"Paul wrote in message :
At the top of my (steep) garden there is a public footpath. I would
like to grow some kind of hedge to make the garden a bit more
private. At the moment there is a 5 foot fence which I dont want to
replace but is about a foot too low - hence the hedge
I would like the hedge to be fairly fast growing, provide screening
all year round and be low maintenance as I know hardly anything about
gardening (dont want much do I).
The soil is heavy with a lot of clay in it.
Would be grateful if you greenfingered type people could give the
benefit of your knowledge


Alternative solution: Trellis atop the existing fence with a climber.
Build
the trellis out of Tile batten with a tight mesh and it will geve pretty
good privacy.


I agree with Paul, your requirements for quick growing and low maintenance
are at odds with each other, nothing motors up to and then stops at 6ft,
they keep going causing you a lot of work or expense.
As Paul says your best solution is a trellis on top of your existing fence
with some plants growing up/over it , or a taller fence.
With the trellis up, you could if you wanted to, then plant in front of it a
slow growing hedge or line of shrubs to form a screen eventually.

--
Bob

www.pooleygreengrowers.org.uk/ about an Allotment site in
Runnymede fighting for it's existence.