Want a short hedge for driveway - what do i buy?

[darrenh]

This is my first venture into gardening so i need advice. I have just block paved the front driveway but left a 2 foot run of soil on the right hand side. i want to put a hedge there about 3 foot high - what type of hedge should i go for? Is a 'box' hedge the right thing? How long will the hedge take to grow?

I'm keen on having the hedge 'square' so do i need any special type of hedge that once trimmed with look good?

D

 

[hooly1]

Box is slow growing and expensive if bought a foot or more high, privot cheap and can be kept square, berbris is ok but prickly, fast growing and cheap, spotted laurel are ok and little maintenance.

 

[amandaeb]

As Hooly says box is good for a square hedge. In my opinion it would be difficult to get a really square finish on any other shrub because they don't tend to grow as densely as box.

Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa' is the recommended box for hedging. Make sure you get the cultivar Suffruticosa as its ultimate height is said to be only around 3m (others can be taller). It will take a few years to reach this height.

If you can see if you can buy from a wholesaler or specialist nursery as you will pay a lot more from a garden centre.

Hope this helps

Amanda

 

[jools88]

hi - I moved house last year and the previous owner had already planted a hedge to run alongside the driveway. It's escallonia and it only needs trimming twice a year. It flowers in the spring/summer and is evergreen. It seems to be trouble-free from pests and although the house / whole estate is less than 5 years old - I don't know how long it took to get to its present height of about 3.5/4 feet. It's about 2 foot wide. Unsure as to how many actual plants there are either!