[starry]

would this work?? I have about 40 foot of border to fill on the outside of a fence along a public foot path would it make a neat hedge if I gave it the occasional trim and how many would I need ??

[catllar]

Despite the word "creeping" I think this is a bit of a thug, but very beautiful. I have several in my garden and struggle to keep it within bounds - I left one to its own devices and after 6 years it is over 9 feet across and about 6ft tall, whilst being kind of horizontal at the same time. I don't know how high you want your hedge. Any pruning should be done immediately after flowering and avoid cutting into old wood (speaking from experience) or it will die on you. That said there is a ceanothus hedge in a garden near my daughter's house in stockbridge which is so tightly pruned it could be a box hedge (but it is still 6ft tall.) I guess this one has been pruned v. regularly from a very young plant. They are not very  long lived so I'm told (I'm ready to be corrected, cos I don't want mine to die any time soon) averaging around 10 years.  Judging by mine I wouldn't plant closer than 6 feet apart. Hope this helps.

[starry]

Hi thanks for your reply I have gone off it now I just love the blue flowers and from the pictures I have seen they do seem to get quite big probably going to go for a ground cover shrub now like St johns wort 

[Lardman]

A lot of people round here are using forsythia for hedging - this time of year it looks spectacular.  Nice and easy to control and manage - theres a house I pass and they have used it like privet to a hight of 4ft high.

[catllar]

Yes, with the St.John's Wort you are less likely to get the elfin safety people on your back  - it's not known to be a hazard on the public 'ighway! Will it not die down in the winter? Forsythia always tempts me at this time of the year but it's a tad boring  (sorry) the rest of the year for me.