Hedge front garden - will anything grow in planter?

vvilcina

Heya, I was meant to have a hedge on the left side of the door, but the builders found out that it was cement foundations and not really possible to dig a trench! Thinking of maybe building up some sort of planter there, but as I still would like privacy not sure is there any hedge type or bush what could grown in a planter? I probably could build it up 40/50cm.. any other ideas?

KeenOnGreen

If there is enough soil in the planter you can definitely plant hedging material.  Here is some Privet (the Argenteum variety) in a trough on our patio.  The top of the plant is four foot high, but if we had not pruned it several times a year, it would be about 5-6 foot high.  Takes a bit more watering in Summer, but is doing very nicely.  

Ffoxglove

Hi sorry to jump on this thread, but I wanted to ask what type of bamboo would be best? @Hexagon

Fairygirl

Hi @vvilcina - the bigger you can make the planter, the more scope it gives you.
As @KeenOnGreen says, privet will definitely do well enough. Make sure you have proper drainage holes in the bottom too. 
Alternatively, you could use posts at each end of the planters and add trellis for climbers. There are lots of clematis which  will grow in well drained conditions- the earlier flowering types - alpina, macropetalas etc, like a lighter soil than the bigger flowering, later types.

KeenOnGreen

All of our Bamboo in planters really struggled, they need too much water. I would only put them in the ground.  Once established, shrubs are more tolerant of erratic watering 

Fairygirl

I'd agree with you on that @KeenOnGreen.
Even with our rainfall here, bamboo doesn't do well in planters, and I feel that people think because of the rainfall, they don't need to water.
The guy across the back from me has put his in raised beds. They're ok, but they really don't look that nice. There are many, far better choices.
If it's a bit shady, Osmanthus will do well. Mine is in a narrow raised bed, and is very wet in winter, but just now - it's really quite dry in there because we haven't had the usual weather for April. It's beautiful at the moment too - covered in it's little scented flowers.