Hedge Type Advise

[Alhamander]

Holm oaks grow very slowly, and I'd want to check if they will grow at all up there.

In a way, you could mix in anything you like and see what happens. If some fail, you could fill any gaps with hornbeam, hazel, any thorn or holly later.

Privacy?? Leylandii, surely ?

I have a few growing, and a couple planted out...but...very slow as you say.

Leylandii I actually like - but I like a bit of stuff & cover for the wildlife too...have a lot of hawthorn, hazel, etc.

 

[Alhamander]

In a clipped hedge the Hornbeam and the Beech retain their dead leaves until the new ones push through so privacy isn't too bad, yes the holly kind of grows through it all and seems to do do just fine. I'm coastal South Cumbria so probably a similar climate to you on Skye.

Thanks for the info...perhaps I should try some normal holly instead of holly/holm oak (I do like an oak though...). Just want some year-round green in the hedge but if the beech can hold leaves even through weeks of hammering gales then that might do too. Doubt hornbeam will hold many here but I could be wrong.

I was going to buy more beech as I ran out with about 25 to go, but I actually have 25 hornbeam spare so I might as well just plant them into the beech hedge instead of spending more money...

 

[Apthorpe]

I have a few growing, and a couple planted out...but...very slow as you say.

Leylandii I actually like - but I like a bit of stuff & cover for the wildlife too...have a lot of hawthorn, hazel, etc.

BIt random but there's a large pyracantha (i think) adjoining my garden and it's vigorous, the mass of berries this year is currently popular with songbirds. Small white flowers in spring, slightly thorny.

 

[countrryboy]

Even if the leaves come off once the hedge is established it will be quite a solid mass anyway so i doubt u'd see throu.

1 thing that would help if u allowed hadge to grow to 8ft or so withkut cutting the top, then lay it.
U'll end up with a cracking thick hedge with plenty off nesting cover in the bottom.

Beech is probably the best bet if you don't want thorn. I would avoid laurel like the plague, I have had firsthand experience of trying to get rid of it in a garden when I bought a house.

Wot we used to use to kill it was roundup and red desiel a 50/50 mix.
And that was for a conservation company often on nature reserves and SSSIs.
I doibt that was written on the RAMS thou

 

[Jamouk]

Just laid a 40m hedge with Portuguese laurel thinking about pulling them out now and changing to Hawthorne or maybe mix some hawthorns in as well

 

[jall55]

Thanks for the info...perhaps I should try some normal holly instead of holly/holm oak (I do like an oak though...). Just want some year-round green in the hedge but if the beech can hold leaves even through weeks of hammering gales then that might do too. Doubt hornbeam will hold many here but I could be wrong.

I was going to buy more beech as I ran out with about 25 to go, but I actually have 25 hornbeam spare so I might as well just plant them into the beech hedge instead of spending more money...

Wild privet may do the job for you

 

[csl]

Either way I like Laurel

Perhaps we should say, bay, Laurus nobilis is not the same as Prunus laurocerasus!

Evergreen Hedging

Learn about the most popular types of laurel hedging, their characteristics, growth rates, and suitability for different garden needs.

evergreenhedging.com

 

[lambic]

I have some spent 100s of hours and thousands of £ planting numerous hedges over last couple of years.

Just do what the old timers did - native wildlife friendly hedges.

Don't bother with laurel or conifers - you will regret it. The only evergreen worth bothering with is Holly, but it is extremely slow growing so can work out expensive. Privet is OK, but there is a disease causing die back.

Double row planted, 7 cell grown trees to per metre.

40% Hawthorn
20% Blackthorn
40% - Beech (not clay), Hornbeam (clay), field maple, crab apple, dog rose, hazel, etc

Then protect according to the pests - deer, rabbits etc

They need to be cut back hard as well, otherwise you won't get a hedge.

 

[jall55]

I have some spent 100s of hours and thousands of £ planting numerous hedges over last couple of years.

Just do what the old timers did - native wildlife friendly hedges.

Don't bother with laurel or conifers - you will regret it. The only evergreen worth bothering with is Holly, but it is extremely slow growing so can work out expensive. Privet is OK, but there is a disease causing die back.

Double row planted, 7 cell grown trees to per metre.

40% Hawthorn
20% Blackthorn
40% - Beech (not clay), Hornbeam (clay), field maple, crab apple, dog rose, hazel, etc

Then protect according to the pests - deer, rabbits etc

They need to be cut back hard as well, otherwise you won't get a hedge.

Get ready then to spend even more laying them haahha

The only thing with blackthorn is it suckers like heck - so can run really wild - I dont mind it but some will

I tend to use an RSPB approved native mix and add bits to it
Our looks lovely with the above plus juneberry - wild cherry - spindle

 

[lambic]

Ha ha, laying is certainly a skill

 

[countrryboy]

Ha ha, laying is certainly a skill

Its fairly easy in a young hedge

 

[lambic]

When the time comes, my fear will be cutting too deep.