Evergreen fast growing shrubs

Neil Mumford

We have just recently moved and I am battling with the garden, we have laurels that have been pruned back from 15 ft+  to grow back into a hedge.

My next job is to cut down conifers that have sadly grown width wise into the garden by 5 feet. I am therefore looking to replace them with something different rather than either more laurel or conifer and looking for suggestions, preferably reasonably fast growing any ideas appreciated

Shadoweaver

Photinia 'Red Robin' is pretty fast growing and can be pruned into a hedge form. The green and red foliage works well too!

Salino

Pittosporum tenuifolium is a fairly quick growing evergreen that can also be used as hedging - hardy most places unless you live in Altnahara...

Busy-Lizzie

Elaeagnus Gilt Edge, Cotoneaster Franchetti (berries for the birds), and I like Photinia Red Robin, already suggested. They are all evergreen. Make sure you improve the soil after removing conifers, they leave dry acid soil behind them. Add lots of compost. Here's a site with masses of hedges on it.

http://www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/acatalog/oleaster_gilt_edge.html

Sue T

Acacia is a bit tender unless you live in the south - you may know it as Mimosa - small scented yellow flowers in April and May. The two species I have are evergreen - the ferny leaved florists one called 'Acacia dealbata', and a more interesting weeping mimosa called 'Acacia pravissima' or Oven's wattle. It can be trained into any shape you want by pruning after flowering. Both fast growing.