Help! Hedge or plant recommendations for large raised beds

fwoodman

Hi,

We’re in the very middle of a garden redesign. Our garden has been levelled which has resulted in large raised beds around the perimeter. Myself and partner are both complete novices when it comes to gardening so have agreed to try and keep things relatively simple.

The centre of the garden will be turfed with a small patio to the right. 

The long 10m bed along the back is causing us some trouble! We were originally recommended Portuguese Laurel. The gardener suggested mixing in some Clematis or climbing ivy to ‘break up’ the long green hedge and make it look a bit more diverse. But, I have read that climbers and laurels do not mix well? And I am worried that a long green hedge isn’t the best use of the bed, I love laurels but I also love colour and texture. 

Would anyone have recommendations for what we could plant along the back fence? We’d like it to be evergreen / it doesn’t have to be a hedge / easy to maintain and hardy. 

Pics for ref. Sorry for the mess!
Thanks in advance.

delski

The space for planting in doesn't seem very wide. Is the bit at the back the same width?

fwoodman

Hi Deski,

You’re right, it’s not that wide. It’s just under 2 foot wide and very deep. 

Thanks,

Fairygirl

It's fine for clematis, and there are hundreds to choose from depending on the aspect,  although beech or hornbeam would make a good hedge, as they can both be kept 'tight'. 
In sunnier aspects - things like Escallonia and Ceanothus can be kept neat against a fence, and are evergreen. They don't mind a drier medium. Watering would be the most difficult thing for shrubs, unless you're in a wet area, so you'd need to choose carefully.
I wouldn't choose laurel of any kind. 

KeenOnGreen

I would probably avoid most shrubs, the space isn't big enough for them, unless they are a slow growing, dwarf form.  Some of the slower growing Phormiums might work (Evening Glow is the slowest growing variety we have).  There are some dwarf forms of Pittosporum (Golf Ball for example).  Euonymus Green Spire is very similar to Box, and can be kept trimmed to size (we also have another variety, Green and Gold, which has been very slow growing).  Ivy is much overlooked, we have a lovely one called Golden Heart.  There are some evergreen grasses and sedges (Uncinia uncinata, Carex Oshimensis Evarillo).  Libertia's would also be great in those spaces (Peregrinans, Grandiflora, Ixioides).  If you want colour, you need to add annuals or perennials.  There are plenty of Geraniums that would work well in that space.  Star Jasmine would bring some height.

Your beds are so narrow and so near the fence that you will need to water them very regularly.  Plenty of well-rotted manure and a mulch of some sort will help with that.  You could easily lay a drip system, to aid with watering (best to avoid the spray kind, they use too much water).

Mrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants

I hope there is a waterproof barrier between the soil and the wooden fence or rotting is going to be a problem in the future.

Fairygirl

Mrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants said:

I hope there is a waterproof barrier between the soil and the wooden fence or rotting is going to be a problem in the future.

Indeed - and against the timber the beds are made of too