conifers or...?

broeckxk

Hi all, we moved into a new house last year, garden is approx 12 m wide and 38 m deep. On the left side there is a fence, and some shrubs/trees that we kept and pruned. (apple tree, magnolia, prunus etc) However the first 7 meter of the garden next to the fence is bare and we need to plant something for privacy and evergreen as i want to block the view of neighbouring houses. I thought first of a mix of different western cedars as they are evergreen, good places for birds to hibernate, but not sure if that would look right as we would only plant them on 1/4 of the border. We definitely need some privacy there, are there other possible evergreen combinations? I'd like to plant some perennials in front of these trees, so I think conifers might not be ideal? Also a border that is half conifer and half other shrubs could look a bit odd? I'd love trees like Robinia, Eucalyptus,Cytisus Battandieri etc, but they won't completely screen of that gap

TIA

Dovefromabove

Hi

I would consider yew, beech or holly ... I think a formal hedge of one type would look good for a short run of only 7 metres.  The ones I've suggested will, after a few years, provide good screening all year round plus good wildlife value, and yet can be kept close clipped and narrow to avoid impacting too much on the width of your garden. 

broeckxk

Dovefromabove says:

Hi

I would consider yew, beech or holly ... I think a formal hedge of one type would look good for a short run of only 7 metres.  The ones I've suggested will, after a few years, provide good screening all year round plus good wildlife value, and yet can be kept close clipped and narrow to avoid impacting too much on the width of your garden. 

See original post

Thank you

What about Hornbeam, it looks similar to beech but easier to cultivate ? (much cheaper too?0