On 03/03/2014 10:58, stuart noble wrote:
On 02/03/2014 23:47, Bill wrote:
In message , GB
writes

Pyracantha is probably better. It's a real swine to cut through. The
real trouble is that the OP needs something instant.

In the real world if they could afford Pyracantha all round the
allotments they wouldn't worry about loosing a few odds and ends of
tools etc..

I had no idea of the cost. The previous owners of our house planted it
as a shrub against a wall in the middle of our garden. Quite frankly,
anyone who wants to cut the bloody thing down and take it away is
welcome to have the whole bloody lot for cuttings, roots and all. I
suggest bringing armour and plenty of sticking plaster.


I had one Pyracantha beside a fence, it was vicious, I'm sure that it
jumped out and attacked me every time I walked past. There again I did
spend a few years trying to kill it. My wife liked it, so I had to be
subtle, heavily cutting it back at the end of each year had no effect.
Cutting everything above ground away had no effect. Eventually a
liberal dose of petrol finally killed it off.

But for anyone wanting a seriously vicious intruder deterrent it is
great, just don't expect it to be friendly towards you.

Pyracantha is my absolute favourite shrub. Colour all year round plus
berries for the blackbirds. Hedge, tree, climber, whatever you want it
to be. I trim mine lightly once a year, and their behaviour is impeccable




I agree. It's a great shrub, both for the garden and for nature. Alas,
many people plant it in the wrong place and spend theirs and the plant's
future hacking it back.

In summer, mine is smothered with blossom and attracts bees, hoverflies,
butterflies and moths - to name but a few. In autumn and winter it is
covered with a fiery tapestry of red, orange and golden berries. These
attract blackbirds, redwings, various tits and, of course, pigeons.

On top of that, the security benefit is great. It's legal barbed wire
with pretty bits. What's not to like?

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay