"Sacha" wrote in message
k...
On 10/8/04 18:55, in article , "Alan
Gould" wrote:

In article , Sacha
writes


We have a 200 ft. long Leylandii hedge, now about 12 years old and some
30-40 ft.high. It abuts a disused rail trackbed, so it is no problem to
anyone, but it gives us privacy from diverse users of the track. Over
the years a very profuse growth of brambles have developed between the
trees and our boundary, making the hedge quite impenetrable. I snip off
any intrusive bramble stems as they appear on our side of the hedge. I
notice now that quite a variety of self-sowm wildflowers are developing
under the brambles between and around the trees, and with them abundant
wildlife. I keep a mowed walking access at about 2ft. from the trees,
other than that I let nature take its course. A truly environmentally
friendly project.

If the OP wants a garden full of brambles he's onto a sure thing following
that method. But he asked about flowering plants or shrubs.

I have an established, at least twelve years old, leylandii hedge ( would
love it down but cant see my way clear to doing it right now)
Other than brambles the only thing I have found growing there is dandylion
and a few stunted nettles ( and I mean stunted - about a foot high , in the
rest of the garden nettles are a tryfidd like six feet). The ground is dry,
even when its been raining hard. You cant actually establish anything in
the garden plant category at all, it whithers and dies.