On 21/1/08 13:46, in article
,
" wrote:

Dear All,

We live in a flat with a communal garden area.

We would like to plant something that will screen a 40m x 5ft
glavanised steel fence and give us more privacy.

As our experience is limited I hoped you might help by providing some
hedging or plant suggestions.

Our requirements are that:

-It will need to require minimum maintenance, so ideally not grow
outwards too much and not grow much above 2m in height.(So as not to
increase our maintenance charge)

-It's evergreen.

-It's dense.

-Hopefully fast growing.

Our local garden centre recommended bare rooted Laurel planted at 1m
intervals. He said that once it reaches 2m, it should be cut to that
height and will not tend to go above this. How much would it be likely
to bush outwards?

This site might help you. It gives some clear info on various types of
hedging, including laurel. Under e.g. Laurel, it gives a calculator facility
so that you can work out what you need. But pretty much any hedge is going
to need clipping back at least once a year. Depending on where you live,
you could consider Camellias, which can be kept to size and which will have
the added benefit of flowers, too. I've seen them grown clipped very close
against a house wall.
Escallonias make lovely hedges in milder areas and Griselinia is tolerant of
salt winds - planting two plain ones, alternating with two variegated ones
and so on, gives an interesting 'tapestry' effect, as it's called.
http://www.buckingham-nurseries.co.u...ew_hedges.html

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove weeds from address)
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'