I want to plant a narrow hedge to add privacy to my garden. What would be the best option?

NoviceGardenOwner

Hi, I'm sure you get questions like this a lot so I'll try to be brief and summarise the research I have already done myself.

I have a border between my small garden and my neighbour's with a low fence (as shown in the photo below) that makes me feel very exposed. My garden doesn't have much greenery in it either so I see this as a good opportunity to kill two birds with one stone by adding a hedge.

I'd like a hedge that I can quickly grow to and maintain at these dimensions: 5.5m across, 50-75cm thick, 2m tall (I'm over 6ft myself, so want it to be around my own height so I can't see over it).

I'd like it to be evergreen (to provide thick cover all year round).

If it could have a but of colour (some flowers etc), that would be a bonus, but not absolutely essential if not possible.

As I don't really have any gardening experience, it would need to be quite easy for me to successfully plant once I remove a strip of the paving slabs.

And not too expensive would be great too.

I've been looking around the internet and the hedge I am primarily looking at currently is Escallonia rubra var. macrantha. But I have no idea whether this would be a big mistake or if there are better things that can meet my requirements instead.

Could somebody here with more knowledge than me offer some advice please?

Thank you

NoviceGardenOwner

Also, some people in the past have suggested adding trellises to the fence, but I'm not particularly fond of this. I'd prefer a freestanding hedge.

AnniD

I'm wondering if one of the cotoneaster varieties might fit the bill. I know you don't want to remove too much of the paving, but bear in mind that you've also got the concrete edging along the bottom of the fence, which will absorb moisture, so you might need to come out a little further. Just my opinion though !

NoviceGardenOwner

AnniD said:

I'm wondering if one of the cotoneaster varieties might fit the bill. I know you don't want to remove too much of the paving, but bear in mind that you've also got the concrete edging along the bottom of the fence, which will absorb moisture, so you might need to come out a little further. Just my opinion though !

Oh interesting. I had been using this table for narrowing down my choice a lot: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20120919132719/http:/www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/hedgeselectortable.pdf

Cotoneaster is on there but I never really looked into it. The table does mention it is "semi evergreen" though - so does that mean it would be thin for some of the year and not necessarily provide cover?

Fire

Are you planning to remove the fence and replace it with a hedge? I wasn't clear.

Does the fence back straight on to the next door garden? If so, you might want to consult with them about your plans and thoughts, if you take out the fence. The hedge you plant automatically becomes theirs too, for practical purposes (although check that it is leagals your boundary to do with what you will). One beauty of fence is that the neighbour doesn't have to do anything to maintain it. A hedge will need regular trimming from them, probably.

A pyracatha, for example, is a lovely, dense, evergreen option, with flowers in the spring, good nesting for birds and berries in the autumn, but has to be kept on top of re pruning.

NoviceGardenOwner

Fire said:

Are you planning to remove the fence and replace it with a hedge? I wasn't clear.

Sorry for the ambiguity. The fence is staying as-is (my neighbour owns it). I just want something that will grow alongside (and higher than) it.

AnniD

I have cotoneaster franchetii. In extreme cold weather it may lose some leaves, but they fill out again in the Spring. Your fence should give some protection. 
https://www.best4hedging.co.uk/cotoneaster-hedging-c49

I think unless you're talking conifer hedges you may find you lose "bits" now and again. As with all things garden related, the more preparation you put in, the better.

NoviceGardenOwner

AnniD said:

I have cotoneaster franchetii. In extreme cold weather it may lose some leaves, but they fill out again in the Spring. Your fence should give some protection. 
https://www.best4hedging.co.uk/cotoneaster-hedging-c49

I think unless you're talking conifer hedges you may find you lose "bits" now and again. As with all things garden related, the more preparation you put in, the better.

Thank you very much for the link. It is very helpful considering I'm not too familiar with all this stuff.

Luckily this position is fully in the sun all day long, so even on cold days it should be a little warmer than other parts of the garden.

Losing a bit of cover would be fine. I originally looked at conifer hedges but was quickly informed by people on other forums that I'd need way more space for these types of hedging plants.

Plantminded

Griselinia littoralis makes a nice evergreen hedge.  It's fast growing, prefers sun and will give you the height you are looking for, without being bulky.  I have a six foot hedge of it in my garden to hide part of my fence and have kept it to just one foot deep.  No flowers or fruit of any significance (they do flower and produce berries but they are small and don't last long), but nice round apple green leaves which look cheerful even in winter.  It is easy to maintain and widely available.

After you remove the paving slabs it's important to renovate your soil before planting, ideally a few days beforehand to allow it to settle.  It will be compacted due to the weight of the slabs so needs to be enriched, preferably with fresh topsoil and organic material such as well rotted manure, soil conditioner or garden compost. 

NoviceGardenOwner

Plantminded said:

Griselinia littoralis makes a nice evergreen hedge.  It's fast growing, prefers sun and will give you the height you are looking for, without being bulky.  I have a six foot hedge of it in my garden to hide part of my fence and have kept it to just one foot deep.  No flowers or fruit of any significance (they do flower and produce berries but they are small and don't last long), but nice round apple green leaves which look cheerful even in winter.  It is easy to maintain and widely available to buy from garden centres or hedging specialists.

After you remove the paving slabs it's important to renovate your soil before planting, preferably a few days beforehand to allow it to settle.  It will be compacted due to the weight of the slabs so needs to be enriched, preferably with fresh topsoil and organic material such as well rotted manure, soil conditioner or garden compost. 

Funnily enough, I had just been looking at Griselinia littoralis (It's known as New Zealand Privet, right? But unlike normal Privet, it doesn't have a strong smell from what I can tell).

I am getting very tempted by your success in keeping it pretty much to the same dimensions as I would want it.

I'd have preferred if it got more prominent flowers and berries, but that is by far my lowest requirement. So I'm not overly concerned by it.

I'll definitely look into it more. Thank you.

hogweed

Just beware that any hedge may potentially damage your neighbours fence! Hedges don't always read the memo that says only grow on one side and as the hedge gets stronger and the fence gets weaker over time......................