What to plant under hedge
Kathy9
Posts: 8
I am quite an inexperienced gardener, and am only in last couple of years trying to revive our much neglected garden. One area which is an eyesore is the area under hedge down the side of our driveway (not sure what it is... evergreen... might be some type of laurel). It is N/NE facing, has a small dry stone wall (about a foot hight) with hedging above that. As we live on a hill, our neighbour's front garden is raised a couple of feet from our own. For a few weeks every year it had always looked quite attractive as there were white flowers growing out on some sort of grass. However, year on year it has become unsightly. Ivy and other weeds has also taken hold and the plants have been 'pushed' out so they encroached on the driveway. We had also been getting four cornered leek which seems to have invaded our neighbourhood in general. As a result I have decided to pull everything out. No mean feat... and I've only done about two metres so far (about 20 more to go). There's a nice little 'bank' now with an attractive little wall below. However, it gets limited sun (some in early afternoon) - the earth left is spongy with remnants of roots. I had grown some aubretia from seed, which I am putting in with a little compost as I go along. However, now I'm worried that this won't flower as there won't be enough light. Now looking for suggestions for year round interest here. I live in Northern Ireland. Many thanks.
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Posts
Are there neighbours on the other side of the hedge, and is it growing on your land or theirs? If it's on theirs, you will need their permission to cut it any lower. If it's on yours, you can do what you like with it but it would be courteous to consult the neighbours.
Plants that flourish beside my hedge are buddleia, fatsia japonica, fuchsia, London pride and foxgloves. Have a look at other people's gardens and see what grows well beside their hedges. If you can improve the soil with manure or compost before planting, so much the better.
Alchemilla Mollis and Geranium Phaeum that come in a number of colours are good partners. You can break it up and create more different textures with Bergenia Cordifolia.