensis, the tea plant, like the same sort of soil. Camellias don't like very strong sun, though. Japonicas and laurels are hardier.
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Treacodactyl
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| Hairyloon wrote: | | Quote: | | Laurel is nice and dense, but poisonous to stock, as is yew (which is also very slow growing). |
Laurel IMO has no redeeming features. |
What about a bay laurel? Takes a year or two to establish but then grows very well, perhaps a bit too well. Evergreen, edible and a nice smell.
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Tavascarow
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Blackthorn suckers & holly is very (exceedingly) slow to establish but makes an excellent hedge once there & only needs an annual trim.
Hawthorn has all the benefits of blackthorn without septic spines or suckering & some species have useful fruit.
Beech makes a beautiful hedge & keeps its old leaves till the new ones emerge in the spring.
The ornamental quinces (Japonica) or chenomoles speciosa to give it its proper name will make a good hedge & as well as beautiful flowers in the spring the fruit can be used as for the normal fruiting quinces.
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Erikht
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| Hairyloon wrote: | | Yew is a possible... |
You can always dare the kids to eat the berries.
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cab
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In that site you could do nearly anything. I'd be tempted by assorted rosa, ribes, rubus and japonica. Spikey, robust, easy, pretty and tasty.
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Ixy
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| Rob R wrote: | | Ixy wrote: | | blackthorn? you can have as many bushes as you like for us for nothing |
Hey, hey hang on there |
you've changed.
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shadiya
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I've been thinking of planting a holly hedge because it'd be stockproof, what does yours look like? I assume you didn't plant it yourself? Any gaps along the bottom? I know this isn't strictly speaking on topic, sorry....
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