[AJ]

Having spent the weekend finishing borders on either side of my drive, 270 foot by 3 foot in total, now looking nicely finished, my next problem is to find some shrubs that will survive there. We are wind swept to say the least even on the finest day and I know just buying any old shrub is going to be disastreous. What I'm looking for is as follows.
1. Something evergreen if possible.
2. Something that flowers at some stage of the year would be a bonus.
3. Something between 6 and 24 inches or can be trimmed to these heights.
4. And most of all something that will survive the drying and harsh winds.

All suggestions welcome.

[Sive]

My spiraeas seems to be surviving our exposed hilltop very well. Not sure of the exact variety, but it has white flowers and arching branches. A bit taller than 2 feet though.

[Sedum and Sage]

Sub shrubs like lavander, prostrate rosemary (which turns out to be a little tender, lots of them died last winter, but could be worth chancing) various varieties of Salvia, cistus.. in short, most Mediterranean shrubs should cope with the wind. And you could consider perennials, lots of them stay somewhat evergreen, like epimediums, some of the hardy geraniums, lychnis coronaria, nepeta, alchemilla mollis and so on.

[Gardensgalore]

Providing that you have acid soil (fairly likely in west Cork,), the I suggest heathers in variety. Add a couple of dwarf conifers and see how they fair. If they do OK then plant more. Go and see Bill Chase at Deelish Nursery, Skibereen. He will give you good, honest advice.
Richard