"Buddman" wrote in message
s.com...
. My question is to
whether this is too close to the house – any potential for root damage
to the house foundation?

No problem at all

What variety of box hedge would you
recommend?

I'd go for the basic B.sepervirens. It makes by far the best close cropped
hedge

Do any of the varieties grow quickly or will I be waiting 10
years for it to grow 4 feet high?

Prepare well, water well in first souple of growing seasons and you will be
surprised how quickly it will get to 4 ft

Is it best to by more mature species
or smaller ones and trim them as they grow.

All depends on how much you want to spend. Tiny rooted cuttings are the
cheapest but i find it best to go for a 20/30 cm size.

I've used
http://www.romantic-garden-nursery.c...lt.asp?cat=337 a
number of times and have been very impressed £1.65 for 20/25cm bare root
stock. All supplied to me have had excellent root srtucure. I've never had
any failures.

Alternatively http://www.boxwood.co.uk/ do sizes up to 1.4m (50/60cm @
£9.50)

pk