[garddwr]

It is NEVER leylandii planting time 

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

oh have you had a dispute or something with them Yorkie ? I would trim them and keep them under control.

[Yorkie]

Nothing personal to do with them at all, but they are the cause of more neighbour disputes than any other plant / tree.

They grow so fast, and need trimming twice a year, that it is so easy for them to become out of control, particularly for any subsequent landowners who may not appreciate the need to keep on top of them.  Not saying anyone here would do that, but it's a generally appreciated hazard!

[garddwr]

Nothing personal to do with them at all, but they are the cause of more neighbour disputes than any other plant / tree.

They grow so fast, and need trimming twice a year, that it is so easy for them to become out of control, particularly for any subsequent landowners who may not appreciate the need to keep on top of them.  Not saying anyone here would do that, but it's a generally appreciated hazard!

Well I don't think they will upset anyone as I don't have any neighbours that near to me and I would like something fast growing and I really don't mind trimming them the current area is rather ugly.

I was looking at theese as they are pot grown so I guess I could plant them as soon as they arrive and they are much cheaper than the garden centres.

http://www.jparkers.co.uk/Index.cfm?fuseaction=product.standard&continueaction=category.standard&category_id=472&producttype_id=48006

[Yorkie]

No neighbours, no problems 

J Parkers are said to be fairly reputable, don't know how that price compares.  Might be worth checking out whether bare rooted are much cheaper for similar size trees?

[garddwr]

No neighbours, no problems 

J Parkers are said to be fairly reputable, don't know how that price compares.  Might be worth checking out whether bare rooted are much cheaper for similar size trees?

Well if it's cheaper I suppose I should look in the local garden centres ? I doubt I will find any online. I was in homebase the other day and I'm sure they were reduced but god knows how much I wasn't paying attention !

[arugula]

It is NEVER leylandii planting time 

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

oh have you had a dispute or something with them Yorkie ? I would trim them and keep them under control.

We planted one Leylandii tree to which we gave a home when it was heading from a friend's garden to the skip. We have plenty space, no neighbours, it would be a potential winbreak etc.... The poor thing seems to be rapidly going downhill with windburn and we're not sure if it will recover in the Spring.....   

[GilbertJessop]

What about a nice classy native hedge ? Something that would tolerate even deep shade would be Hornbeam, Holly if you can wait... They would have better structure than something like Choisya and wouldn't need support or tying back to the fence...

[FCG]

I'm amazed nobody has mentioned goosberry bushes or blackthorn yet. Both are equally capable of surviving and defending your plot from intruders and both will give you a crop! Goosberrys and sloes of course.

[arugula]

Are you still allowed to put prickly hedges (potentially) near members of the public nowadays?   

[FCG]

S'long as it's not overhanging a public area or is planted on 'adopted' land... do whatever the heck you like!

[GilbertJessop]

I'm amazed nobody has mentioned goosberry bushes or blackthorn yet. Both are equally capable of surviving and defending your plot from intruders and both will give you a crop! Goosberrys and sloes of course.

Blackthorn's a bit slow, mebee, if speed is important... I assume the soil is nothing tricky, by the way?

[Christine]

What about planting Russian Vine otherwise known as Mile a Minute. That should clamber over the fence and hide it.