Need to create a hedgerow quickly for privacy - conifers?

PrincessJR

Hi,

We are in the process of buying a house and need to create a large hedgerow for privacy. I have heard that Leylandi conifers are the quickest growing (around 3ft a year) but I have also heard some negative things about them ( roots can be invasive, trimming can kill grass etc)

Are there any other alternative quick growing plants that would create a dense hedgerow over 1 or 2 years?

It is across the bottom of the garden measuring 47 metre length so we would need approx 95 plants I think (allowing for 2 per metre)

Thanks

I_have_spoken

You can buy-in mature pleached hornbeams

SailorSam

I wouldn't get conifers unless you're prepared to keep cutting them before they get out of control.
When i was doing my hedge i wanted a more natural wildlife friendly one with assorted bushes, I used these ........

https://www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/?gclid=CLLq57PZtM4CFZAW0wodZ7wD1w

Go through their catalogue to see things which may grow quickly.

elsien

Only put leylandii in if you want to have all your light blocked out of your garden very quickly, and spend a fortune getting them topped and cut back every few years if you can't keep them under control from the off.

PrincessJR

Thank you for answering.

The first half of the garden is actually hornbeam! I wonder how much it would cost to plant around 100 established trees though

I have also been recommended cherry laurel as they grow around 60cm per year. My Husband is favouring the 3ft per year offered by the conifers but yes as it's such a large garden I can see the ongoing problem of maintenance.

Does anyone know how many hornbeam tress/plants you should allow per metre to give good coverage quickly?

PrincessJR

This is what we're dealing with. The hedge just stops and has been replaced with metal fencing which is clearly a safety hazard for our small children.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2zgRHWhXV0XVDNJcFZ1bmdHd28/view?usp=sharing

I_have_spoken

If it's to avoid the children getting onto the road, I'd just run a mesh fence along now and plant native hedgerow whips to grow up/through. Leylandii would definitely lower the tone.

SailorSam

OP. the link i gave you earlier for Hedges Direct. I've just found a code for 10% off. If you order anything try ....R89M

Davesnave

PrincessJR wrote: »

The first half of the garden is actually hornbeam! I wonder how much it would cost to plant around 100 established trees though

I have also been recommended cherry laurel as they grow around 60cm per year. My Husband is favouring the 3ft per year offered by the conifers but yes as it's such a large garden I can see the ongoing problem of maintenance.

Does anyone know how many hornbeam tress/plants you should allow per metre to give good coverage quickly?

You do not plant established trees if you want a good, thick hedge.

In dry conditions, like we're currently experiencing, you may well have losses, unless you water appropriately, and that's far easier (and less expensive if metered) with smaller saplings. Smaller plants can be pruned to bush out better too. After two years no watering should be necessary.

The obvious thing to do here is continue the rather classy hedge of hornbeam. They are fairly fast-growing and come into leaf before beech, but beech would be your other option. Both hang onto their dead leaves for a long time in winter.

More details of planting etc here:

http://www.hedging.co.uk/acatalog/Index_Hedging__Trees__Shrubs___Conifers_1.html

I'd recommend a double row. I put in a new hornbeam hedge in winter 2014 and already they are as tall as me. My beech hedge from 2011 is at 7' now.

Obviously, laurel is evergreen and provides great cover, but it lacks class. If you go for evergreens, something like eleagnus ebbingei would look a lot nicer long term.

A personal opinion, of course!

PrincessJR

Thank you for the advice. SailorSam thanks for the code!

Davesnave - regarding planting established trees, we are looking at 3ft hornbeam at the moment. Do you think then that planted established trees would mean any hedgerow would always appear sparse at the base compared to the existing hornbeam hedge?

One concern is privacy as we are along the lane, this is our reason for choosing established and we'd hoped that it we planted 3 per metre in a zigzag that they would 'knit' together well. Are we wrong?

I agree that conifers would look less classy

paddy's_mum

The OP may want to lay in a seep hose when planting as that saves a mountain of work and avoids expensive losses.

I wouldn't want to see anything non-native in that lovely setting. I might even get overly protective of that classic park railing and want to keep it on show!

Might a line of something like birches, rowan and hawthorn planted six feet inside the fence give you a good degree of privacy but keep that pretty rural look?