Garden plant advice

1404

All the Cherry Laurels are now in planters and I'm very happy with the results. The planters (160x40x38) are smart. Hope they last. They can be bought from B&Q for £81 or from VidaXL for £65. 

Question for anyone familiar with this: I've bought a Cordyline Charlie Boy from B&Q. I've planted it 3m from the house and it has room around it to grow. However - should that also be in a big pot? They can grow very big (up 2.5m-4m, and a meter wide).

I've also planted a small red rose plant. Hopefully that grows for next summer?

MysteryMe

I'd leave the Cordyline in the soil, the ones I had have never been quick growers. Roses need feeding and best in soil. I used to feed with top rose but a rose grower I was speaking to said Tomorite was fine and cheaper.

1404

MysteryMe said:

I'd leave the Cordyline in the soil, the ones I had have never been quick growers. Roses need feeding and best in soil. I used to feed with top rose but a rose grower I was speaking to said Tomorite was fine and cheaper.

Thank you for that. I will indeed get some Tomorite for the rose bush and consider keeping the Cordyline Charlie Boy in the soil. 

The Cordyline Charlie Boy is 3m15cms from the house, so I guess that's far enough.  Any idea if they affect grass nearby?

MysteryMe

No, the grass should be fine.  If it's in an exposed spot and we have a harsh winter then I'd give it some protection from frost, especially whilst it is establishing itself the first year or so.

Silvertabby

Unlike laurels, all parts of cherry laurels are toxic. Including the berries, which could look like fruit cherries to a child.  

1404

Silvertabby said:

Unlike laurels, all parts of cherry laurels are toxic. Including the berries, which could look like fruit cherries to a child.  

That's a concern... Can you find though any actual deaths caused by them? Or any injuries? 


And what's your alternative suggestion for a 6ft+ hedging plant which is non-toxic and will grow in mostly shade in the UK? 

Silvertabby

1404 said:

Silvertabby said:

Unlike laurels, all parts of cherry laurels are toxic. Including the berries, which could look like fruit cherries to a child.  

That's a concern... Can you find though any actual deaths caused by them? Or any injuries? 


And what's your alternative suggestion for a 6ft+ hedging plant which is non-toxic and will grow in mostly shade in the UK? 

I can't find any actual casualty stats, other than that the leaves and berries are toxic (contain a form of cyanide) to both humans and animals.  The berries, being the major concern (they look like a cross between red cherries and grapes) don't taste very nice, and just a couple probably won't be a problem.  But the advice is always to take a child, in particular, to A&E if they've been chomping.

Personally, I wouldn't risk it. It's amazing the number of plants that ARE toxic.  I love lillies, but don't have them in the house or garden because the pollen is so toxic to cats (they get the pollen on their fur when they brush against the flowers, then ingest it when they groom).  Most people know that foxgloves (digitalis) are toxic if eaten, but monkshood and oleander  are even more poisonous, yet are freely available from garden centres with just "do not eat" or a picture of a plate/knife/fork crossed out.

I have fences rather than hedges, so I can't give you a personal recommendation.  Hopefully someone else will pop up with some ideas for you.

Grenage

FYI apples also contain a fair bit of cyanide; the seeds at least.  I don't imagine cherry laurel or the fruits taste very nice.

Silvertabby

Grenage said:

FYI apples also contain a fair bit of cyanide; the seeds at least.  I don't imagine cherry laurel or the fruits taste very nice.

Yes, but you'd have to eat a LOT of seeds to be affected.

That said, when I looked after a friend's bunnies, she told me to be sure to remove the cores before giving them an apple treat, as the pips are toxic to buns.