The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Land Management => Topic started by: hafod on February 02, 2014, 09:29:52 pm

Title: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: hafod on February 02, 2014, 09:29:52 pm
So......my neighbours have had their house on the market for a while and are finding it difficult to sell. I guess understandably they are a bit nervous about us wanting to put up another polytunnel on a bit of land they sort of over look. I wondered if anyone could suggest some quick growing hedging which could provide an effective screen between us?
Alternatively if anyone who wouldn't mind a polytunnel would like to move next door to me I'll happily pass on the details ;D
Title: Re: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: shygirl on February 02, 2014, 09:49:13 pm
poplars grow really really fast though our began to snap after 5 years but it may be a quick screen whilst something more substantial establishes. our rose hedging took about 3 yrs to get to 6ft which i think is still quite quick.
Title: Re: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: MelRice on February 02, 2014, 10:28:41 pm
Have you thought about a bamboo screen... It would get high enough to hide the polytunnel but not so high as to over-shadow it.


Or you could use willow. It would grow fast and you could keep hacking it down to keep control.
Title: Re: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: HesterF on February 02, 2014, 10:32:47 pm
We've just about to plant a vineyard and have been advised to plant Italian Alder as a fast growing windbreak. Mind you, I don't think it'll be fast enough growing to hide a polytunnel this season.
Title: Re: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: shygirl on February 02, 2014, 11:10:33 pm
we planted bamboo, and although it does actually give you loads of handy bamboo canes - it can get messy looking and has to be tidied up. ours seems to be a perenial so loses its height after its trimmed or looks messy if its not trimmed.
Title: Re: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on February 03, 2014, 05:34:42 pm
If anyone has any spare bamboo that I could come and get a chunk off I'd be very grateful  :eyelashes:  I've been looking online and the prices are astronomical.
Title: Re: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: shygirl on February 03, 2014, 05:50:37 pm
we dont have anymore than we planted 5 years ago as we got the non-spreading type from Victoriana Nursery. it completely regenerates every year. but it hasnt spread at all. about 5 plants give a good supply of canes.

http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/Mammoth_Miscanthus/ (http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/Mammoth_Miscanthus/)

its in our tenants garden so it looks a mess but just needs the loose bits gathering and a good trim.
Title: Re: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: Carse Goodlifers on February 03, 2014, 07:01:50 pm
Willow too is quick growing and if woven into a screen it will root and grow.

Jerusalem artichokes grow high but obviously an 'annual' and die down over the winter.
Title: Re: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: hafod on February 03, 2014, 08:02:07 pm
very tempted with willow....
Title: Re: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: hafod on February 08, 2014, 07:27:32 pm
can anyone recommend some online suppliers??
Thanks
Title: Re: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: HesterF on February 08, 2014, 07:56:49 pm
Ours is coming from Ashridgetrees.co.uk
Title: Re: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: Brucklay on February 09, 2014, 10:59:07 am
I would vote for willow too - mainly as it's the only thing I seem to be able to grow. We put 20 odd sticks in 2 winters ago and all of them have done well dispite our dreadful weather and high winds. I will definately be planting more.
Title: Re: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: Me on February 17, 2014, 09:33:37 am
Willow is the bane of my life! Its really wet around here with lots of open ditches etc and I seem to spend my life removing Willow! 
Title: Re: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: spandit on February 17, 2014, 12:30:02 pm
If anyone has any spare bamboo that I could come and get a chunk off I'd be very grateful  :eyelashes:  I've been looking online and the prices are astronomical.

We have some but it's a bit of a drive... ;)
Title: Re: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: spandit on February 17, 2014, 12:35:44 pm
very tempted with willow....

Remember with willow that once it's in... it's there for ever. The harder you cut it, the harder it grows back. I chainsawed a neighbour's shrub/tree down to a low stump (with permission!) and within a year it was 15' tall with stems of an inch thick in places. Incredibly fast growing but you don't want it anywhere near foundations.

If that's not a problem, willow fedging is attractive, easy to do and cheap (free if you can find someone like "Me" who will let you cut the whips for them)
Title: Re: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on February 17, 2014, 12:59:49 pm
We have some but it's a bit of a drive... ;)


Surely in the spirit of TAS loveliness you'd be willing to deliver  :roflanim:
Title: Re: what to use to create a hedge for screening?
Post by: spandit on February 17, 2014, 03:56:43 pm
We have some but it's a bit of a drive... ;)


Surely in the spirit of TAS loveliness you'd be willing to deliver  :roflanim:

Absolutely. At £1 a mile, plus £40 if I have to dig it up. Plus VAT, plus admin costs, packaging, insurance. How much do you need? :)