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#1
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willow fedge
I am thinking of planting a 6 foot high fedge around the perimeter of
our garden, to act as a wind break. There's already a low (3 or four feet high) dry stone wall all the way around, behind which I'd like to insall the fedge. How close to wall can I plant the fedge? - I want to avoid the possibility of the roots of the fedge eventually causing the wall to become unstable. Factors: a) I am very short of space, and want to get as close to the wall as possible b) The soil is not to heavy, not too light, and although we get plenty rain (west coast of Scotland), it is not water-logged. Thanks, in advance! |
#3
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willow fedge
In article .com,
wrote: I am thinking of planting a 6 foot high fedge around the perimeter of our garden, to act as a wind break. There's already a low (3 or four feet high) dry stone wall all the way around, behind which I'd like to insall the fedge. How close to wall can I plant the fedge? - I want to avoid the possibility of the roots of the fedge eventually causing the wall to become unstable. Factors: a) I am very short of space, and want to get as close to the wall as possible b) The soil is not to heavy, not too light, and although we get plenty rain (west coast of Scotland), it is not water-logged. If a plant establishes a massive root system, it will eventually disturb the wall. You therefore need one that does not do so. The distance will depend on the plant, and can be anything from adjacent to 10' or more - even in a soil such as you describe. The standard figures are useless, as minor fluctuations due to water extraction will not affect a dry stone wall, and the problem is the growth of large roots. My guess is that the smaller willows and similar plants would be fine right up to the wall, but avoid stool-forming ones like Cornus alba. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
#4
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willow fedge
Janet Baraclough wrote:
The message .com from contains these words: I am thinking of planting a 6 foot high fedge around the perimeter of our garden, to act as a wind break. [...] [...] (the other trees survived and thrived). Also, a willow fedge is pretty high maintenance [...] Get hence, the pair of you! -- Mike. |
#5
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willow fedge
Hi, why not look around the local planting and see what has survived
the extremes.The suggestions sound good and would like to add another choice of Hornbeam'Carpinus betulus' hardy but look around locally. Steve. |
#6
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willow fedge
On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 18:21:23 GMT, Janet Baraclough
wrote: The message .com from contains these words: I am thinking of planting a 6 foot high fedge around the perimeter of our garden, to act as a wind break. There's already a low (3 or four feet high) dry stone wall all the way around, behind which I'd like to insall the fedge. How close to wall can I plant the fedge? - I want to avoid the possibility of the roots of the fedge eventually causing the wall to become unstable. Factors: a) I am very short of space, and want to get as close to the wall as possible b) The soil is not to heavy, not too light, and although we get plenty rain (west coast of Scotland), it is not water-logged. Hm, not sure I'd pick willow. Partly because of the threat to the wall, but also because willows in west Scotland tend to be very prone to fungal disease. You don't see a mature willow often here. When I planted them as a wind-shield nurse-crop for trees at our last place, by the time I came to take out the willow it was mostly dead anyway (the other trees survived and thrived). Also, a willow fedge is pretty high maintenance (close-pruning and weaving, both sides), and you haven't got much room to get in and do that. Why not try griselinia littoralis? It's fast, and has the advantage of being evergreen. Handsome foliage.The roots are very shallow so less likely to bother the wall. It will need regular pruning once a year. We live on a cliff top and have two griselinia windbreak hedges. The new one, is 2 years old, 3 ft high and bushy. Now the roots are established it will easily reash 5 or 6 ft next year and be stopped. The old one is being restrained to 6ft high and 18 inches thick, you can stand in its lee in a 70 mph breeze and not feel a draught. They take ANY amount of savage pruning in their stride. Slower, evergreen, fragrant, and flowery, would be escallonia. Both escallonia and griselinia thrive in coastal gardens, make great windbreaks, and propagate easily from cuttings (free, from anyone you know who has them). The OP might also consider Olearia traversii and Eleagnus ebbingei, both good hedgers for mild coastal exposure and quick growing, the latter having tiny heavily scented white flowers in early autumn. Don't know about the root systems though, but I would guess no worse than griselinia or escallonia. I have Eleagnus planted close to a Cornish wall; they're four years old, pushing 6ft now despite being regularly topped, and grow at least 2ft per year. Time will tell if they are going to undermine the wall, but left unattended they can get tallish, say 20ft. -- Chris E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net |
#7
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willow fedge
I have the same problem and I need a green hedge in plave of a stone
wall. Would this escallonia be good? I found it on a google search and it seemed beautiful. The problem is if it is not a hibrid? http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...3Den%26l r%3D |
#8
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willow fedge
I meant the hybrids have less resistance. I did a google search on
escalonia and found the plant on a Greek site. Unfortunately, I don't read Greek so I was hoping one of you might recognize it and tell me its name or if ti is a common plant. Sincerely, Alexandra C |
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