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#1
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Winter colour
Hi,
I have a large beech hedge at the bottom of my garden which in winter doesn't look particularly good as the hedge has not been trimmed poperly and most of the growth is at the top, approx 15-20ft high. The hedge is on some-one else's land so I can't do much about it. I was intending to inject a bit of winter colour by planting clumps of red and yellow dogwood along the base of the hedge (about 6ft away).The area I want to plant is a border of some 75ft in length. One downside, I have been told, is that dogwood is not particularly attractive in summer. Any alternatives to dogwood so I have colour in winter and an attactive shrub in summer? thanks, David |
#2
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On 13/10/04 11:13, in article , "David"
wrote: Hi, I have a large beech hedge at the bottom of my garden which in winter doesn't look particularly good as the hedge has not been trimmed poperly and most of the growth is at the top, approx 15-20ft high. The hedge is on some-one else's land so I can't do much about it. I was intending to inject a bit of winter colour by planting clumps of red and yellow dogwood along the base of the hedge (about 6ft away).The area I want to plant is a border of some 75ft in length. One downside, I have been told, is that dogwood is not particularly attractive in summer. Any alternatives to dogwood so I have colour in winter and an attactive shrub in summer? David, if you can find it Rhamnus alaternus is a wonderful plant, IMO. We have the variegated one at the bottom of our garden here and when so much else has nothing to say for itself, this is like a beacon! I say if you can find it because it is notoriously hard to propagate and not all nurseries offer it by a long chalk. The RHS says it's 'fully to frost hardy' but I'd check with your supplier. The other choice might be Camellia sasanqua and others. You don't say where you live but they start blooming in November/December and with careful planning you could get other varieties to mix in that will bloom into spring. And of course, they're evergreen with lovely glossy foliage, too. When they're established, you can grow Clematis up through them for summer and autumn flowering, too. A Camellia hedge is a lovely thing, IMO. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon (remove the weeds to email me) |
#3
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Sacha wrote:
On 13/10/04 11:13, in article , "David" wrote: Hi, I have a large beech hedge at the bottom of my garden which in winter doesn't look particularly good as the hedge has not been trimmed poperly and most of the growth is at the top, approx 15-20ft high. The hedge is on some-one else's land so I can't do much about it. I was intending to inject a bit of winter colour by planting clumps of red and yellow dogwood along the base of the hedge (about 6ft away).The area I want to plant is a border of some 75ft in length. One downside, I have been told, is that dogwood is not particularly attractive in summer. Any alternatives to dogwood so I have colour in winter and an attactive shrub in summer? David, if you can find it Rhamnus alaternus is a wonderful plant, IMO. We have the variegated one at the bottom of our garden here and when so much else has nothing to say for itself, this is like a beacon! I say if you can find it because it is notoriously hard to propagate and not all nurseries offer it by a long chalk. The RHS says it's 'fully to frost hardy' but I'd check with your supplier. The other choice might be Camellia sasanqua and others. You don't say where you live but they start blooming in November/December and with careful planning you could get other varieties to mix in that will bloom into spring. And of course, they're evergreen with lovely glossy foliage, too. When they're established, you can grow Clematis up through them for summer and autumn flowering, too. A Camellia hedge is a lovely thing, IMO. Some gorgeous recipes there, as usual. Camellias are fussy, though; and if they're exposed the flowers can be ruined by frosts -- if this garden is on the western side of the hedge that would be much less of a problem. But the coloured-barked dogwoods are a very easy and economical solution for a long run such as David describes. Cornus alba comes in both white and yellow variegated forms; the flowers and berries are by no means bad, and the leaves colour in autumn; so they aren't only of winter interest. You can underplant with small spring bulbs, too, so you don't feel the loss when you chop the dogwoods back in late Feb. Coming home in winter and catching coloured bark in the headlights is a lovely feeling. Mike. |
#5
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Thanks, Sacha and Mike,
I've enough space to try Rhamnus alaternus so I'll have a look for a stockist. My location is in East Lothian on the south east coast of Scotland. The hedge in fact is on the west of my garden, so in winter it gives a lot of shade to the bottom of the garden, frost can be an occasional problem. I'm not certain if a camellia would survive. Hadn't thought about planting clematis, that's an interesting idea! thanks, David "Mike Lyle" wrote in message ... Sacha wrote: On 13/10/04 11:13, in article , "David" wrote: Hi, I have a large beech hedge at the bottom of my garden which in winter doesn't look particularly good as the hedge has not been trimmed poperly and most of the growth is at the top, approx 15-20ft high. The hedge is on some-one else's land so I can't do much about it. I was intending to inject a bit of winter colour by planting clumps of red and yellow dogwood along the base of the hedge (about 6ft away).The area I want to plant is a border of some 75ft in length. One downside, I have been told, is that dogwood is not particularly attractive in summer. Any alternatives to dogwood so I have colour in winter and an attactive shrub in summer? David, if you can find it Rhamnus alaternus is a wonderful plant, IMO. We have the variegated one at the bottom of our garden here and when so much else has nothing to say for itself, this is like a beacon! I say if you can find it because it is notoriously hard to propagate and not all nurseries offer it by a long chalk. The RHS says it's 'fully to frost hardy' but I'd check with your supplier. The other choice might be Camellia sasanqua and others. You don't say where you live but they start blooming in November/December and with careful planning you could get other varieties to mix in that will bloom into spring. And of course, they're evergreen with lovely glossy foliage, too. When they're established, you can grow Clematis up through them for summer and autumn flowering, too. A Camellia hedge is a lovely thing, IMO. Some gorgeous recipes there, as usual. Camellias are fussy, though; and if they're exposed the flowers can be ruined by frosts -- if this garden is on the western side of the hedge that would be much less of a problem. But the coloured-barked dogwoods are a very easy and economical solution for a long run such as David describes. Cornus alba comes in both white and yellow variegated forms; the flowers and berries are by no means bad, and the leaves colour in autumn; so they aren't only of winter interest. You can underplant with small spring bulbs, too, so you don't feel the loss when you chop the dogwoods back in late Feb. Coming home in winter and catching coloured bark in the headlights is a lovely feeling. Mike. |
#6
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On 14/10/04 9:45, in article , "David"
wrote: Thanks, Sacha and Mike, I've enough space to try Rhamnus alaternus so I'll have a look for a stockist. My location is in East Lothian on the south east coast of Scotland. The hedge in fact is on the west of my garden, so in winter it gives a lot of shade to the bottom of the garden, frost can be an occasional problem. I'm not certain if a camellia would survive. Hadn't thought about planting clematis, that's an interesting idea! Check out the Rhamnus *very* carefully, given your location. My husband isn't at all sure that my varietal suggestions will survive with you but our experience is Devon and Essex and in my case, Jersey. One can push the luck quite a bit but......... ;-) In an ideal world, I'd say give it a try but purses and possibilities will dictate for most of us. There's a Rhamnus dahurica that a nursery in Inverness has. We don't know this variety at all so ask the nursery: Iain Brodie of Falsyde, Cuilalunn, Kinchurdy Road, Boat of Garten, Invernessshire, Tel. 01479 831464 and email: Another thought for a small tree which blooms late here and smells delicious is Clerodendrum trichotomum (var. fargesii) We have one of those growing on a boundary wall and it's a beautiful shape and a really lovely small tree. Again, do a local check, though the RHS book says it can go to -15 C (5F)! It's a fabulous plant, IMO and I can't imagine why it isn't grown more widely. Camellias are fully to frost hardy so again (sorry to be so repetitive) you need to check what will grow in your area. This, BTW, is why newcomers to the group are so often asked for their location or what they grow already. It makes it easier to recommend the right thing. snip -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon (remove the weeds to email me) |
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