Hedging City Garden

Avvy23

I have recently moved into a new house where the outside perimeter and boundary is far too exposed. I am hoping to install a hedge to act as a privacy screen. Ideally I need something evergreen, dense and that grows relatively quickly. There is a significant amount of Griselinia in the area (which I quite like) but I am unsure at the rate of growth of Griselinia. I have looked online extensively and whilst been offered a growth rate 30cm a year I am unsure how long would it take to establish into a hedge of some density. Has anyone planted Griselinia and can advise on this? I also would love to hear some real life experience of someone who has planted Griselinia from bare root and how long it took to establish.

Most nurseries I have asked have advised that I plant Laurel as it fast growing. I have seen some dire Laurel hedges around where they are full of holes, look raggety and generally unkempt. Is this due to poor maintenance? I am apprehensive about Laurel as I do not want to pruning a hedge 4 times a year further down the line. Due to the need for screeening/privacy a deciduous hedge does not appear to be an option for us.

Sconsey

I planted Laurel, for the same reasons as you, a few years back. Where it took hold it grew fairly fast. If I was doing it again I would not go with Laurel. I am not much of a gardener and I am struggling with bare patches on the hedge now and I need to try to prune it back in the hope of filling in the gaps. I avoided griselina at the time but I think in hindsight that might have been a better choice for me. I notice a few neighbors have had box hedges for years and they seem fairly low maintenance and a good privacy screen, dont know why i did not consider them at the time.

Avvy23

Thank you! Can you remember how long it took to take hold? Any reason in particular you avoided Griselinia?

Sconsey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122581295#Comment_122581295

Not long, I bought them about two or three feet tall from the nursery. Planted in Autumn I think and within about two or three years they were more than twice the height. I watered them a lot the first year or two. Within three years I had a decent hedge, four or five years I had a big hedge, but now it is getting scraggy. I need to prune it more often to control growth.

The only reason I avoided Griselina, that I can remember, is that we had a severe frost back in 2010 I think it was, all the Griselina hedges in my area died, including some that were very well established. I was hoping the Laurel would be a bit more hardy. Box hedges survived that freeze too.

Poulgorm

Consider a bayleaf hedge. Dense, evergreen, impenetrable. No gaps. Dark green leaves. No thorns. Trim it once a year.

ttnov77

native privet works well in city garden and its great for wildlife, you can mix in other species depending on your preference, I always try to mix different types to maximize support for wildlife and interest for customer when I`m designing/doing garden landscaping jobs- pyracantha, yew, holly are also great evergreen options. You might want to inter-plant with some small trees to improve privacy when overlooked too.