Chris writes
I would like to establish a hedge like screen down the perimeter of out
wood, along a length of about 100 yards. The ground is an old ditch that
has become in-filled with pine needle humus and leaf mould, over many
years, so it drains very rapidly. i tried transplanting some 4 year old
leylandii shrubs, but the majority died through apparent lack of water,
despite my efforts to keep them well wetted in the recent dry spell. A lot
of the boundary is under the shade of old oak tress, so light is at a
premium. I would have liked the height of leylandii, but would some other
form of evergreen be more suitable? The boundary is hundreds of yards from
any buildings and leylandii would be entirely appropriate as we have no
neighbors within a vast distance to upset or deny light or view to.

Holly is tolerant of shade and would be more in keeping with a wood of
native trees. Slower growing than leylandii and only to about 15ft.

What are you trying to screen? - the view from the wood or the view of
the wood?
--
Kay