Windbreak shrubs for very dry shade
We have an area of dry, quite stony ground about 15 feet by 30 feet which is partially shaded all year by an evergreen hedge to the west of the 15 foot side, and heavily shaded in summer by a stand of mature beech trees to the south. The strong, prevailing wind comes under the beech trees from the south and we would like a wind break here to protect the veg plot just beyond it to the North East. Willows will not grow here ( too dry I think), but brambles and grass will. At the moment I am keeping it tidy by strimming, but would realily appreciate any views that you might have on an alternative solution. A practical windbreak is more important than beauty, but a perforated fence would look wrong as it would be jutting out into the garden at an odd angle. Ideally, I would like to plant a few shrubs, and would be prepared to get the adze out to clear starter-holes of improved ground for them. Help!
Posts
the big cotoneasters are very good tempered, evergreen and seen to put up with anything. Cotoneaster lacteus is excellent.
Prunus laurocerasus and P. lusitanicus. Viburnum rhytidophyllum I have grown all these in grotty soil, shade and wind. Improving the soil would help any of them get established and you'd need to water til they were established.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thanks very much for that. So there is hope
there's always something that will grow, the problems people have with dry shade is mostly down to planting the wrong thing,
In the sticks near Peterborough
Get a holly or two established. If you've got beech, then am I right in assuming the soil's on the chalky side? Holly will do well, if so (it does well in the two extremes of acid and alkali). Elaeagnus, too, is another toughie.
H-C