Hedge to screen front garden from parallel public public pathway

Grumpy_chap

1404 said:

Currently there's a 1m high metal fence, which is all I'm really allowed as it's in keeping with the area. But lots of houses have overgrown hedges to grow over the fence forming privacy screens. I guess that's the advantage of natural hedges over putting something artificial in place: it can be bigger than anything artificial you can get away with.

I note the OP now has a laurel growing and well established, but just with regard to the Permitted Development rules around fences / boundaries abutting the highway / footpath, it is my understanding that the restrictions on height that apply to a fence also apply to a hedge.
So, the OP's last comment "you can get away with" is quite possibly very pertinent.

When issues such as this are breached, the Council will usually do nothing unless someone takes it upon themselves to raise a complaint.
A fence is not there and then there so very noticeable and may arouse attention.
A planted hedge is not there, and there but small and not noticed, and then there and big.  Because it was a gradual change, the likelihood of stirring attention seems less.
A hedge can also be cut back if need be and then allowed to grow again.

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.

You must be a better gardener than me!
We wanted "statement" plants to bookend our borders so I planted two Red Robins during Covid.  The largest is now one twig about waist height.  The other is one twig about knee height.

MysteryMe

Unless I am confusing posters, I think the OP removed the recently planted laurels and re potted into large planters. They are not planted directly into the soil.

Jellynailer

Section62 said:

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).

If the OP checks out the thread Garden Plant Advice s/he will see that I was thanked for my suggestion for their high fence.

Jellynailer

Apologies - I posted my comment when only half awake then realised that this thread was a front garden one metre fence. 

1404

MysteryMe said:

Unless I am confusing posters, I think the OP removed the recently planted laurels and re potted into large planters. They are not planted directly into the soil.

Yes, that is correct.  The cherry laurels have been in planters for a couple of months now and seem fine so far.  Hoping for some growth (horizontally to interweave with each other) come the spring/summer!