Best plant for 4ft hedging that can be cut to have a level top??

blue_monkey_2

I had some laurels put in last November and it looks like they are all on their way out. Having read up on t'internet it looks like the ground is too moist for them as the soil is clay based so is retaining too much water. They are drooping, some of the leaves have turned brown now too. They have been doing great all through the winter and we get some sun and they start to die. We thought they needed some water but it says that they should not have too much water.

The rain has been a nightmare, we had some turf put down in November and it was so waterlogged we now have patches in that, we have reseeded this weekend and are giving them lashings of water too.

But if we have to replace them what hedging would be best for the clay based soil. If I am replacing them I'd love to have a flowing hedge that can also be cut back square.

Any ideas would be most appreciated, thank you.

peter_the_piper

I'm ready for a flaming but a Leyland hedge, properly looked after, can be exactly what you are looking for.

WestonDave

The key point on Leylandii is keeping it maintained - if you let it go its very hard to recover it, especially if you want a 4ft hedge. Cutting it back from 5ft will leave you with a bare top for a long time if not permanently in my experience.

We've got a lonicera hedge (related to honeysuckle but tiny leaves) which forms a lovely glossy green hedge, with small purple berries in the autumn for the birds, and which can be hacked about without killing it. When we moved in ours was neat but had got too big (4ft thick in places) and over 3 summers we've gradually had it reduced in height and then the two sides shorn back (2nd one about to be done) all of which it will cope with and still look green and lush.