[plum crumble]

Hi all. I want to put in a low hedge as a boundary for my front garden - 7 metres width in total, including a gap for the path. Whilst Box is an obvious choice, I am worried about how rampant Box blight is- any views on that? And if it is bad, what other suggestions might anyone have. I wouldn't want it higher than about 3 feet - obviously with pruning involved. I would be most grateful for your views

[mumofstig]

The RHS has a list of suggestions for replacing box, here
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=96

[fatcat1955]

I have Lonicera Nitada as a hedge. It is part of the honeysuckle family but looks nothing like the climbing honeysuckle's you normally see. It has tiny leaves which are dark green. I prune it twice a year and other than that it get's no special treatment.

[plum crumble]

thanks both!

[JayG]

I'm a big fan of euonymus - mine came with the garden and were liberally dotted around what is now the veg patch.

Moved some of them into the front garden and they've knitted together into an evergreen hedge about 2 1/2 foot high with a variety of colours from variegated green/yellow to lime green/cream.
They get no special treatment whatsoever, and only need a bit of a trim once a year (twice if you're fussy!) 
If you go for them make sure you get the shrub types - some euonymus are trees! 

[plum crumble]

  trees would be so bad.....

[New shoot]

Emerald 'n Gold and Emerald Gaiety are the two most popular choices for low evergreen hedges Plum. 

If variegated foliage isn't your thing, Green Spire might be a better choice.  It is a very upright compact little shrub so lends itself to hedging and has glossy dark green leaves year round.  Fresh growth is a lighter green   

They are all pretty widely available, but you might have to order them from your local garden centre to get enough for a 7m span.

A lot of them come in from Holland, so I would delay buying until the worst of the cold snap is over.  They will have been grown in unheated polytunnels, but may suffer damage if they get hit by really hard weather 

[plum crumble]

why thank you! sounds good...

[gremlin]

Lonicera Nitada is an excellent hedge.   

Mine has been grown to 2 foot high, and like fatcat says, only needs a light trim a few times a summer to keep it in perfect shape.   

[devonbarmygardener]

I planted about 12 box plants around my tiny token bed outside the front of my house (we only have proper back gardens), eleven years ago this year and never had box blight.

Now I have a lovely 6 inch thick, 10 inch-ish tall complete hedge around that bed which is full of daffs and clematis and wisteria.
 

[plum crumble]

thanks for all your input. Just taken delivery of 25 Lonicera Nitida potted plants - all delivered for £42 - not bad! Just waiting for a frost-free slightly warmer day to get them in!