@Dovefromabove That is a good suggestion it may depend on where you are in the country as to what you choose. I would be concerned for the lovely brick pavers and the proximity to the boxes at front of the property in years to come.
RETIRED GARDENER, SOUTH NOTTS, SOIL CLAY
A garden is an oasis for creation, available to anyone with a little space and the compunction to get their hands dirty.
I have to say - I don't know anyone who doesn't use a hedge trimmer for big stretches of laurel. It's easy enough to pick off the damaged leaves. The area the OP has is small though, so I expect it would be easy enough to use secateurs etc.
I'd also agree with a screen and climbers, if you're allowed to change it. That might be a big 'if' though.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@sizer.lobular.0s I am going to give my honest opinion, you need to replace them with something smaller. You can keep them under control at the beginning but I had to pay a tree surgeon just to remove one. With gardening there is no such thing as instant privacy. plants of a good size. at a cheaper price. Your Laurels will grow fast and just keep going if left unpruned you will have thick trunks. Shrubs that are mature and slow growing have been cared for by a nurserymen for many years and they can be expensive. Perhaps look over some garden walls when you are out and about I am sure you will see how big they can get. Sorry to be negative on your first post. You have a new garden that will be exciting and I hope you will continue to share your progress. Welcome.
Thank you for your reply. I didn’t take it as negative.
They definitely will not replace them I know that for a fact. They are supposed to maintain the grounds which includes the laurels. However it sounds like I may need to keep an eye out in between the maintenance visits….
I'd be inclined to query the company responsible for planting/maintaining. Are they the same company, or is the maintenance co. just employed by them or similar? Tell them you've been advised on a well known gardening site/forum that these plants aren't suitable for the space and see what happens. The problem is that this is an easy option for 'landscapers and/or developers' who are often not gardeners. Laurel is so easy to propagate that it's cheap to produce. This reminds me of a recent [pricey] development quite near me, bordering a main road. It's posh apartments, and they have hedges of leylandii at the front, with about the same distance from the properties as in your pic - possibly nearer. Bl**dy nightmare, and should never be allowed. I feel sorry for the folk who've bought them, but I don't know the situation re maintenance.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@sizer.lobular.0s We looked at moving to a property only last year where there was an annual maintenance fee for the garden areas to the front of the properties. It did make me feel uneasy as I knew I could have made a better job. A few weeks later I did see two men 'working' there. If I had moved there it would have driven me crazy! The fee was £700 per year per household and it did include other maintenance. I would just keep an eye on where your money is going.
RETIRED GARDENER, SOUTH NOTTS, SOIL CLAY
A garden is an oasis for creation, available to anyone with a little space and the compunction to get their hands dirty.
Thank you for your reply. I didn’t take it as negative.
They definitely will not replace them I know that for a fact. They are supposed to maintain the grounds which includes the laurels. However it sounds like I may need to keep an eye out in between the maintenance visits….
If the grounds are to be maintained as part of your agreement with the developer then it would be worth checking how this works - do you decide the height of the hedge and how regularly they cut it etc. It wouldn't be my choice of hedging plant for that situation but if it is maintained at a reasonable height, it will give you a nice evergreen screen within one growing season, ensuring privacy, with no need to interplant. Birds will also enjoy it for shelter and nesting as it thickens up.
If you keep the laurels they will have achieved what you hope for before the end of the summer and then you will need to prune them to keep them tidy but not by using a hedge trimmer. They need clipping by hand using secateurs. If you don't you will be back asking why the edges of the leaves are turning brown and messy.
This is mine that I clip using secateurs.
It's academic really if you aren't liable for the maintenance of the laurels @sizer.lobular.0s but just to add that these laurels wouldn't look as neat and tidy if they had been trimmed with a hedge cutter or even shears.
Posts
I would be concerned for the lovely brick pavers and the proximity to the boxes at front of the property in years to come.
A garden is an oasis for creation, available to anyone with a little space and the compunction to get their hands dirty.
Dan Pearson
The area the OP has is small though, so I expect it would be easy enough to use secateurs etc.
I'd also agree with a screen and climbers, if you're allowed to change it. That might be a big 'if' though.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They definitely will not replace them I know that for a fact. They are supposed to maintain the grounds which includes the laurels. However it sounds like I may need to keep an eye out in between the maintenance visits….
I'd be inclined to query the company responsible for planting/maintaining. Are they the same company, or is the maintenance co. just employed by them or similar?
Tell them you've been advised on a well known gardening site/forum that these plants aren't suitable for the space and see what happens.
The problem is that this is an easy option for 'landscapers and/or developers' who are often not gardeners. Laurel is so easy to propagate that it's cheap to produce.
This reminds me of a recent [pricey] development quite near me, bordering a main road. It's posh apartments, and they have hedges of leylandii at the front, with about the same distance from the properties as in your pic - possibly nearer. Bl**dy nightmare, and should never be allowed. I feel sorry for the folk who've bought them, but I don't know the situation re maintenance.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The fee was £700 per year per household and it did include other maintenance. I would just keep an eye on where your money is going.
A garden is an oasis for creation, available to anyone with a little space and the compunction to get their hands dirty.
Dan Pearson
If the grounds are to be maintained as part of your agreement with the developer then it would be worth checking how this works - do you decide the height of the hedge and how regularly they cut it etc. It wouldn't be my choice of hedging plant for that situation but if it is maintained at a reasonable height, it will give you a nice evergreen screen within one growing season, ensuring privacy, with no need to interplant. Birds will also enjoy it for shelter and nesting as it thickens up.