"Peter Brown" wrote in message
...
When I said hedging, I didn't mean a formal hedge, but rather a high
screening shrub. Something that would grow to about 5-6 feet high.

I'm looking for something along the same lines, but mine needs to be able to
tolerate mostly shade. Anyone have any ideas for me?

Zone 5, clay soil...

Thanks,
Brigitte



"paghat" wrote in message
news
In article , "Peter Brown"
wrote:

I've tried unsuccessfully for years to grow Viburnum as a hedge in my
front
garden and have just dug up the soil to discover that the soil is
heavy
clay
after about 6-7 inches. The top 6 inches has clumps of clay in it. Can
anybody suggest a good hedge for a site that gets good amounts of
sunshine.
Somebody suggested a PYRACANTHA (especially Mohave). Any comments??

Why not turn the soil in the whole area to a foot depth, mix in some
good
compost or peat, & maybe even raise the bed a little with good soil that
will get better drainage. There's not much that would ever be hedgeable
that would want to grow in six inches of soil. Pyracantha maybe.
Franchett's cotoneaster would grow large swiftly & well, but it's a
fountaining shrub & couldn't be hedged square. Others that make good
screening shrubs but don't hedge into artificial squares would include
shrubby winter honeysuckle, western serviceberry, twinberry, or
contorted
hazels. But working the soil beforehand, you could stick to your first
choice of viburnums.

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com