Fast growing hedge

Ritchie

Hi all, just a quick question looking for a fast growing evergreen hedge at bottom of garden some 50 metres away, the 2 I had thought of were laurel or western red cedar conifer. Anyone any thoughts on any of these or could you recommend another? Thanks

Obelixx

Anything that grows fast will be a thug and hard to control.    Large leaved laurel makes a very dull hedge IMHO, grows like mad when cut or pruned and you can't use hedge trimmers as the torn leaves look awful.

 Have you thought about pyracantha which at least has the virtues of blossom and berries for wildlife and will, once matured, provide shelter for birds who may even nest in it?   Easy to train and thicken up as a hedge.   Has thorns for added security.

 

Fairygirl

It's the most common question asked on here I think!  Obelixx is right Ritchie - if it grows fast, it needs cut more often or you'll have a monster. 

If you want a formal look, yew is popular, or even standard privet, but something which gives more benefit to wildlife, as already suggested, is a nicer choice.

Hornbeam and Beech aren't evergreen but retain their leaves over winter to give a screen. They grow fairly quickly if planted in decent ground, but are also easy to keep tidy. 

Welshonion

Yew also grows faster than you think, and it is very well-mannered and can be trimmed as necessary.

Redwing

I agree with the above comments about the fastest growing hedges.  Privet is good as is Lawson's Cyprus (NOT cypruss llandaii).  Privet is flowers and berries, good for pollinating insects and birds.

Fairygirl

Leylandii  (Cupressus) is a different beast altogether from the Lawson cypress (Chamaecyparis)   You need tons of room for the leyland and it sucks the life out of everything round it. Any conifer can be awkward though, unless well maintained. They all get big and unruly if left to their own devices so be careful before opting for any of those. 

In my experience, Photinia can often be very disappointing unless it has perfect conditions.