I have a number of hedges in my garden, and have learned a few things from bitter experience.
I also have a number of specimen plants (in groups of 1
) which are frequently used as hedging.
My most bitter experience is roots from shrubs and trees, particularly if you are planning to grow flowers in the same border. OK for a few years, but as the roots extend, they soak up moisture and weeding is an absolute nightmare.
The best? Re your No 1, Laurie, I'm not a fan of fast growing plants and thats a general statement. SLOW growing means less maintenance at maturity. I guess I'm a patient gardener.
a) Box hedge - VERY slow growing, but nice and dense Laurie. Their roots haven't caused me any real problem, and I grow flowers right in front of them.
I grew all mine from cuttings - dead easy!
b) Yew (Taxus baccata) is a dense, slow growing, dark evergreen hedging shrub that once it reaches its desired height is easy to maintain. Warning - its poisonous to animals. My garden was once invaded by a herd of cattle. The farmer was worried about when I pointed them out.
Both a) and b) make very nice hedges. They need very little clipping to keep their shape.
Both can be used for topiary so if you have time, you can make a sculptured, even architectural hedge.
I grew mine from seed.
The good, but need more maintenance:c) Hornbeam
I grew mine from seed. The first batch of seed seemed to have failed. I bought some more. Then the first batch germinated! I use them for arches and the Hut- a circle of plants to six feet trained to form a "roof" - a living room for kids to play in (will edit later and show photos)
Quite fast growing, so needs regular pruning to keep its appearance during summer. Deciduous.
Sometimes called the poor mans beech. Don't know why! Its a fine plant in its own right. Leaves are not as glossy as beech.
d) Beech.
Single specimens only. VERY slow growing in my garden, but once it starts, it knows very well that it is a tree!
It is deciduous. Leaves go brown in autumn, but remain on the bush until spring. They then drop off and are replaced by lovely fresh green leaves.
Again, I grew mine from seed.
The nice but naughty e) Escallonia - beautiful flowers in summer. However, it flowers best in its wild state.
I grew all mine from cuttings.
There are a number of species. I have at least two. One is very fast growing and dense, the other is slow to establish, lighter wispy stems and branches which like to arch if the plant is not pruned.
Escallonia flowers on the long stems. Needless to say, if pruned regularly you have a lovely clipped hedge, but no flowers.
Roots are a problem if you want to grow anything in front of this hedge.
The ones to think carefully about
f) Leylandii
Makes a VERY nice hedge. However, its fast growing and if not maintained, becomes leggy at the bottom and will grow to ginormous heights! As I write, my neighbour has contractors in removing a Leylandii hedge. The original owner passed away, the trees grew and grew. They completely obscured an entire row of TWO storey houses from my garden along the long side of the garden, and houses at the end of the garden.
My elderly neighbour had to bow to the pressure from the occupants. The hedge was on their south perimeter of their small gardens. They never saw the light of day!
The contract cost has run into thousands of pounds.
On the plus side - the neighbour one house further away has the same type of hedge, manicured to perfection - much admired and talked about by everyone.
OK when you are young - beware old age and neglect.
g) Castlewellan Gold
I have a long hedge of this on my south perimeter (all grown from cuttings - took a few years!).
Its a massive job to keep it in check.
I dread to think what will happen later in life
I had a hedge of f) and g) at the top of the garden - with the plants alternated.
Looked great, but grew out of hand, and I removed them - some with the help of a digger last winter. I had grown them in front of a boundary 7ft fence. Fortunately the fence is still in good condition (it would gradually have suffered if the trees had been allowed to remain)
Enough for starters!
My advice?
Small garden with flower borders - don't go for hedging- grow a fence
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