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Front garden boundary

JAC51JAC51 Posts: 172
in Garden design
Hi, the neighbours own the rather run down fence that they agreed to get rid of. We did discuss whether to replace it but both agreed we didn’t mind not having one.  However I would like some sort of boundary if only to stop unwanted weeds etc.  Any suggestions on planting shrubs? To about 2 or 3.  Really sorry about the photos, they won’t load the right was 😩
Thanks


Posts

  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,286




    Rutland, England
  • JAC51JAC51 Posts: 172
    Thanks @BenCotto 😀
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,368
    Not a wise move to remove the boundary?  The current neighbour(s) won't be there for ever, nor will you, so you're potentially laying in trouble for the future.
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,286
    Just as a marker, I would put in a couple of stakes and run gripple wire between them. Along the wire I would grow clematis.
    Rutland, England
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,791
    I disagree.  We are a nation obsessed by hard physical boundaries and privacy.  I think a natural border is fine, and kinder on the eye, and better for nature.

    Your challenge will be that any shrubs you plant will grow, and part of them will be growing over into your neighbours garden.  Will they mind having to trim them, and will you mind them trimming what are essentially your plants?

    Have you considered asking your neighbour if you should plant a hedge along the boundary.  It could be a formal hedge, with a single species, such as Privet, or it could be a more natural hedge, with various species.  You could each be responsible for whether you trim your side, or leave it to grow naturally.

    My suggestions for some shrubs, if you decide to go down that route: Choisya, Abelia, Pittosporum (all evergreen, but check if they are hardy in your area).
  • JAC51JAC51 Posts: 172
    Thanks for your suggestions. I’ve just been to my market garden stall and they are selling good size choisya sun dance I think for £7. I could buy say 5 of those to plant along the boundary. Although I quite like the idea of just a wire and grow something up it. I do try and keep the front garden quite low maintenance though
  • sunshine preferredsunshine preferred Posts: 107
    I agree that a lack of a border could create problems in the future . Could you perhaps mark the border in a way that is discreet , maybe a row of edging bricks or railway sleepers , something plants could grow over but still officially shows where the border is .
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,791
    Choisya grow quite quickly when established.  You won't need that many plants for the space, 3 would be enough, as long as you are happy to wait for them to be established.  Sun Dance is nice, but several of them in a row can be a bit overwhelming, too much yellow.  If you mix it up with some shrubs with different foliage colour and texture, it will probably look more interesting.  
  • JAC51JAC51 Posts: 172
    A good many suggestions thanks.  Not sure why there would be a problem with the boundary.  These are average semi detached houses with small front gardens so the boundary is pretty obvious.  I obviously wouldn’t be planting on their side and any shrubs planted would be more my side than theirs to take into account growth. They’re just forking out for some major refurbishment in the house that they’ve thought about for the past four years so presumably will be staying put for the foreseeable future 
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