Help with what to plant on a small piece of land.

BScottLeeds

Hello everyone,

First time poster and total gardening newcomer. Looking for some help...

There is a piece of grass next to my drive way running parallel approximately 3 metres long and 6 meters wide. It is has become a haven for young and noisy children to congregate -  which can be troublesome when trying to put our little ones to sleep.

It is not my land, it is the neighbours. She has kindly given permission for me to do something to half of this land, next to my driveway to discourage the children's gatherings. (Sorry if this sounds petty, we are at the end of our tether - they do move when asked, but it is becoming increasingly tiresome)

I am thinking to perhaps to dig up the section of grass and plant some bushes perhaps, what type of plants I wouldn't know. 

I would preferably like to keep costs reasonable and something which is fairly low maintenance.

Any ideas regarding what plants or natural barriers anyone could offer, I would appreciate massively.

Kindest regards

robairdmacraignil

Pyrachanta, holly, berberis, white thorn or blackthorn might be suitably prickly.

Fairygirl

I'd agree - Pyracantha and Berberis grow at a reasonable rate, and you get the added advantage of flowers and berries for the birds. 

PS - not petty at all - I understand the problem only too well.

Blue Onion

Hawthorn would be lovely, and low maintenance.  Plus pretty and great for wild life.  Underplant with the other suggestions, to keep them away from the young tree.  

BScottLeeds

Thank you all for your recommendations - I will go to my nearest B&Q, failing that there are a few nurseries a short distance away.

I assume when I would buy them they would be fairly small? Would you all recommend that I take the top layer of turf up, plant them and then put something like bark around them? As opposed to just planting them in various points in the turf?

Again, I appreciate your wisdom in this.

Kind regards

Barry

Fairygirl

Pyracanthas and Berberis are readily available, so should be easy for you to get 

It's probably a nicer job to take all the turf away [depending on the size of the area] but it will take them a little while to mature and grow, so yes - a mulch of bark will help. You could just remove a circle/square of turf to plant into, but you'd then need to access the grass to cut it. 
Just make sure everything is really well watered before and after planting, and watering will be needed for the whole summer. The ground will need a wee bit of prep first too, with some compost added, as the soil will probably be pretty poor. If you can get some well rotted manure too, that will help. The DIY stores often have it, but it'll depend on what's available. 

Dovefromabove

I wonder if it would be an idea to label it as a ‘wildlife area’ or ‘plants for pollinators’ ?  Most youngsters are into that sort of thing and I don’t suppose they’re being deliberately annoying ... just thoughtless and self-focussed which is a normal part of development.   

If they saw it as some sort of ‘fortification’ they might treat it as a challenge which is not what you want. 

😊