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I thought it mght be useful now spring has sprung to have an area where we could ask advice and swap tips about gardening.


We have just dug up the front with the idea of putting in a hedge to screen the bins etc.

Anyone have any tips or hints with regard to planting hedges?

Front garden is pretty sunny and dry so drought resistant hedging needed.

Mr Asset wants a regimented, nail-clipped hedge (OCD) where I want something a bit softer, possibly mixed shrubs.

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My garden is depressing me at the moment. Last summer I hurt my back and consequently the garden hasn?t received any attention since then.


I have a similar problem to you Nero. I have a long bed that runs against a fence which doesn?t get any sun at all. Whenever I plant anything in it, it grows towards the sun and out over my garden path. I need something that will thrive in the shade, fill the bed (not leaving any space for the weeds as spending ages weeding kills my back) and provide an edge to the path.


Any suggestions folks?

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If anyone wants native trees/shrubs, they sell them at the Wildlife Garden Centre. If you live in Southwark you can have one free and others cost about ?1 each.


From memory, they sell hazel, beech, ash, hawthorn, etc. These are not quick options but after a few years you could have a lovely hedge.

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I have planted loads of fruit bushes round the edges of my back and front gardens including: rasberies, goosberry, blueberry, redcurrant, blackcurrant and tay berry, strawberry grape, plum tree (dwarfing), kob nut bushes, a dwarfing apple tree and something called a family tree with apricot, nectarine and peach all grafted onto one tree, plus rhubarb and asparagus.


You can get a lot of fruit bushes and trees really cheap (and the ones I've bought seem to be ok) from Lidl and poundstretcher if you are quick. I ordered a lot of mine online last year tho from deacons nursery and keepers nursery.

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Brendan Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> My garden is depressing me at the moment. Last

> summer I hurt my back and consequently the garden

> hasn?t received any attention since then.

>

> I have a similar problem to you Nero. I have a

> long bed that runs against a fence which doesn?t

> get any sun at all. Whenever I plant anything in

> it, it grows towards the sun and out over my

> garden path. I need something that will thrive in

> the shade, fill the bed (not leaving any space for

> the weeds as spending ages weeding kills my back)

> and provide an edge to the path.

>

> Any suggestions folks?


Hi Brendan


If you're having trouble getting something started in a shady area, grow it in a sunny area first and then move it. By that time the plant will be bigger and taller and have enough leaves to get sufficient light for photosynthesis. Plants often don't need direct sun as such, just enough 'light'. Plants always bend towards the sun so just stake the middle to keep it upright.


You need a good groundcover planting to suppress the weeds and save your back. Look at things like vinca minor / vinca major (periwinkle), cotoneaster etc - should be okay in shade. Main thing if its a shady area is to get plants which are fully hardy - otherwise the damp in cold whether will kill off the plant. Most spring bulbs are ok in shade. Foxglove (digitalis) love shade and give a good show in early summer. Dwarf camellia will do well in shade (make sure its not east-facing as direct morning sun will damage flower buds).


Just a few ideas. Hope that helps.

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Asset Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I thought it mght be useful now spring has sprung

> to have an area where we could ask advice and swap

> tips about gardening.

>

> We have just dug up the front with the idea of

> putting in a hedge to screen the bins etc.

> Anyone have any tips or hints with regard to

> planting hedges?

> Front garden is pretty sunny and dry so drought

> resistant hedging needed.

> Mr Asset wants a regimented, nail-clipped hedge

> (OCD) where I want something a bit softer,

> possibly mixed shrubs.



Privet (ligustrum) looks very smart but needs regular trimming in summer. Golden ligustrum only needs trimming twice a year as is a slower grower and has a variegated look.


For a softer look, try laurel (evergreen glossy green leaves) or red robin (evergreen and lots of lovely red leaves in spring and early autumn),

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