Privet hedge?

jaffa20 · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 22 Apr 2016 Posts: 11

Hi, I was thinking of planting a privet hedge this autumn for privacy . My back garden is very long and narrow. On one side the neighbours overlook us even with a boundary wall. The wall has a pathway along it with my narrow garden to the side. I was thinking of planting a privet hedge along here so i can make use of my garden without being overlooked? Would privet be a good option? I was also considering putting up some mesh and climbers as the garden is very narrow. How much can you trim privet. Could it be kept at a spread of 2 foot? I could possibly still plant some climbers in pots and put trellis against wall too in addition to the hedge. I was also considering bamboo put i'm not sure.

Many thanks

tippben · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 6:14 am Post subject:

Firstly, what are you doing in the garden that you don't want anybody to see?
Second, how much money do you have? You could have a screen of pleached trees starting from 6' clear stem. Will it block light to your garden at any time of day? If so, when? Keeping privet to a 2' wide hedge will not work for long unless you are very diligent with secateurs and feeding. Trellis and Ivy?

tagwex · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 8:02 am Post subject:

What height is the wall and where is north? A photo would be a help.

jaffa20 · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 22 Apr 2016 Posts: 11

Thanks for the reply. The wall is 6 foot right outside door but then staggers downwards to about 5 foot. It's really not pretty especially with concrete path adjoined to it and it's all concrete outside door. I've attached photo to help explain..

Maybe i'm mad thinking of a hedge for this width? Would a few nice shrubs that grow tall be better and maybe some bamboo. The garden is south east facing. It gets sun up til about 4pm. Strangely my northwest facing garden gets more sun so i will probably use it more but would still like to make it a bit private out the back. Thanks

jaffa20 · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 22 Apr 2016 Posts: 11

another photo attached

jaffa20 · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 22 Apr 2016 Posts: 11

Would thuja smaragd be a better option? Thanks

kindredspirit · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 7:46 pm Post subject:

Are you taking up the concrete to the left of the path or the path itself?

You could always get a commercial guy to drill 10" holes in the concrete also.

Soil is likely to be dire beneath that concrete.

Photinia Red Robin isn't a bad hedge. It's not dense, though. A tall bamboo would be good provided you put in a concrete underground barrier. It's not cheap, though. Sad

jaffa20 · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 22 Apr 2016 Posts: 11

Don't think i'll be taking up path. Think it would be big cost involved Sad

I guess a hedge would not work here. I suppose i could go with making part of the garden private with a seating area and maybe some climbers on freestanding trellises. I think it's all the concrete too that is ugly. I guess i could even grow some climbers in pots up a trellis against wall and then just some nice shrubs and perrenials in a border. Climbers in pots sounds like high maintenance though but at least it would be prettier Laughing

jaffa20 · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 22 Apr 2016 Posts: 11

I do like red robin too. It even looks nice as a few standalone shrubs. Bamboo is also nice. Just very hard to design this garden in my head. If only the path wasn't there Smile

I was thinking too instead about 2 small trees like snowy mespilus underplanted. Do you think they'd work in this space?

kindredspirit · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 6:29 am Post subject:

OK. The wall is 6' high? Build a Pergola along the path, 8' high on the right and 2' high on top of the wall. Plant your climbers alongside the right of the path, let them climb up the Pergola uprights, across the top and you can train them down the 2' section on the wall. Put trellis in between the uprights on top of the wall.
Use Douglas Fir for Pergola.

tagwex · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 11:17 am Post subject:

My tuppence worth.....
Which direction is the wall in question facing, your answer is not clear?
The garden is too narrow for anything bushy. You need to go espalier style tied back to that wall with suitable plants.
KS idea is a good one. There is a concrete strip between the path and the wall, take that up but as previously said the soil below will be crap, plus the wall foundation will be there, so some decent soil may be imported to help that. Possibly a raised bed would help with soil depth.
If it was mine I would take out the path too, get in some good quality soil and make a new path a little further out from the wall with pavers or slabs and form the trellis/pergola.

jaffa20 · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 22 Apr 2016 Posts: 11

Thanks for all the advise. I think i am going to give up on the hedge idea and go for planters/raised bed along the concrete path. I know this is higher maintenace but i might test it in just part of the path to see how it would work. I know maybe bamboo would be ideal as screening but i was thinking Pyracantha might be a nice option as i'd like a bit of colour through the seasons. Also good for security. Would it grow quite well in containers against the wall? Open to any other plant suggestions. The wall is south/west facing. If this doesn't work i guess i could look into getting the concrete removed in future.

tagwex · Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 9:07 pm Post subject:

Do it once. Do it right.

kindredspirit · Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 6:30 am Post subject:

Yep Don't faff around. Remove the concrete. Or do the Pergola idea. Half measures never look satisfactory.

tippben · Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2016 6:15 am Post subject:

If you are looking for height, forget containers with trees, shrubs or bamboo. Bamboo does horribly in pots because it is so thirsty. I'd also avoid it in the ground, because it spreads quickly, and you'll x off the neighbours. You COULD buy large specimen plants (100-300 euro each), but they will need constant water and food, plus repotting or replacing every year or two. Then there's the cost of the containers and a means of preventing the wind from blowing them over. I think it would be cheaper and easier to get rid of the concrete. Get some quotes before deciding what to do.