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Hardy, low-maintence shrubs against fence?

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Hardy, low-maintence shrubs against fence?

Postby jeral » Wed Aug 07, 2013 2:32 pm

Any suggestions pls? Planting area is long but only about 24" (60cm) wide. Lousy soil and quite dry. Good light/sun in summer; not too bad in winter as "open" (no tree overshadowing but a massive one nearby which probably eats any water. The fence is c.6' (1.8M) high and runs along a paved brick car parking area and a pedestrian walkway the other side.

So, something that will grow upwards, but not outwards to push the fence over lol. Budget price necessary, but slow-growing is OK. Creepers grow upwards and are normally fast growing but can get out badly out of hand - is there a happy medium?

Thanks for any thoughts.

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Location: East Anglia, UK

Re: Hardy, low-maintence shrubs against fence?

Postby Suelle » Wed Aug 07, 2013 9:57 pm

I really like the varieties of Sarcoccoca - some varieties spread by sucker type growth so may need a bit of control to grow as a hedge, but they are evergreen, don't need much in the way of pruning and the flowers have a gorgeous smell in the middle of winter. my only reservation is that the plants may not grow tall enough if you want to hide all of the fence.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/ho ... occas.html

Dogwoods are good too - good colours on the bare winter stems, if you choose several different varieties.

The other choice would be traditional British hedgerow shrubs such as hazel, field maple etc, which would be much better for wildlife, but they do need a lot of pruning to keep them under control as a hedge.

http://www.hedgelink.org.uk/wildlife-and-hedgerows.htm
The blog which does what it says on the tin:

http://mainlybaking.blogspot.co.uk/

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Re: Hardy, low-maintence shrubs against fence?

Postby jeral » Thu Aug 08, 2013 4:24 pm

Thanks a lot Suelle :) Your first option, the sarcoccoca, looks like a good contender so I'll see if I can find any, or similar.

The plants are intended as an attractive distraction that's better than the current undefined/nondescript growth, so they should fit the bill.

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Re: Hardy, low-maintence shrubs against fence?

Postby Linnet » Sat Aug 10, 2013 4:25 pm

How about cotoneasters? C. horizontalis (the 'fishbone' one) seems to do very well in the poor soil at the end of our garden, and sits flat against the fence. V little pruning needed, it gives autumn colour, and there are berries for the birds in winter.

http://www.plantify.co.uk/Cotoneaster-h ... tAodNH4Acg

We've also found that any berries which fall will often germinate, and give more plants free!

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Re: Hardy, low-maintence shrubs against fence?

Postby eschscholtzia » Thu Nov 28, 2013 8:53 pm

It's probably a bit late in the day but I've only just noticed this thread. I have a red salvia bush growing close to a wall. My firend who gave me the original cutting said she's never known one survive the winter but mine has been there for 3 years. It doesn't make a great deal of growth but is now about 3-4ft high with a 4 ft spread. The habit is fairly open and starts blooming in May and still has flowers on it now.

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