Photinia "red robin" alternatives for tall hedge/screen

[JackReacher]

We recently moved house and the garden is a bit of a blank canvas. One side of the garden has a relatively high fence at 2.5m tall, and its over looked by a couple of houses. I don't expect to block out their view of our garden entirely but it would be nice to block out most of the ugly fence.

Key criteria:-

1. Ideally evergreen, but something that keeps dead leaves through winter might be considered
2. Grows to a height of 3-4m, or can be easily maintained at such a height.
3. Relatively quick growing
4. Tolerant of damp ground and partial shade
5. It's going to be planted about 1m from the retaining wall that forms base of the fence, so I want something with unobtrusive roots that won't cause a problem for the wall.

Red robin seems like a sensible choice, but would like to consider all options. I quite like bamboo, and it's fast growing, tall, and narrow so won't rob too much space from the garden, but even if I get a clumping variety I'm worried it's roots may cause problems for the wall, or start to run wild.

Photo of the fence

[Johnnytheboy]

Griselinia Littoralis

Laurel

[terry tibbs]

http://majestictrees.co.uk/garden-screening-trees/...

put your requirements in their search engine

not affiliated with them but use them professionally along with others

[JackReacher]

terry tibbs said:

http://majestictrees.co.uk/garden-screening-trees/...

put your requirements in their search engine

not affiliated with them but use them professionally along with others

Thanks, that's a great link. Will look at some of the options it suggests, and also Laurel

[blade runner]

Red Robin doesn't grow very thick, so you'll likely always see through it to the wall/fence to some extent.

I'd go with laurel even though it's not especially fast growing. Once established it's easy to keep in check and looks neat and tidy all year round.

[monoloco]

Pyracantha? Small evergreen leaves, reasonably quick growing, can be trimmed into a neat line and season round interest -white flowers in spring and masses of non-poisonous red/orange/yellow berries in autumn/winter that birds love. Only issue is its common name of 'Firethorn' is well deserved --very spiky which is good for keeping intruders out (including the neighbours cat!) but can be a pain (literally!) when you or the kids get too close.

[8-P]

blade runner said:

Red Robin doesn't grow very thick, so you'll likely always see through it to the wall/fence to some extent.

I'd go with laurel even though it's not especially fast growing. Once established it's easy to keep in check and looks neat and tidy all year round.

Id disagree with it not growing thick, but unless you buy some that are 6ft already they dont actually grow that quickly although they seem to be advertised as otherwise. I bought one from impact plants about £50 delivered -it was 6ft ish, youd need about 12 or so, but I reckon a good few years before they above the fence line. If youve got the cash, you can buy mature shrubs. I got a nice Camilia yesterday, probably 5ft tall, covers a nice chunk of fence, great flowers and only £45.

Laurel would work, grows a bit faster than red robin but quite boring too. Depends if you dont mind a literal row of the same hedge. Bay actually grows quite quickly. Personally Id rather mix it up, how about some trellis with climbers, a few faster growing shrubs etc etc?

Thick enough ;-)

Edited by 8-P on Monday 27th February 17:28

[elanfan]

Copper Beech

[8-P]

elanfan said:

Copper Beech

Assuming that's deciduous without googling it.

[Sticks.]

Does the veriegated laurel grow high enough? A bit more interesting than the plain ones. They can grow into monsters.

Photinia's are good value from an interest/maintenance perspective.

[Stephanie Plum]

Mix some different plants - laurel grows fast but is a bit dull - you could add a weigela or two in to give variety and flowers - also look at eleagnus which has lots of different varieties and grows fast too. Also look at escallonia.

[gred]

8-P said:

Assuming that's deciduous without googling it.

Copper beech is deciduous but the dead leaves turn brown and stay on the hedge throughout winter and are replaced by new growth in the spring. A good choice, quick growing and easy to maintain.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

I'd agree with a mix. Some red robin, bay, copper beech, pyracntha, forsythia and so on. Gives different textures and colours, without looking too municipal. I suppose the down-side is that it may not look very coherent, but it would certainly be interesting.

[elanfan]

8-P said:

elanfan said:

Copper Beech

Assuming that's deciduous without googling it.

Holds it's leaves until it's spring

[moles]

Portuguese laurel looks nicer than the plain usual cherry laurel.

[Marvtec]

Bamboo - gets a bad press from some bit the clump forming varieties are lovely imo. Mix the green, golden and black types and you have a lovely curtain effect which moves in the breeze. Also quick growing and narrow so doesn't steal much space from the garden if an issue.

[hyphen]

Pleached trees.

[JackReacher]

Thanks all, maybe a variety will create more interest. Will investigate the options further.

Pleached trees do look nice, but presumably take a lot of upkeep?

The bamboo option - it was my initial thought, and a variety of colours could look really good. Just worried they may get out of hand and look untidy. I've had issues with running bamboo before and keen to avoid that at all costs. I know clumping varieties are suppose to be much better but still have my concerns.

[hyphen]

With bamboo, isn't there barrier control sheets that you put around it quite deep so it can't expand?

[8-P]

Pleached trees will be expensive and only cover higher up, but maybe add a few into the mix or just a regular tree or two - you can cover whats below with a shrub, but something that doesnt get out of control or grow too high, ie no willows etc etc!