Hedging suggestions

NaughtiusMaximus

Next spring we're thinking of cutting down our existing hedge (which I think is either a leylandi or closely related species) in the back garden and replacing it with something more visually appealing. The hedge is around 50 feet long and we would like 3 or 4 different types of plant (in blocks, not mixed). We'll trim the hedge to a height of around 6ft.

We have clay soil and the garden is on a slope. In terms of plant requirements we would like at  least one of each of the following, if a plant meets multiple requirements then even better: 

- Dense foliage to provide decent screening in the summer months. We're not so bothered about screening in the winter so deciduous would be okay.
- Attractive autumn leaf colours as this is one thing the garden lacks atm. 
- Ideally at least one flowering variety

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks

Farway

Beech springs to mind, often used and the dry leaves hang on in winter. Comes in green & red [copper].

Should you not trim it after a few years you will have a forest umpteen feet high because they are trees but stand clipping to hedges

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/popular/beech/growing-guide

shinytop

Most farmers around here use hawthorn, which I think meets all of your requirements.  We have a hedge at the front of our house that is a mixture of hawthorn, beech and rowan and is rather nice. 

I'd avoid Laurel - just as bad as Leylandii IMO.  It's certainly dense and grows fast if that's what you want. 

Apodemus

Lots to choose from, but I wouldn't wait till spring.  If you are Ok with no winter screening, then get the Leylandii down now.  If they are big, you will either face a big upheaval (and cost) to remove all the stumps and/or the line of the hedge will be a pig to plant in because of all the roots and stumps.  The longer these have to rot down the better. 

Assuming you are going for bare-rooted replacement plants, then, again, I'd want to get these in during the depth of winter, rather than waiting till spring - you want to give them a chance to start to establish as early as possible before the growing season.  Your climate may be different, but I lose most tree/hedge plants during early spring, when everything dries out much quicker than I ever expect and it always seems daft to be using the sprinkler in late February/early March.

If you are thinking of planting pot-grown hedging, then you are back in the problem of the Leylandii roots...

madjackslam

+1 for the Leylandii roots. If the existing hedge is any size they will be a pig to get out.

RelievedSheff

We have an Oleaster Limelight hedge in our front garden which we really like. It keeps it's leaves all year round which are a pretty green and vivid yellow colour so add a splash of colour to the garden during the winter.

We are trimming our hedge quite low and keeping it compact but they will grow to around 4m if left to their own devices.

https://www.hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk/shop/hedging/elaeagnus-hedging/elaeagnus-limelight-hedging/

It doesn't take much looking after. Ours is only a young hedge, it was only planted about 18 months ago when the house was built but it is already bushing out and becoming a more substantial boundary feature.

25_Years_On

Photinia (Red Robin) works well as hedging. Lot's of colour especially in the Autumn and good spring flowers.

NaughtiusMaximus

Thanks for the suggestions.

Beech, rowan and hawthorn all sound interesting. We had a Red Robin at our old house, nice coloured leaves but I don't ever recall seeing it flower, maybe it's dependent on variety.

I didn't realise Leylandii roots were such a pain, the original plan was to pay a tree surgeon to remove the old hedge but leave the stumps, then place the new plants between the stumps, sounds like that'll be easier said than done. Our Leylandii are trimmed to about 7ft though, could that make things a little easier?

Apodemus

NaughtiusMaximus said:

Our Leylandii are trimmed to about 7ft though, could that make things a little easier?

It will help, but the age of the hedge is probably more critical - mine are 45 years old and have twice been trimmed back to 17 feet, so a bit more problematic!

 I think you'll still need to be slotting bare-rooted plants into a hole made with a chisel-pointed pry-bar, rather than being able to dig nice wide holes with a spade. It's never as good doing it this way, as you can't really loosen the ground around the hole, and you can't firm the soil in round the roots, so the new plants don't get such a great start.

 If you've space to plant the new hedge a couple of feet out from the old stumps it might be a bit easier.

Black_Cat2

25_Years_On said:

Photinia (Red Robin) works well as hedging. Lot's of colour especially in the Autumn and good spring flowers.

I agree, I love Red Robin.  The new red leaves bring much needed colour imo 👍

25_Years_On

NaughtiusMaximus said:

Thanks for the suggestions.

Beech, rowan and hawthorn all sound interesting. We had a Red Robin at our old house, nice coloured leaves but I don't ever recall seeing it flower, maybe it's dependent on variety.

My guess is if it is cut hard especially late on you won't get the flowers.