Help with filling in a box hedge

nichola_jh

Hi, I would really appreciate some help with deciding on a planting scheme for a box hedge I have in our new garden.  It is a large wheel shaped box hedge with dividing triangle sections all the way through, almost like a Trivial Pursuit counter!.  The sections measure 10ftx10ftx10ft and are 2 ft high and there are 8 sections.  Any advice would be much appreciated.  Thanks

 

hogweed

If it is very sunny, lavender would be nice but expensive. Small growing roses would be ok or a mixture of perennials. Depends on how much work you want to do in it. Lavender looks tidy all year round and so do roses so good if it is on display somewhere prominent. Perennials can look a bit untidy at times. Do you want all the sections to look the same?

Fairygirl

Oh - I've answered on your other thread Nichola! 

nichola_jh

Thanks Fairygirl, I originally posted it in the wrong section and didn't know how to delete it.



I like the idea of lavender and it looking tidy for most of the year. Would like something that has a bit of height so it could come flush with the height of the hedges or I fear it would look a bit lost. The sections don't have to be the same.

Hostafan1

dward santolina chamaecyparrisus looks nice if kept clipped.

Look at images of Ham House Richmond.

Hostafan1

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ham-house-and-garden/features/the-garden-at-ham-house

you could scale it down.

Dovefromabove

I would fill it with loads of tall blowsy perennials which would contrast beautifully with the formal hedging.

Hostafan1

ah, but you're a tall blowsy kinda girl Dove 

sam bevington

 Help too please!! This is my box project, I love the idea of blousy perennials/cosmos to create a Jewel Garden (reading Monty's book now).  I'd like height in the middle of each box, preferably evergreen, any ideas?

sam bevington

Thanks Tetley.  That pic was taken in Nov 14, since then I have planted 6 Italian Cypress trees to form an avenue but they're looking  a bit sick as bottoms have been nibbled by pesky rabbits!  thought evergreen climber with flowers growing up obelisks in the middle?

Fairygirl

You'd need to access them sam, which means some sort of solid footing - so you might be best with Tetley's suggestion.

Peonies are beautiful in that kind of situation,underplanted with bulbs for spring, and some smaller structural planting  with other perennials or annuals to follow on. Strong colour but all unified, rather than a bit of this and that. That gives a more formal look.

If you want a more informal look, that would work well too, but again, you need to get in amongst the planting for deadheading etc. Some structure will help set off the blousier stuff round it