Hedge to screen front garden from parallel public public pathway

propertyhunter

I'm surprised no one has suggested photinia (red robin). It's evergreen and has new growth that appears red, which is quite appealing. It's also fast growing. Also if you make a mistake and cut it back too much, it can grow back from woody stems.

I personally don't like common laurel varieties. Hedge trimmers will rip the large leaves if you're not competent, so it looks unsightly so clippers/shears are advised. An alternative to common laurel, but with smaller dark green leaves, is Portugese laurel. It also flowers. It's easier to manage. 

propertyhunter

I'm surprised no one has suggested photinia (red robin). It's evergreen and has new growth that appears red, which is quite appealing. It's also fast growing. Also if you make a mistake and cut it back too much, it can grow back from woody stems.

I personally don't like common laurel varieties. Hedge trimmers will rip the large leaves if you're not competent, so it looks unsightly so clippers/shears are advised. An alternative to common laurel, but with smaller dark green leaves, is Portugese laurel. It also flowers. It's easier to manage. 

1404

propertyhunter said:

I'm surprised no one has suggested photinia (red robin). It's evergreen and has new growth that appears red, which is quite appealing. It's also fast growing. Also if you make a mistake and cut it back too much, it can grow back from woody stems.

I personally don't like common laurel varieties. Hedge trimmers will rip the large leaves if you're not competent, so it looks unsightly so clippers/shears are advised. An alternative to common laurel, but with smaller dark green leaves, is Portugese laurel. It also flowers. It's easier to manage. 

Yes, Red Robin is nice to look at. It also contains cyanide (as do Laurels, bar Bay Laurel).

Ectophile

propertyhunter said:

I'm surprised no one has suggested photinia (red robin). It's evergreen and has new growth that appears red, which is quite appealing. It's also fast growing. Also if you make a mistake and cut it back too much, it can grow back from woody stems.

I personally don't like common laurel varieties. Hedge trimmers will rip the large leaves if you're not competent, so it looks unsightly so clippers/shears are advised. An alternative to common laurel, but with smaller dark green leaves, is Portugese laurel. It also flowers. It's easier to manage. 

Plus, if you shred the leaves of cherry laurel, they give off cyanide.

MysteryMe

....And whilst I can't find any actual cases of harm caused by them.... 

That's most probably why virtually every garden centre, council maintained green space and hundreds of thousands of houses will have hedging that consists of shrubs that could cause harm.

You couldn't move for privet hedges when I grew up in London, we survived! 

I honestly wouldn't worry about it. Enjoy the privacy the hedge provides plus the benefits to all kinds of wildlife it brings.

propertyhunter

Top tip: Don't eat your hedges

_Sam_

Hawthorn - quick growing, good security, great for wildlife. Goes brown in winter but maintains shape and thickness, lots of interwoven branches with sharp thorns. In summer produces small white flowers. Not poisonous!

Jellynailer

For another OP with a similar issue with a problem with rampant laurel roots, I suggested tying a rush type screen to the metal fence and growing climbers up it.  Maybe this is an option for you too.

Section62

Jellynailer said:

For another OP with a similar issue with a problem with rampant laurel roots, I suggested tying a rush type screen to the metal fence and growing climbers up it.  Maybe this is an option for you too.

A "rush type screen" is probably a fence for planning purposes and if it is higher than the existing fence will likely require planning consent.  The idea of having a hedge was to have something higher without needing to obtain planning consent (which may not be given).

Slinky

We had a 'rush type screen' between us and our neighbour. If it's the thin bamboo stuff with wire woven through it, the wind caught it and broke it pretty quickly. The other type we had was woven wicker hurdles, which were ok for a few years but did disintegrate fairly comprehensively.

A neighbour has planted Portuguese laurels as he has a footpath running down two sides of his front garden. I wouldn't say they are growing particularly quickly.