Growing a box hedge
Discussion
This is what my gaff looks like. Ideally I want to retain the brick wall at the front, remove the small metal fence thing that's in the picture, and put a box hedge of some sort there, say about 40cm-50cm high or so.
I am getting very confused and quite alarmed at the options and prices.
I'm happy to grow it in the back garden until it's ready to go out the front with a bare root plant but it's not clear at all how long that will take.
This is the sort of thing Im looking at
http://www.waitrosegarden.com/plants/_/buxus-sempe...
Otherwise it looks like I'm facing shelling out 300 quid or so for something already grown - which is probably fair enough but I don't want to spend that kind of money at the moment.
So, if I go for these cheaper bareroot type deals - how long am I looking at until it actually becomes a hedge ?!
Edited by princeperch on Monday 30th March 20:21
I reckon hang a long planter on in property side of the wall and plant a bunch of buxus bush along it. The top of the planter level with the flat but of your wall if that makes sense
You could probably even keep the railings and eventually they would disappear into it
Funnily enough my mum bought some buxus little shoots last year for 70p from b and q and today I saw them and I could believe how much it had come along
I reckon this could work for you
Ps I have no idea what I'm talking about
Something like this in smaller quantities
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=...
You could probably even keep the railings and eventually they would disappear into it
Funnily enough my mum bought some buxus little shoots last year for 70p from b and q and today I saw them and I could believe how much it had come along
I reckon this could work for you
Ps I have no idea what I'm talking about
Something like this in smaller quantities
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=...
Edited by Spare tyre on Monday 30th March 20:29
my privet hedge has grown maybe 3 to 4 inches in 4 years between trims. It was already a mature hedge though which may slow growth rate?
How about a quick fix of young plants in a trough raised on bricks behind the wall? drop it down a brick every year until it is the right height (this may be a terrible idea, I have no idea!
Edit: Very similar to spare tyre's idea, so maybe not so stupid!
How about a quick fix of young plants in a trough raised on bricks behind the wall? drop it down a brick every year until it is the right height (this may be a terrible idea, I have no idea!
Edit: Very similar to spare tyre's idea, so maybe not so stupid!
I planted a bare root box hedge in November last year and now regret it, as mentioned box blight is quite common and not worth the the risk especially as it's slow growing. By the time you wait for it to grow to a suitable height box blight could affect your plants. I don't have experience of them but my reading suggests lonicera or privet as alternatives. I would sway towards privet as it's quick growing, leave the railing and have it growing level
Something compact, with small leaves, evergreen, and undemanding.
Ceanothus "skylark".
Tick, tick, tick, tick.
It's my favourite plant for a small-ish hedge. Dense growth with nice small, glossy dark green leaves, and with the bonus of masses of tiny blue flowers in May or early June. Bees go mental over it when it's in flower.
It can be cut back to keep it small - though avoid cutting it back really hard because it may be reluctant to regenerate from old wood. So do it regularly rather than once every five years! (And cut it back after flowering, otherwise you'll miss out on them.)
I've just planted 15 of these to form a hedge between us and the neighbours' new driveway. Bought from mailordertrees.co.uk for a very reasonable £5.99 each. It'll take a couple of years for a proper hedge to start forming, but it's going to look great. Its growth rate is just right: not too slow, but not hugely fast either.
Edited to add: piccy
RIP Muffin.
There are lots of other varieties of Ceanothus, but "skylark" is the best IMHO - other Ceanothus have rather dull leaves, but "skylark" has lovely glossy, vibrant green leaves.
Ceanothus "skylark".
Tick, tick, tick, tick.
It's my favourite plant for a small-ish hedge. Dense growth with nice small, glossy dark green leaves, and with the bonus of masses of tiny blue flowers in May or early June. Bees go mental over it when it's in flower.
It can be cut back to keep it small - though avoid cutting it back really hard because it may be reluctant to regenerate from old wood. So do it regularly rather than once every five years! (And cut it back after flowering, otherwise you'll miss out on them.)
I've just planted 15 of these to form a hedge between us and the neighbours' new driveway. Bought from mailordertrees.co.uk for a very reasonable £5.99 each. It'll take a couple of years for a proper hedge to start forming, but it's going to look great. Its growth rate is just right: not too slow, but not hugely fast either.
Edited to add: piccy
RIP Muffin.
There are lots of other varieties of Ceanothus, but "skylark" is the best IMHO - other Ceanothus have rather dull leaves, but "skylark" has lovely glossy, vibrant green leaves.
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Tuesday 31st March 08:30
I've trimmed it back a few times and it's starting to bush up nicely
It's at about the height I want it at
(Hope it's the right way up when uploaded)
Have to say I'm really pleased with it. Saw some old boy who lives in our road having a good look at it the other day early in the morning and a few of the neighbours have said how nice the front garden is looking.
It's at about the height I want it at
(Hope it's the right way up when uploaded)
Have to say I'm really pleased with it. Saw some old boy who lives in our road having a good look at it the other day early in the morning and a few of the neighbours have said how nice the front garden is looking.
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