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Screening between gardens

thekarterthekarter Posts: 5
edited March 2018 in Plants

Hi. 

Hope you can help. I have a run of approximately 30 feet of fencing between my garden and next doors. I would like to plant something in front of the fence that will eventually grown to and can be kept to around 6 foot in height (preferably not leylandi). Evergreen would be a bonus. Thanks. Chris

Posts

  • FireFire Posts: 17,396
    Do you want hedging, shrubs, climbers or a mix?
  • thekarterthekarter Posts: 5
    Hedging may be best as eventually would like to get rid of the fence that is there. Hopefully something that grows quite quickly
  • FireFire Posts: 17,396
    Soil and sun types? Standard or unusual hedging? Variegated, prickly, flowering, native?
  • HelixHelix Posts: 631
    Things that grow quickly tend to carry on growing and so require endless pruning.  You might be better off with something that takes a bit longer to get to size but doesn't break your back every year with a mountain of prunings.  

    I love pyracantha hedges because of the berries, but a bit of a prickly pig to prune - you have to stand well back as you wave your hedge trimmer. 

    Hedging direct have good advice pages, here...

    https://www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/acatalog/Right_Species.html
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,672
    If you get rid of the fence, then you may have future problems with animals/rodents coming through the bottom from next door.  What about a selection of different evergreen and/or flowering shrubs which only grow to about 6-7 feet, then you might not have to have a regular pruning chore. It would look better if you repeated some of the shrubs a few times along the border. 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    Privet? Grow the wild one, Ligustrum vulgare, if you want bragging rights. I used to get stick insects on mine! Allegedly it can lose its leaves in a very hard winter.

    Pittosporum also makes a thick hedge quickly, but you'll need to trim every year once it's at a suitable height.
  • WaysideWayside Posts: 845
    edited March 2018
    The wild privet is surely too lanky?  I only say that because of it's natural habit.  I image searched it, and people certainly tame it.  A friend said that privet makes the foulest of honey - and that's the first negative I've heard about it.  I have a mix, in one hedge the privet is quite vigourous with large pretty leaves. I quite fancy that one.
  • WaysideWayside Posts: 845
    What type of fence?
  • UpNorthUpNorth Posts: 376
    Wayside said:
    What type of fence?
    exactly what i was thinking.

    does the fence block all light?  ie solid, or maybe it's a picket fence.  And to what height is the fence ( if it blocks light).    

    who owns the fence ( see house deeds)

    will the fence need maintenance or are you planning to remove in due time?




  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    Wayside said:
    The wild privet is surely too lanky? 
    You might be right. I confess mine were grown more as a clump than as a hedge.
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