planting a laurel hedge - tips?

[Steve_W]

Afternoon all,

One side of our garden has a metal pole fence that we'd like to replace with an evergreen hedge.

A friend of ours is thinking of getting some dry-root laurel bushes for a hedge he has to plant and asked if we'd be interested in some when he does a bulk purchase.

Does anybody have any tips for me re planting a decent laurel hedge - how close the plants should be, what sort of soil conditions, care and maintenance. etc?

Thanks,
Steve

[netherfield]

You need a free draining soil,they don't like their roots to get waterlogged.

Plant 30 to 36 inch apart and water well,and even at this time of the year don't let them dry out.

Once established and at the required height remove the top growth to encourage the sides to fill out.

If left unpruned they can reach a height of 20 feet and probably the same in width.

[Steve_W]

Ah, now that's an interesting point about the free draining soil - the field next door used to be a water meadow, and the water table isn't too far down on our property, with a clayey soil in a lot of places - chalky in others.

Sounds like we might need to look for an alternative type of evergreen then?

Since the boundary is with a field, not a neighbouring house etc. would the hated Leylandii be an option - I don't mind pruning it (could justify a Stihl petrol hedge cutter to add to the toys! )?

[RichB]

If you are not so worried about it being evergreen and it's in a rural location I would suggest a mixed beech hedge. Copper and purple beech together looks good and quite formal when clipped or you could add some hawthorn into the mix to add a more rustic look and of course extra security! The beech hangs onto it's leaves all winter and looks great in low winter sun.

[Harpo]

Steve, you could write what I know about gardening on a postage stamp, but Laurel?
There must be a nicer plant than that! I say this from having had one in a garden once and what friends have said about it over the years.
Maybe phone up some gardening centres?

[netherfield]

For a good hedge that requires a Stihl hedge trimmer,look at 'Yew' or 'Photinia Red Robin',although the Photinia is quite slow growing and would take a while to fill out.

[Zad]

My aunt and uncle have a laurel hedge, and their soil (and I use it in the loosest sense) is clay, mixed with clay and a side helping of clay. So quite clay-y. It still grows like the clappers and needs a lot of pruning twice a year. I think if I were after a "proper" hedge, I would go for Yew (Taxus Baccata) which is much easier to tame and isn't as slow growing as people think, yet isn't stupidly fast either. It can also sprout new growth from old wood, hence is far less prone to dead patches. They respond extremely well to clipping.

[Steve_W]

Thanks for the replies,

Rich - that beech looks nice; any ideas how quickly it grows? The hawthorn's a nice idea too - better than the barbed wire currently next to the existing fence.

Harpo - I know, but we were after something quick growing that doesn't lose its foliage in winter - we're in a valley and the hedge will be on the northern boundary to act as a form of windbreak as much as a screen from the road.

Netherfield - Yew might be an idea; the place is an old rectory so yew fits with the whole "scheme" since yews were traditionally planted in non-grazed land such as churchyards IIRC.

Cheers,
Steve

[randlemarcus]

Steve_W said:

Yew might be an idea; the place is an old rectory so yew fits with the whole "scheme" since yews were traditionally planted in non-grazed land such as churchyards IIRC.

They were in non-grazed land as they are highly poisonous to something. Can't recall if its cows or horses though, so do bear that in mind.

Its the right time of year for planting yew at the moment. Get yourself a good trench dug

[russ_a]

I hate cutting hawthorn hedges, same goes for holly too!