[starry]

our garden fence runs a long a public footpath, when we put in a new fence we had to replace the existing shrubbery, which we did with a pyracantha fire thorn but it has grown tall and straggly and leans over (we have trimmed it regularly) even more so since the snow has weighed it right down, so we have taken it out but what can we put in its place ?? that will survive the general public and look neat and tidy ?  

[arugula]

Privet? Not the most interesting looking hedge plant, but is well suited to that sort of application.

[gillie]

Can you train roses along the fence?

Gillie

[starry]

I am not very good with roses !! ok with lille shrub ones but me and climbers dont get along
would a privet hedge grow lopsided like the pyracantha did ??

[Spana]

What about one of the bigger lavenders, or there is a fairly low growing ceanothus with lovely blue flowers that is used a lot in car parks because its easy to maintain.

[madcat]

Everything will grow lopsided against a fence - it is growing towards the light and there isn't any on the fence side.  It is just natural.  To keep anything upright you will either need to tie it back to the fence line - to wires along the fence or to the fence posts - or push it back with wires/linkstakes along the front depending on what you go for.  Privet or firethorn or rose or rosemary you would tie back as they have good strong stems/trunks; lavender you would need to push back from the front.

[sunshineband]

Madcat is right -- nothing will naturally grow upright by the fence as the light is one sided. Bamboo would survive the public and can be kept back behind a few wires lengthways 

[Yorkie]

Just be careful about the bamboo variety as some are rather enthusiastic  :blink:

[starry]

so on the theory that the hedge (any hedge) will grow lopsided because of the fence how about a lower hedge I was thinkining choisya ternata the fence is west facing any thoughts

[madcat]

Tough, evergreen, smells lovely when flowering, grows like the clappers and - if you are that way inclined - the foliage is great for flower arranging.  Had a bush of it at previous house.  Good choice, but you will need to keep it pulled back to the fence, or it will just travel forwards to the sun.  At least it won't hurt when you are tying back (unlike the firethorn!)

[sunshineband]

Yes you would need to tie it back I'm sorry to sya or it would lean badly.

Lovely shrub though 

[Spana]

so on the theory that the hedge (any hedge) will grow lopsided because of the fence how about a lower hedge I was thinkining choisya ternata the fence is west facing any thoughts

I think it smells of cat pee   :blink:

[madcat]

Do you have an aldi near you?  They are running a sunday special on evergreen shrubs ...the webpage is here.

[garddwr]

Do you have an aldi near you?  They are running a sunday special on evergreen shrubs ...the webpage is here.

 I dread to think the state those aldis shrubs will be in, they could be bare root very young e.t.c if you want them to establish quickly I'd recommed spending a little more on garden centre pot grown plants.


I'm thinking of planting a leylandii hedge at the bottom of the garden to close an ugly gap but is it still hedge planting time ?

[Yorkie]

It is NEVER leylandii planting time 

Other conifers, I think so - so long as it's not waterlogged or frozen soil