I want to make a formal or infomal hedge at the front of my house and I would like some ideas on what shrubs to use. I would like something different.

Box makes a nice hedge, mine are 3 ft high in the front garden, although I have two over 4ft high framing a path at the side and screening the drive. Box is said to be slow growing but these grow 6 inches a year in all directions. They respond well to tlc and will grow in part shade as long as they have water.

Lizzy,

How tall do you want your hedge to be?. What sort of position is it - sunny/shady and what is the soil like?.

Angela

Hi,
I have grown some escallonia bushes at the front of my front garden. Mainly because my garden fronts onto a main road. (What's another word for 'front'?) I am on the corner and there are traffic lights. P.S. there is also now a footpath for both pedestrians and cyclists.
There are two lanes of traffic on my side. When I was mowing the lawns, and picking up the pine cones, I felt that the exhaust fumes were a bit too much to take. The Escallonias have only been in a few years but have grown to about 4 foot with a bit of pruning. I find that pruning in the Autumn is best. Trouble is I probably reduce the following July's production of the red/pink flowers. If I cut after July's flowering I find it is a bit straggly the next Spring/Summer. As it is on public view I don't want to many derogatory comments.
I have one box in the back garden. It's about 18 inches tall after 6 years. It's perhaps the last few year's lack of rain that has caused the slow growth.
Tertia, I didn't realise that goldfinch went for the dandelion seedheads. I thought there was a lack of goldfinches (and most other birds) this year. I was trying to control the dandelion production. I'll have to have a re-think.
Bye for now
Ernie

I was going to post this very same question! I am looking for ideas for a hedge on 2 sides of my small front lawn. One side is along the neighbour's path and the other along the pavement. The garden faces north-eastish. We live in a quiet cul-de-sac but I have a problem with youngsters visiting my neighbours children who think that my garden is a public area!
As the garden is really very small, I can't let anything grow over 3' (and can anyone can recommend a shrub with sharp thorns ?????)

Dear Mrs Patsyann,
I would have suggested Berberis which is prickly. However, I presume you would prefer evergreen and I believe only the deciduous types of berberis can be kept to a manageably low height.
I reckon I could have kept the escallonias down to 3 feet for about five years. By then the kids may have grown up!
Where is everyone during the evenings, gardening!!
Les

Hi Patsyanne,

I have trained a cottoneaster up a fence and it has long ****es - quick to grow, easy to maintain and the birds love the berries. Plus it is very tough.

Angela

For a low thorny hedge I can recommend flowering quince "Crimson and Gold' which is covered in the most wonderful red flowers in early spring, and has thorns almost as good as hawthorn. Mine grows no more than 3ft 6inch high, and I have two plants in 6ft x 2ft6 section. Rather than height, the extra years add thickness, it would grow wider if I didn't trim the horizontals each year.

I cannot vouch for the performance of other colours though.