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Laurel hedge

knighty_212knighty_212 Posts: 9
in Plants
Hi to you all. 

I'm a new poster and hoping for a bit of advice please.

I have been reading a few laurel post on here and whilst learning quite a bit already. I was hoping for a bit of guidance rather than making some bad decisions and later regretting it.

We have a gravel boundary on the side of our house which is a bit untidy and also a bit of a pain to keep tidy. As we live close to a primary school and all the kids walk in the gravel and kick it all over the path. (Kids will be kids, I suppose). I was hoping to plant some laurals in there to fill the space up and to give us a nice green hedge. 

See the attached photos

A few things I would appreciate a bit of help with is -

Is there enough space to plant them there?
Would i be able to plant them in the middle of the gravel border?
What spacing would be needed between each plant?

I had seen 10 Cherry Laurel potted (not bare roots) 40-60cm for 29.95 are these a good purchase? If not could someone please point me in the direction of a better option.

Huge thanks in advance.
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Posts

  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    Someone locally has done something similar - their border is slightly narrower. They are constantly cutting back the laurels, which make big plants if left unchecked. My concern would be that they would constantly encroach on the footpath. 
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,507
    edited July 2020
    Bear in mind that laurels grow out as well as up.
    Don't really think there is enough space as i think i can see a kerb edging which will have been cemnted in and that will reduce the soil area as well as the concrete around the posts.
    I expect if they kick the gravel they will pull leaves off the shrubs. 
    Don't really know what to suggest except perhaps some ground cover type plants. It's a long space to fill.
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,507
    @Treeface isn't that  the price for 10?

  • knighty_212knighty_212 Posts: 9
    Thanks for your replies.

    The thing that annoys me a little is that the parents let the kids run in the gravel and kick it all over the path. I normally keep all the weeds out and keep it much tidier than in the picture. But i've been working in my back garden for a month and all my free time has gone into that. I cant believe how crazy the weeds have gone.

    Treeface - I've never given any thought to anything other than Laurels or some form of shrub. Think the resin idea is a good shout. Price dependant.

    rachelQrtJHBjb & K67 - After reading the other Laurel post on here. The issues you have raised is what cause me concern. I already have a very established conifer hedge between me and my neighbours which I inherited when I brought the house. That is a bit of challenge to keep in check. I agree though, don't really want it taking over half of the path and maybe destroying my fence. Or planting it and it just not having the room to grow properly.


  • knighty_212knighty_212 Posts: 9
    @Treeface - Thanks, I'll have a look into that. I don't mind a bit of maintenance for the right look. 

    Thanks again.
  • knighty_212knighty_212 Posts: 9
    @Treeface - Yes, will do. 
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,963
    What about large crushed rock instead of pea gravel?  Harder to walk on, and if they do it won't be easily displaced.  Take out most of the pea gravel and put down new weed membrane first.  If the kids don't step on the plants, the dogs will wee on them.
    Utah, USA.
  • LynLyn Posts: 22,852
    Get a builder to run in a load of ready mix. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 53,924
    I had the same problem @knighty_212 . It's not that they don't have room to walk on the pavement, they choose to walk on the gravel just because they can. Parents don't care about teaching their offspring to respect property :/
    You could simply plant something low growing and evergreen, which would require less maintenance. Heathers, Euonymous or similar. Readily available and doesn't get too wide, unlike laurel. 
    I have Pyracantha on the inside of part of my boundary, and it grows through the fence. I just give it a trim when I do the rest of the hedging. It's relatively easy to keep tight too. Excellent for insect life as well - so double whammy  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,025
    💡 Grow stinging nettles ... good for the wildlife and keeps children on the straight and narrow ... well it did when I was was walking to school ... and we didn’t even have pavements 😉 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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