High hedge for coastal garden
 

A contractor colleague has a garden on the western edge of
Anglesey, only 100m from the sea, and needs to plant a high hedge to
screen an undesirable extension that his neighbour is having built.
Whether the extension is undesirable because Barry didn't get the
contract to build it, or whether it's just an eyesore is not revealed.
Anyway, he asked me to suggest a suitable hedging plant, and I
gave the stock answer of 'Escallonia', but, he reckons the hedge needs
to be 2-3m in height, and be up at that height by next summer at the
latest.
So, any suggestions for an evergreen, salt-tolerant,
wind-proof, reasonably tall, low-maintenance hedging plant that is
readily available and capable of being planted by a man more
accustomed to laying sewer pipes than laying hedges would be much
appreciated. :~)

--
cormaic URG faqs/webring - www.tmac.clara.co.uk/urgring/
Culcheth Garden - www.tmac.clara.co.uk/garden/
Warrington Paving - www.pavingexpert.com/
Peoples' Republic of South Lancashire

cormaic CAN BE FOUND AT borlochshall.co.uk

High hedge for coastal garden
 

In article , cormaic
writes
A contractor colleague has a garden on the western edge of
Anglesey, only 100m from the sea, and needs to plant a high hedge to
screen an undesirable extension that his neighbour is having built.
Whether the extension is undesirable because Barry didn't get the
contract to build it, or whether it's just an eyesore is not revealed.
Anyway, he asked me to suggest a suitable hedging plant, and I
gave the stock answer of 'Escallonia', but, he reckons the hedge needs
to be 2-3m in height, and be up at that height by next summer at the
latest.
So, any suggestions for an evergreen, salt-tolerant,
wind-proof, reasonably tall, low-maintenance hedging plant that is
readily available and capable of being planted by a man more
accustomed to laying sewer pipes than laying hedges would be much
appreciated. :~)


We are in almost the same situation on the Isle of Wight with regards to
position from the cliff and wanting privacy in the garden for me to do
my topless sunbathing.

We have a quick thorn mixed with Escallonia as you say. We are very
pleased with the way it has screened and sheltered us and between the
they are quite easy for even me to manage with a thumping great pair of
Loppers and an Electric Hedge trimmer.

2 - 3 metres by next Summer is pushing it a bit. Even Russian Vine on
Chain Link fence wouldn't do that I don't think.

Mike
on a very windy Isle of Wight
(Just heard that in Portsmouth Harbour, a P & O Ferry has hit one of the
Royal Navy Warships)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
O ruddier than the cherry, O sweeter than the berry,
O nymph more bright, than moonshine night,
like kidlings blithe and merry.
John Gay 1685 - 1732

High hedge for coastal garden
 

In article , cormaic
writes
A contractor colleague has a garden on the western edge of
Anglesey, only 100m from the sea, and needs to plant a high hedge to
screen an undesirable extension that his neighbour is having built.
Whether the extension is undesirable because Barry didn't get the
contract to build it, or whether it's just an eyesore is not revealed.
Anyway, he asked me to suggest a suitable hedging plant, and I
gave the stock answer of 'Escallonia', but, he reckons the hedge needs
to be 2-3m in height, and be up at that height by next summer at the
latest.
So, any suggestions for an evergreen, salt-tolerant,
wind-proof, reasonably tall, low-maintenance hedging plant that is
readily available and capable of being planted by a man more
accustomed to laying sewer pipes than laying hedges would be much
appreciated. :~)

tongueInCheek Leylandii? /tongueInCheek

--
Jane Ransom in Lancaster.
I won't respond to private emails that are on topic for urg
but if you need to email me for any other reason,
put jandg dot demon dot co dot uk where you see deadspam.com

High hedge for coastal garden
 

"cormaic" wrote in message
...
A contractor colleague has a garden on the western edge of
Anglesey, only 100m from the sea, and needs to plant a high hedge to
screen an undesirable extension that his neighbour is having built.
Whether the extension is undesirable because Barry didn't get the
contract to build it, or whether it's just an eyesore is not revealed.
Anyway, he asked me to suggest a suitable hedging plant, and I
gave the stock answer of 'Escallonia', but, he reckons the hedge needs
to be 2-3m in height, and be up at that height by next summer at the
latest.
So, any suggestions for an evergreen, salt-tolerant,
wind-proof, reasonably tall, low-maintenance hedging plant that is
readily available and capable of being planted by a man more
accustomed to laying sewer pipes than laying hedges would be much
appreciated. :~)

--
cormaic

I would go for Pittosporum or Eleagnus ebbingii (both have scented flowers
as a bonus and are of course evergreen. Its not that escallonia is not a
good evergreen (and I will admit it would do the job quicker) but I think it
spends more of the year looking as if some one needs to cut it (and thats
usually me!)

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

High hedge for coastal garden
 

In article , Jane Ransom
writes

tongueInCheek Leylandii? /tongueInCheek

This could almost be regarded as Spam :-((


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
O ruddier than the cherry, O sweeter than the berry,
O nymph more bright, than moonshine night,
like kidlings blithe and merry.
John Gay 1685 - 1732

High hedge for coastal garden
 

"Jane Ransom" wrote in message
...
In article , cormaic
writes
A contractor colleague has a garden on the western edge of
Anglesey, only 100m from the sea, and needs to plant a high hedge to
screen an undesirable extension that his neighbour is having built.
Whether the extension is undesirable because Barry didn't get the
contract to build it, or whether it's just an eyesore is not revealed.
Anyway, he asked me to suggest a suitable hedging plant, and I
gave the stock answer of 'Escallonia', but, he reckons the hedge needs
to be 2-3m in height, and be up at that height by next summer at the
latest.
So, any suggestions for an evergreen, salt-tolerant,
wind-proof, reasonably tall, low-maintenance hedging plant that is
readily available and capable of being planted by a man more
accustomed to laying sewer pipes than laying hedges would be much
appreciated. :~)

tongueInCheek Leylandii? /tongueInCheek

--
Jane Ransom in Lancaster.

Doubt if even Leylandii grow that quickly. He could plant a temporary
barrier of tall annuals & perennials in front of the hedge for the first 3-4
years until it becomes established at the required height, e.g. a row of
sunflowers if his soil is suitable.

Bevan

High hedge for coastal garden
 

"cormaic" wrote in message
...
, he asked me to suggest a suitable hedging plant, and I
gave the stock answer of 'Escallonia', but, he reckons the hedge needs
to be 2-3m in height, and be up at that height by next summer at the
latest.
Sounds like he wants a fence with leaves on it. There's a product waiting
for an entrepreneur.

Rod

High hedge for coastal garden
 

On Sun, 27 Oct 2002 16:22:23 +0000, cormaic
wrote:

...he reckons the hedge needs
to be 2-3m in height, and be up at that height by next summer at the
latest.


Please ask your friend to solve an elementary arithmetic problem,
namely:


If a hedge grows 2 meters in its first year, and continues to
grow at the same rate for four more years, how tall will it be in
five years?



There is no such thing as a *woody* plant that will grow 2 meters
in its first year and then stop in its tracks. Some herbaceous
plants can do this: castor bean, cannabis, and perhaps a few
others recommended in older books for fast screening use. But
nothing that will actually form a real hedge.

In the long run, something like Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' (aka
'Emerald Green') might do admirably, but you are looking at much
slower growth.


--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

High hedge for coastal garden
 

In article , Charlie
Pridham writes

I would go for Pittosporum

Pittosporum is not hardy enough :(

--
Jane Ransom in Lancaster.
I won't respond to private emails that are on topic for urg
but if you need to email me for any other reason,
put jandg dot demon dot co dot uk where you see deadspam.com

High hedge for coastal garden
 

How about a bamboo screen? I've planted several bamboos in my gargen
to hide an ugly new house that's gone up - their advantage is that
they rapidly reach their mature height, and they're evergreen - as
well as well worth having in their own right.
Most bamboos wouldn't like such an exposed site as you describe, but
one - Pseudosasa japonica - is recommended as one of the best plants
of any sort for a windbreak in a coastal location (in one experiment
in cornwall it was recommended as one of the top ten plants for
forming a windbreak.) The main problem would be obtaining enough
plants cheaply enough if the hedge is a long one. . .

Robert

----------
In article , cormaic
wrote:


A contractor colleague has a garden on the western edge of
Anglesey, only 100m from the sea, and needs to plant a high hedge to
screen an undesirable extension that his neighbour is having built.
Whether the extension is undesirable because Barry didn't get the
contract to build it, or whether it's just an eyesore is not revealed.
Anyway, he asked me to suggest a suitable hedging plant, and I
gave the stock answer of 'Escallonia', but, he reckons the hedge needs
to be 2-3m in height, and be up at that height by next summer at the
latest.
So, any suggestions for an evergreen, salt-tolerant,
wind-proof, reasonably tall, low-maintenance hedging plant that is
readily available and capable of being planted by a man more
accustomed to laying sewer pipes than laying hedges would be much
appreciated. :~)

--
cormaic URG faqs/webring - www.tmac.clara.co.uk/urgring/
Culcheth Garden - www.tmac.clara.co.uk/garden/
Warrington Paving - www.pavingexpert.com/
Peoples' Republic of South Lancashire

cormaic CAN BE FOUND AT borlochshall.co.uk

High hedge for coastal garden
 

'Twas Mon, 28 Oct 2002 04:36:50 GMT, when
(Rodger Whitlock) enriched
all our lives with these worthy thoughts:

Please ask your friend to solve an elementary arithmetic problem,
namely:
If a hedge grows 2 meters in its first year, and continues to
grow at the same rate for four more years, how tall will it be in
five years?

Aaah, but Barry is not a gardener. He envisages a hedge that
will achieve the required height and then stabilise at that height for
evermore. I did ask whether he also wanted it to have tenners for
leaves and gold nuggets for seed but this seemed to pass over his
head. ;~)

--
cormaic URG faqs/webring - www.tmac.clara.co.uk/urgring/
Culcheth Garden - www.tmac.clara.co.uk/garden/
Warrington Paving - www.pavingexpert.com/
Peoples' Republic of South Lancashire

cormaic CAN BE FOUND AT borlochshall.co.uk

High hedge for coastal garden
 

'Twas Mon, 28 Oct 2002 10:04:08 +0000 (UTC), when "Robert Davies"
enriched all our lives with these worthy
thoughts:

How about a bamboo screen? I've planted several bamboos in my gargen
to hide an ugly new house that's gone up - their advantage is that
they rapidly reach their mature height, and they're evergreen - as
well as well worth having in their own right.
Most bamboos wouldn't like such an exposed site as you describe, but
one - Pseudosasa japonica - is recommended as one of the best plants
of any sort for a windbreak in a coastal location (in one experiment
in cornwall it was recommended as one of the top ten plants for
forming a windbreak.) The main problem would be obtaining enough
plants cheaply enough if the hedge is a long one. . .

Cost (within reason) is not a problem. I like the idea of
bamboo; I'll put it to him at our next meeting. Cheers!

--
cormaic URG faqs/webring - www.tmac.clara.co.uk/urgring/
Culcheth Garden - www.tmac.clara.co.uk/garden/
Warrington Paving - www.pavingexpert.com/
Peoples' Republic of South Lancashire

cormaic CAN BE FOUND AT borlochshall.co.uk

High hedge for coastal garden
 

"cormaic" wrote in message
...
A contractor colleague has a garden on the western edge of
Anglesey, only 100m from the sea, and needs to plant a high hedge to
screen an undesirable extension that his neighbour is having built.
Whether the extension is undesirable because Barry didn't get the
contract to build it, or whether it's just an eyesore is not revealed.
Anyway, he asked me to suggest a suitable hedging plant, and I
gave the stock answer of 'Escallonia', but, he reckons the hedge needs
to be 2-3m in height, and be up at that height by next summer at the
latest.
So, any suggestions for an evergreen, salt-tolerant,
wind-proof, reasonably tall, low-maintenance hedging plant that is
readily available and capable of being planted by a man more
accustomed to laying sewer pipes than laying hedges would be much
appreciated. :~)

--
cormaic URG faqs/webring - www.tmac.clara.co.uk/urgring/
Culcheth Garden - www.tmac.clara.co.uk/garden/
Warrington Paving - www.pavingexpert.com/
Peoples' Republic of South Lancashire

cormaic CAN BE FOUND AT borlochshall.co.uk

I have been very impressed with Griselinia here in N. Ireland. Going by the
ones we had in the last garden, if you start with vigorous young plants,
make sure the soil isn't compacted to a good depth and give a dose of feed I
reckon you could get up to about 1.5m in a year, and it's reasonably easy to
keep to size. I've seen it growing right by the shore facing SW so must have
been taking some wind/salt.

Michael S

High hedge for coastal garden
 

"Jane Ransom" wrote in message
...
In article , Charlie
Pridham writes

I would go for Pittosporum

Pittosporum is not hardy enough :(

--
Jane Ransom in Lancaster.

Possibly not where you are :~) but the original post mentioned coastal
Anglesea which is one of the mildest spots in the UK (even though it never
felt like it awaiting the bar pilot, Liverpool!!)

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

High hedge for coastal garden
 

"cormaic" wrote in message
...
'Twas Mon, 28 Oct 2002 10:04:08 +0000 (UTC), when "Robert Davies"
enriched all our lives with these worthy
thoughts:

How about a bamboo screen? I've planted several bamboos in my gargen
to hide an ugly new house that's gone up - their advantage is that
they rapidly reach their mature height, and they're evergreen - as
well as well worth having in their own right.
Most bamboos wouldn't like such an exposed site as you describe, but
one - Pseudosasa japonica - is recommended as one of the best plants
of any sort for a windbreak in a coastal location (in one experiment
in cornwall it was recommended as one of the top ten plants for
forming a windbreak.) The main problem would be obtaining enough
plants cheaply enough if the hedge is a long one. . .

Cost (within reason) is not a problem. I like the idea of
bamboo; I'll put it to him at our next meeting. Cheers!

--
cormaic
Most gardens in Cornwall with it would be delighted if you took some away!
here in the middle its not especially invasive and I think its an inspired
suggestion :~) Try contacting www.carwinion.com Anthony and Jane Rogers, its
a large garden with a huge collection of Bamboo, you may be able to cut a
deal :~)
--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

High hedge for coastal garden
 

On Mon, 28 Oct 2002 10:04:08 +0000 (UTC), "Robert Davies"
wrote:

How about a bamboo screen? I've planted several bamboos in my gargen
to hide an ugly new house that's gone up - their advantage is that
they rapidly reach their mature height, and they're evergreen - as
well as well worth having in their own right.
Most bamboos wouldn't like such an exposed site as you describe, but
one - Pseudosasa japonica - is recommended as one of the best plants
of any sort for a windbreak in a coastal location (in one experiment
in cornwall it was recommended as one of the top ten plants for
forming a windbreak.) The main problem would be obtaining enough
plants cheaply enough if the hedge is a long one. . .

There is a specific objection to Pseudosasa japonica, the metake
or "arrow" bamboo: it is a rampant spreader once established. The
new culms that can penetrate paving.

IMHO, metake bamboo is not suitable for boundary plantings: I
would not want to inflict it on my neighbors.


--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

High hedge for coastal garden
 

'Twas Mon, 28 Oct 2002 18:29:37 GMT, when
(Rodger Whitlock) enriched
all our lives with these worthy thoughts:

There is a specific objection to Pseudosasa japonica, the metake
or "arrow" bamboo: it is a rampant spreader once established. The
new culms that can penetrate paving.

IMHO, metake bamboo is not suitable for boundary plantings: I
would not want to inflict it on my neighbors.


So; what would you suggest in its place?

If the P.japonica appeals to my colleague, it's easy enough
for it to be 'contained' within a root barrier membrane, as he's just
bought 2,500m2 of the stuff for use on another project. :~)

--
cormaic URG faqs/webring - www.tmac.clara.co.uk/urgring/
Culcheth Garden - www.tmac.clara.co.uk/garden/
Warrington Paving - www.pavingexpert.com/
Peoples' Republic of South Lancashire

cormaic CAN BE FOUND AT borlochshall.co.uk

High hedge for coastal garden
 

The message
from cormaic contains these words:

A contractor colleague has a garden on the western edge of
Anglesey, only 100m from the sea, and needs to plant a high hedge to
screen an undesirable extension that his neighbour is having built.
Whether the extension is undesirable because Barry didn't get the
contract to build it, or whether it's just an eyesore is not revealed.
Anyway, he asked me to suggest a suitable hedging plant, and I
gave the stock answer of 'Escallonia', but, he reckons the hedge needs
to be 2-3m in height, and be up at that height by next summer at the
latest.
So, any suggestions for an evergreen, salt-tolerant,
wind-proof, reasonably tall, low-maintenance hedging plant that is
readily available and capable of being planted by a man more
accustomed to laying sewer pipes than laying hedges would be much
appreciated. :~)

Griselinia littoralis? It's all those things but not *quite* that
fast. In front of it, he could plant a temporary sacrifice-hedge of
buddliea cuttings, shouldn't be hard to find a free source; they should
reach the desired height next summer, and when the griselinia catches up
he can ditch the buddlieas.

Janet.

High hedge for coastal garden
 

On Mon, 28 Oct 2002 19:32:25 +0000, cormaic
wrote:

'Twas Mon, 28 Oct 2002 18:29:37 GMT, when
(Rodger Whitlock) enriched
all our lives with these worthy thoughts:

There is a specific objection to Pseudosasa japonica, the metake
or "arrow" bamboo: it is a rampant spreader once established. The
new culms that can penetrate paving.

IMHO, metake bamboo is not suitable for boundary plantings: I
would not want to inflict it on my neighbors.


So; what would you suggest in its place?

If the P.japonica appeals to my colleague, it's easy enough
for it to be 'contained' within a root barrier membrane, as he's just
bought 2,500m2 of the stuff for use on another project. :~)

I wouldn't recommend any other bamboo for such a use. In my
experience, they tend to like positions somewhat sheltered from
the wind. But perhaps Arundinaria murielae might do -- if he can
find any. It all flowered and died some years ago and the next-
generation seedlings probably aren't anywhere near maturity yet.
Arundinaria nitida is probably a little too short, but might do
in a pinch. I'm not sure how these would do in a fully exposed
location.

And I await with interest a message from you reading "my friend's
metake bamboo penetrated the root barrier with elan and is now
coming up in the middle of his neighbor's concrete driveway..."

Frankly, I don't know *what* to suggest for the purpose. Perhaps
the best bet is for your friend to wander around the neighborhood
on foot and see if anyone has a planting somewhat like the one he
desires, then find out what they used for it.

And the 2-3 meter height is actually fence height, but it has to
be a robust fence to withstand marine gales.



--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

High hedge for coastal garden
 

'Twas Tue, 29 Oct 2002 00:53:49 GMT, when
(Rodger Whitlock) enriched
all our lives with these worthy thoughts:

And I await with interest a message from you reading "my friend's
metake bamboo penetrated the root barrier with elan and is now
coming up in the middle of his neighbor's concrete driveway..."

Steel larsen piles, then! ;~)

--
cormaic URG faqs/webring - www.tmac.clara.co.uk/urgring/
Culcheth Garden - www.tmac.clara.co.uk/garden/
Warrington Paving - www.pavingexpert.com/
Peoples' Republic of South Lancashire

cormaic CAN BE FOUND AT borlochshall.co.uk

High hedge for coastal garden
 

On Sun, 27 Oct 2002 16:22:23 +0000, cormaic
wrote:

A contractor colleague has a garden on the western edge of
Anglesey, only 100m from the sea, and needs to plant a high hedge to
screen an undesirable extension that his neighbour is having built.
Whether the extension is undesirable because Barry didn't get the
contract to build it, or whether it's just an eyesore is not revealed.
Anyway, he asked me to suggest a suitable hedging plant, and I
gave the stock answer of 'Escallonia', but, he reckons the hedge needs
to be 2-3m in height, and be up at that height by next summer at the
latest.
So, any suggestions for an evergreen, salt-tolerant,
wind-proof, reasonably tall, low-maintenance hedging plant that is
readily available and capable of being planted by a man more
accustomed to laying sewer pipes than laying hedges would be much
appreciated. :~)

No-one has yet mentioned Olearia Traversii. My only concern is whether
it would be hardy enough. Does the Gulf Stream get through to
Anglesey? Takes any amount of salt gales, although may lose the odd
branch when mature, as it tends to be brittle. No flowers of any
consequence. Grows pretty quickly, but I can't guarantee 2m by next
summer, although I've seen old stumps re-grow at almost that rate.
Eventually reaches 3 - 4m. Remember that with most fast growing
things the tops outgrow the roots and they blow flat in the first
gale. The recommended method is to prune them hard at 3ft and again at
5 to allow the roots and lower trunk to strengthen. And as someone
said in another thread, when planting, small plants make stronger
roots than big plants do.

Another possibility is Tamarisk, but again, I'm not sure about
hardiness. Incidentally, escallonia will make 3m, but not in that
time.
--
Chris
De-* virgin for e-mail reply

High hedge for coastal garden
 

"Chris Hogg" wrote in message
...
No-one has yet mentioned Olearia Traversii. My only concern is whether
it would be hardy enough. Does the Gulf Stream get through to
Anglesey? Takes any amount of salt gales, although may lose the odd
branch when mature, as it tends to be brittle. No flowers of any
consequence. Grows pretty quickly, but I can't guarantee 2m by next
summer, although I've seen old stumps re-grow at almost that rate.
Eventually reaches 3 - 4m. Remember that with most fast growing
things the tops outgrow the roots and they blow flat in the first
gale. The recommended method is to prune them hard at 3ft and again at
5 to allow the roots and lower trunk to strengthen. And as someone
said in another thread, when planting, small plants make stronger
roots than big plants do.

Another possibility is Tamarisk, but again, I'm not sure about
hardiness. Incidentally, escallonia will make 3m, but not in that
time.
--
No problem with either of those on Anglesey - it's often very windy but
severe frost is a rarity in coastal locations on the Island..
Common hedge plants in the area are the usual suspects that have already
been mentioned + Fuchsias. Privet is OK if you must but does get blasted on
the seaward side. Russian Vine loves the conditions but is more trouble than
it's worth.

Rod

High hedge for coastal garden
 

Some herbaceous
plants can do this: castor bean, cannabis, and perhaps a few
others recommended in older books for fast screening use. But
nothing that will actually form a real hedge.

Ah, Cannabis as a hedging/screening plant. Now there's a suggestion. Sounds
pretty cool to me.

Right on, peace man.

Dave.

High hedge for coastal garden
 

Aaah, but Barry is not a gardener. He envisages a hedge that
will achieve the required height and then stabilise at that height for
evermore. I did ask whether he also wanted it to have tenners for
leaves and gold nuggets for seed but this seemed to pass over his
head. ;~)

I suppose he'd also like it to grow with vertically straight sides and a flat
top too?

Dave.

High hedge for coastal garden
 

IMHO, metake bamboo is not suitable for boundary plantings: I would not want
to inflict it on my neighbors.

Considering the extension having inflicted on them by their neighbours, I'd say
"Plant away!" LOL.

Dave.

High hedge for coastal garden
 

'Twas 30 Oct 2002 09:08:42 GMT, when (DaveDay34)
enriched all our lives with these worthy thoughts:

Aaah, but Barry is not a gardener. He envisages a hedge that
will achieve the required height and then stabilise at that height for
evermore. I did ask whether he also wanted it to have tenners for
leaves and gold nuggets for seed but this seemed to pass over his
head. ;~)

I suppose he'd also like it to grow with vertically straight sides and a flat
top too?

Now don't go putting ideas in his head! ;~)

--
cormaic URG faqs/webring - www.tmac.clara.co.uk/urgring/
Culcheth Garden - www.tmac.clara.co.uk/garden/
Warrington Paving - www.pavingexpert.com/
Peoples' Republic of South Lancashire

cormaic CAN BE FOUND AT borlochshall.co.uk