Hi,

I am currently doing up my garden and it's a bit of a project. I have a pretty pathetic excuse for a fence separating my garden from my neighbours on the right and altho I get on with them , I would like something a bit more...

My husband, last year, cut down 9 Leylandi trees on the right and we currently have just the stumps left. A quote to remove the stumps and roots has come in pretty pricey, so we decided to just cut them as low as poss and maybe utilise a couple by nailing some rustic wood between two to make a bench for the children.

However, I had a guy round tonight to quote me to erect a 6' fence down the right hand side of the garden. Upon inspection he has told me that he thinks it will be very difficult to put in the posts due to the roots from the trees and that we should try to remove the roots... which we wanted to avoid doing, argghhhh!

So I'm wondering, would it be best to have some kind of hedge instead of a wooden fence (we have a hedge on the left)? And this leads me to some more questions:

Which type of hedge is best for boundaries?
How long would it take to establish and grow?
How easy is it to plant/grow?
Should I get permission from my neighbours as they will have to trim the thing back on their side?

Sorry for the massive essay, any replies will be greatly appreciated, I'm new to all of this (gardening, not forum posts!)

Cheryl.

On 5/24/10 1:03 PM, chelly100 wrote:
Hi,

I am currently doing up my garden and it's a bit of a project. I have a
pretty pathetic excuse for a fence separating my garden from my
neighbours on the right and altho I get on with them , I would like
something a bit more...

My husband, last year, cut down 9 Leylandi trees on the right and we
currently have just the stumps left. A quote to remove the stumps and
roots has come in pretty pricey, so we decided to just cut them as low
as poss and maybe utilise a couple by nailing some rustic wood between
two to make a bench for the children.

However, I had a guy round tonight to quote me to erect a 6' fence down
the right hand side of the garden. Upon inspection he has told me that
he thinks it will be very difficult to put in the posts due to the roots
from the trees and that we should try to remove the roots... which we
wanted to avoid doing, argghhhh!

So I'm wondering, would it be best to have some kind of hedge instead of
a wooden fence (we have a hedge on the left)? And this leads me to some
more questions:

Which type of hedge is best for boundaries?
How long would it take to establish and grow?
How easy is it to plant/grow?
Should I get permission from my neighbours as they will have to trim the
thing back on their side?

Sorry for the massive essay, any replies will be greatly appreciated,
I'm new to all of this (gardening, not forum posts!)

Cheryl.

I prefer good, durable fences or even masonry walls. They keep your own
children and pets in your yard and the children and pets of others --
including some of nature's wild "pets" -- out.

Furthermore, depending on what you have in your garden, you might have
what is legally called an attractive nuisance, in which case a fence or
wall is mandatory. Of course, "attractive nuisance" includes a swimming
pool; but it also includes a hot tub, garden railroad, and some types of
children's play equipment.

On the other hand, a fence or even a well-designed wall might not be
very attractive. I suggest that you install a 4-foot high chain-link
fence. The fence posts (steel pipe) will be easier to install through
the tree roots than other kinds of posts. Then plant either shrubs or
vines right against the fence to hide it. Allow the plants to grow
higher than the fence and through it so that it is also hidden from your
neighbor.

The first step would be to discuss this with your neighbor to ensure
that the concept is mutually acceptable. With the right approach and an
aesthetic design for the planting, your neighbor might even pay part of
the cost.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

In article ,
chelly100 wrote:

Hi,

I am currently doing up my garden and it's a bit of a project. I have a
pretty pathetic excuse for a fence separating my garden from my
neighbours on the right and altho I get on with them , I would like
something a bit more...

My husband, last year, cut down 9 Leylandi trees on the right and we
currently have just the stumps left. A quote to remove the stumps and
roots has come in pretty pricey, so we decided to just cut them as low
as poss and maybe utilise a couple by nailing some rustic wood between
two to make a bench for the children.

However, I had a guy round tonight to quote me to erect a 6' fence down
the right hand side of the garden. Upon inspection he has told me that
he thinks it will be very difficult to put in the posts due to the roots
from the trees and that we should try to remove the roots... which we
wanted to avoid doing, argghhhh!

So I'm wondering, would it be best to have some kind of hedge instead of
a wooden fence (we have a hedge on the left)? And this leads me to some
more questions:

Which type of hedge is best for boundaries?
How long would it take to establish and grow?
How easy is it to plant/grow?
Should I get permission from my neighbours as they will have to trim the
thing back on their side?

If you're planning on becoming old, I'd suggest hawthorn (Crataegus
oxyacantha, specifically). It is in the European pharmacopeia and is
prescribed for Angina pectoris, Atherosclerosis, Congestive heart
failure, Hypertension (high blood pressure). It is an antispasmodic,
cardiac, sedative, and vasodilator. It can be huge, or it can be small,
and it is covered with the most discouraging thorns. You'd definitely
want to get your neighbors approval for this. The more of them you plant
the faster the hedge would fill in.

Sorry for the massive essay, any replies will be greatly appreciated,
I'm new to all of this (gardening, not forum posts!)

Cheryl.
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3lF5XSUg
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Zinn/HZinn_page.html

On May 24, 3:03*pm, "David E. Ross" wrote:
On 5/24/10 1:03 PM, chelly100 wrote:



Hi,

I am currently doing up my garden and it's a bit of a project. *I have a
pretty pathetic excuse for a fence separating my garden from my
neighbours on the right and altho I get on with them , I would like
something a bit more...

My husband, last year, cut down 9 Leylandi trees on the right and we
currently have just the stumps left. *A quote to remove the stumps and
roots has come in pretty pricey, so we decided to just cut them as low
as poss and maybe utilise a couple by nailing some rustic wood between
two to make a bench for the children.

However, I had a guy round tonight to quote me to erect a 6' fence down
the right hand side of the garden. *Upon inspection he has told me that
he thinks it will be very difficult to put in the posts due to the roots
from the trees and that we should try to remove the roots... *which we
wanted to avoid doing, argghhhh!

So I'm wondering, would it be best to have some kind of hedge instead of
a wooden fence (we have a hedge on the left)? *And this leads me to some
more questions:

Which type of hedge is best for boundaries?
How long would it take to establish and grow?
How easy is it to plant/grow?
Should I get permission from my neighbours as they will have to trim the
thing back on their side?

Sorry for the massive essay, any replies will be greatly appreciated,
I'm new to all of this (gardening, not forum posts!)

Cheryl.

I prefer good, durable fences or even masonry walls. *They keep your own
children and pets in your yard and the children and pets of others --
including some of nature's wild "pets" -- out.

Furthermore, depending on what you have in your garden, you might have
what is legally called an attractive nuisance, in which case a fence or
wall is mandatory. *Of course, "attractive nuisance" includes a swimming
pool; but it also includes a hot tub, garden railroad, and some types of
children's play equipment.

On the other hand, a fence or even a well-designed wall might not be
very attractive. *I suggest that you install a 4-foot high chain-link
fence. *The fence posts (steel pipe) will be easier to install through
the tree roots than other kinds of posts. *Then plant either shrubs or
vines right against the fence to hide it. *Allow the plants to grow
higher than the fence and through it so that it is also hidden from your
neighbor.

The first step would be to discuss this with your neighbor to ensure
that the concept is mutually acceptable. *With the right approach and an
aesthetic design for the planting, your neighbor might even pay part of
the cost.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: *California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

Agree but think you should go for 6' or more, depending on local regs.
Also agree good to consult with neighbor on design. Neighbor may
indeed
pay for part of the cost; maybe they have been wanting a fence too!

Decades ago I had a block wall installed between me and (urgh!)
neighbors, and to my amazement, they paid for part of it w/o even
being asked!

Of course you will want to keep good relations, so much of David's
advice
is on target: Consult. Steel Posts.

But I think it should be 6' or more, and I also suggest two-sided
handsome
dog-eared cedar, which looks the same on both sides, so makes
neighbor
happy, and doesn't need plantings to disguise it.

chelly100 said:

However, I had a guy round tonight to quote me to erect a 6' fence down
the right hand side of the garden. Upon inspection he has told me that
he thinks it will be very difficult to put in the posts due to the roots
from the trees and that we should try to remove the roots... which we
wanted to avoid doing, argghhhh!

So I'm wondering, would it be best to have some kind of hedge instead of
a wooden fence (we have a hedge on the left)? And this leads me to some
more questions:

My thoughts:

Trying to plant a hedge through all the roots would be as much or more of
a hassle than trying to set a few fence posts.

My neighbor's hedge (which is along my driveway) ends up being trimmed
by me or my daughter almost as much as by the neighbor. And my
daughter is the only one who has ever made an effort to pull out the
weed trees and shrubs that keep infiltrating it -- she hates the mess more
than she hates yard work.

AS for my own hedge (came with the house) if it didn't shade / hide the air
conditioning unit, it would be so gone...

(Feeling grumpy, as it is near record heat, and humid, with lots of work to
do outdoors, and the first mosquitos are out and relentless. Two showers
yesterday, one before dinner and one before bed.)

--
Pat in Plymouth MI

"Vegetables are like bombs packed tight with all kinds of important
nutrients..." --Largo Potter, Valkyria Chronicles

email valid but not regularly monitored

Cheryl,


You could always get what most homeowners put in instead of a wooden
fence, and that's Arborvitaes.


You plant the Arborvitaes about 3 feet apart, and when they get bigger,
they grow not only up, but across as well, and form a natural type of
fencing.


There are DIFFERENT TYPES of Arborvitaes for you to choose as well. You
can get something like the "Emerald Green Arborvitae" which is a SLOW
grower, that gets to a maximum height of 10-15 feet.


You can get the "Dark Green Arborvitae" which grows a little faster, and
can get a maximum height of 25 feet tall.


Or you can get one of the fastest growing Arborvitaes which is called
the "Green Giant Arborvitae", which grows 3-4 feet PER YEAR, and can get
35-50 feet tall.


You could also get a type of Evergreen Shrub called a "Blue Point
Jupiter" which grows 10-12 feet tall, and 6-8 feet wide. You plant these
6 feet apart from one another because of their wide growing widths. The
"Blue Point Jupiter" has a nice Blue-Green foliage color like the
"Colorado Blue Spruce" Christmas Trees.


Here are some images below of natural Arborvitae fencing:


Arborvitae Fence - Google Search


http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&g...borvitae+Fence

I forgot to also mention, that you could also go with "Dwarf Alberta
Spruce" as well, on the property border. "Dwarf Alberta Spruce" only
grows to a height of about 8 feet tall, and 3 feet wide. But don't
expect "instant privacy" from them. "Dwarf Alberta Spruce" only grows
like 2-3 INCHES PER YEAR, so if you plant one when small, it will takes
many, many years before getting 8 feet tall.


Here are some other images for you to check out, of the shrubs I
mentioned:


1)


Dwarf Alberta Spruce - Google Search


http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&g...alberta+spruce



2)


Blue Point Juniper - Google Search


http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&g...uniper&spell=1



3)


Here is a random picture that I found on craigslist.org of what an
"Arborvitae Fence" would look like almost fully grown, on your property
line:


ARBORVITAE'S (EMERALD)


http://albany.craigslist.org/grd/1695107346.html

chelly100 wrote:
Hi,

I am currently doing up my garden and it's a bit of a project. I
have a pretty pathetic excuse for a fence separating my garden from my
neighbours on the right and altho I get on with them , I would like
something a bit more...

My husband, last year, cut down 9 Leylandi trees on the right and we
currently have just the stumps left. A quote to remove the stumps and
roots has come in pretty pricey, so we decided to just cut them as low
as poss and maybe utilise a couple by nailing some rustic wood between
two to make a bench for the children.

However, I had a guy round tonight to quote me to erect a 6' fence
down the right hand side of the garden. Upon inspection he has told
me that he thinks it will be very difficult to put in the posts due
to the roots from the trees and that we should try to remove the
roots... which we wanted to avoid doing, argghhhh!

So I'm wondering, would it be best to have some kind of hedge instead
of a wooden fence (we have a hedge on the left)? And this leads me
to some more questions:

Which type of hedge is best for boundaries?
How long would it take to establish and grow?
How easy is it to plant/grow?
Should I get permission from my neighbours as they will have to trim
the thing back on their side?

Sorry for the massive essay, any replies will be greatly appreciated,
I'm new to all of this (gardening, not forum posts!)

What you use for a hedge will probably depend on where you live.

When I planted a hedge on the yard line, I made the assumption that I would trim
the neighbors side also. It was my choice to plant it. I do ask before I enter
their yard to trim it.

On Wed, 26 May 2010 11:00:33 -0700, "Bob F"
wrote:

chelly100 wrote:
Hi,

I am currently doing up my garden and it's a bit of a project. I
have a pretty pathetic excuse for a fence separating my garden from my
neighbours on the right and altho I get on with them , I would like
something a bit more...

My husband, last year, cut down 9 Leylandi trees on the right and we
currently have just the stumps left. A quote to remove the stumps and
roots has come in pretty pricey, so we decided to just cut them as low
as poss and maybe utilise a couple by nailing some rustic wood between
two to make a bench for the children.

However, I had a guy round tonight to quote me to erect a 6' fence
down the right hand side of the garden. Upon inspection he has told
me that he thinks it will be very difficult to put in the posts due
to the roots from the trees and that we should try to remove the
roots... which we wanted to avoid doing, argghhhh!

So I'm wondering, would it be best to have some kind of hedge instead
of a wooden fence (we have a hedge on the left)? And this leads me
to some more questions:

Which type of hedge is best for boundaries?
How long would it take to establish and grow?
How easy is it to plant/grow?
Should I get permission from my neighbours as they will have to trim
the thing back on their side?

Sorry for the massive essay, any replies will be greatly appreciated,
I'm new to all of this (gardening, not forum posts!)

What you use for a hedge will probably depend on where you live.

When I planted a hedge on the yard line, I made the assumption that I would trim
the neighbors side also. It was my choice to plant it. I do ask before I enter
their yard to trim it.

I'd not recommend planting a hedge that necessitates relying on the
owner of the adjoining property trimming those portions that grow on
their side or to cooperate in any way. You may get along with the
present neighbor famously but there are no guarantees that they will
still be your neighbor next year or even tomorrow, or that you don't
have a falling out. I'd not plant anything that would encroach onto
the adjoining property, I'd also be sure enough space exists for me to
maintain the plantings without my trespassing. All that said if you
live in a cold clime I highly recommend Canadian hemlock, makes an
excellent privacy screen that can be kept trimmed/sheared to a
manageble size, but needs to be placed a minimum of 5' inside your
property line. When I decided to plant a row of specimen trees along
my property line I made sure to place them 15' inside my property. If
you don't have adequate space for plantings then I strongly suggest
you erect a privacy fence, and still leave enough space for you to
walk on the other side in order to do any maintenence without your
trespassing. I subscribe to the Robert Frost school of good fences
make good neighbors.

brooklyn1 wrote:

When I planted a hedge on the yard line, I made the assumption that
I would trim the neighbors side also. It was my choice to plant it.
I do ask before I enter their yard to trim it.

I'd not recommend planting a hedge that necessitates relying on the
owner of the adjoining property trimming those portions that grow on
their side or to cooperate in any way. You may get along with the
present neighbor famously but there are no guarantees that they will
still be your neighbor next year or even tomorrow, or that you don't
have a falling out.

If they choose not to let me come in to prune it, then it's their problem.
Hasn't happened in 30 years.

Did any of our info. and suggestions help you??