[Totty]

Hi all, I have been getting earache from my better half about screening off our back garden. Had a quote for fence materials and it's around 500 quid, so a hedge it is then!
To be honest I'd sooner have a hedge anyway.
I'll be getting fairly large root balled plants, so can't be choosing Yew for instance as it would cost a fortune.
Most of the hedges in our area are privet, so that is one option. Another I thought of is hawthorn but I'd sooner have an evergreen hedge really.
So what do you all suggest. It's important that it's a tight hedge that creates privacy. Ideally evergreen, although beech is nice in winter holding onto its old leaves till spring, it's still not really tight and can be looked through easily.

Totty

[fatcat1955]

Western red Cedar, unlike most conifers will regrow if cut back hard and gives you a lovely pineapple smell when you cut it. Can be kept down to 2mts and forms a lovely dense green hedge.

[sunshineband]

I second fatcat's suggestion there as it does small gorgeous.

An alternative evergreen is escallonia, which also has the bonus of small flowers,

[barley]

 
Viburnum Tinus -

is a shrub not generally used for hedging but could be easily made into one , evergreen and pretty flowers in winter &  tough as old boots

[Totty]

Have looked at the red cedar before too. It does indeed make a nice hedge, but to get hold of large plants is also very pricey. I should have mentioned, that planting the hedge then waiting years for good height is a no no. Thanks for your replies upto now.

Totty

[sunshineband]

Try Hopes Grove Nursery, based in Tenterden. They stock good sized plants and offer a decent priced delivery on pallets.

Have bought quite a bit from them over the years.

They have an online catalogue

[fatcat1955]

Buckingham nurseries is a place you should try too.

[Totty]

Thanks for your replies, I have decided (yawn) to go with privet. Very boring I know, but the hedge will join the one we currently have around the front, which is also privet.
I can get hold of some 3-4 foot plants which, when established will give a good screen fairly quickly.
I reckon that by buying bigger plants, it will mean that the bottom of the hedge may be a bit more gappy than if shorter plants were used, but how about if I plant the hedge, probably about a foot apart, then take cuttings from our existing hedge later in winter and dot them in between the bigger plants. Hopefully over time these should root and fill any gaps lower down? I'll be putting in a nice arched gate too, which hopefully I'll be able to (over time) train the privet over.
One last thing, has anyone planted something like honeysuckle in amongst a formal hedge? Something to add a bit of colour or interest to quite a bland block of green? Any advice/suggestions welcome.

Totty

[JayG]

Common as it is, and a little dull, I'm a secret admirer of the amazing durability of privet (I have to be really, my 100' garden is surrounded by it, and the property Deeds state they cannot be replaced by fencing.  )

About a foot apart is exactly what's recommended HERE, amongst other helpful advice (don't think you would need any additional plants to provide good cover.)

I've got a Halliana honeysuckle which has 'escaped' from its support, rambled across the patio behind the greenhouse and has been trying to climb up through the hedge (not really with much success because the hedge is quite dense, and of course has to be trimmed at least twice a year.  )

[Totty]

I did wonder if the honeysuckle would manage in a thick privet hedge. Is there anything else that would grow amongst the hedge and provide some interest, some rambling roses etc...
Totty

[Goosegirl]

I was going to suggest Escallonia or Viburnum tinus, as they would give a good, dense hedge and don't grow as quickly as privet so needs less trimming. If you have decided on privet, then it is a really hungry feeder and takes away nutrients from quite a large area around its base. If you want plants to thrive in it, they would need a lot of feeding.

[Totty]

The hedging plants are going to be about 6 foot away from the veg beds. The level of the garden is also higher than the boundary line by about a foot, then the veg beds are 12 inch raised beds, so I'm hoping the hedges roots won't be interfering too much. Another reason for choosing it is that 90% of the hedging in our locality is privet, so I know the soil suits them, and over time it can blend with our front hedge. Hopefully

Totty