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Gardening in the UK

Suggestions for screening

19 years ago

I am looking for something large-up to 8-9 feet in height, approx 3 foot in width, evergreen and native to SE England. It is required for some screening at the end of our garden. The soil is alkaline and it is to be placed against a 2m high north facing fence. Any suggestions?

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Comments (8)

shrubs_n_bulbs
19 years ago
Surprisingly few native evergreens. Holly, if that's to your taste but will be expensive to buy large and not fast to grow.

Yew, if you want a conifer, slow growing and you'd have to shear it to keep it only three feet wide. Scots Pine is the only other native conifer, not sure it would work for you.

Ivy on a framework of some kind?

Buxus sempervirens, again would need to be sheared to stay narrow.

Have I missed any obvious natives?
flora_uk
19 years ago
Shrubs has covered it as far as native evergreens go. The strawberry tree, Arbutus, is sort of native if you count Ireland and makes an attractive not too big evergreen tree. Do you really mean 'native' to SE England or 'suited' to SE England? If the latter there a lots of choices.
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buttercuplady
19 years ago
hi would use red robins (photina) and laurel these compliment each other and look glorious, i have been a pro gardner for 5yrs and i have planted up many of these for screening
flora_uk
19 years ago
Buttercup, are you seriously going around recommending that people plant laurels in their gardens? Firstly the OP said they wanted natives and secondly Laurel, if you mean Prunus laurocerasus, is a huge, suckering, spreading shrub which would drown the space available with unremarkable green leaves blocking out anything trying to grow around it. The OP needs something fairly short and narrow if you look at the dimensions given. I hope not too many of your past clients are regretting your choice of material on their behalf. There are thousands of more imaginative and suitable choices if non-natives are allowed.
ccreagh
Original Author
19 years ago
Thank you all. What would you suggest for non natives?
garden_nerd
19 years ago
I thought photinias preferred acid soil? They grow OK in Leicester which is slightly acid.

You could try viburnum tinus or a golden privet. Not sure if they'd reach 8/9' and they'd need regular clipping to keep their shape and size. I think privet is very nice when freshly sheared & sculpted! Also, what about a well-controlled leylandii - they seem to make very handsome hedges when regularly clipped.

I would never plant a laurel for the reasons already mentioned.
flora_uk
19 years ago
There are other conifers, apart from leylandii, which would go in that position, if you are prepared to prune eg Taxus baccata fastigiata in green or gold (an upright yew), or one of the columnar junipers. Or how about A rose and/or clematis combo on an obelisk or tripod. You'd need to research varieties which would not mind the Northern aspect. Not really evergreen but is impenetrability important in the winter? Eucryphia x nymanensis (doesn't mind lime) or a myrtle would give you an upright evergreen with white flowers. I suggest you do some garden visiting and see what you like the look of.
shrubs_n_bulbs
19 years ago
Pyracantha is a non-native screening option that might interest you. Or not.

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