[laurelrus]

I'm not sure whether this is the right place to ask about this so apologies if I should have put it in a different section.

Our land is all clearly visible from the road which goes out through the village. Every car that drives past has a clear view of our paddocks and the goats and donkeys and any equipment we invest in.

We've planted a hedge along the whole length of our field so in 5-8 years we should have some screening!

In the meantime we'd really like to have some screening for security purposes.  So we're looking into buying mature hedging but that's probably going to be very expensive and I wonder if there's a cheaper alternative like the windbreak screening around tennis courts or similar and whether we'd be allowed to put that up on agricultural land?

Thanks very much

[Penninehillbilly]

Just a couple of thoughts.
What distance and what have you planted?
You can still see through the  green screening, black is slightly better.
Leylandif has a bad reputation, but i remember a GQT member calling it a good servant but poor master, kept under control it's brilliant, needs cutting once a year for us. Could make a quick screen and then take out as original grows?
I've just planted bamboo between my field which is overlooked by farm track,  pseudosasa i think, evergreen, grows to about 4m, clump forming in GB ratner than spreader. I'll use any surplus growth as fodder in winter.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Have you tried a fast growing variety, making sure its safe for animals too though. We have damson trees screening one of our fields and then get fruit off them, they grow quite tall in about 3-4 years and are fruiting by then too. When you cut the damsons back they get very bushy and tend to produce more. Has anyone tried elderflower at all before or is it to slow growing?

[stufe35]

I'd suggest putting muck along the base of your new hedge plants.  We did it last year mainly as we had a free source , to keep down the weeds.  The bonus we noticed was the hawthorn headed skyward at a far greater rate than we have been used to. 

[shygirl]

poplar grows really quick and should provide cover if planted in double rows, close as a hedge. it can then be kept tall or thinned or cut harshly to produce multiple hedge-like shoots.
I got poplar hybrids and they were 6ft within a year. resilient even if chewed or broken in the winds, as it just reshoots.

[laurelrus]

Thank you for all the suggestions. Stufe35 we'll definitely put muck along the new hedge!
Shygirl - 6ft in the first year is exactly what we need, I'll have a look at getting Poplar!

[Penninehillbilly]

Thank you for all the suggestions. Stufe35 we'll definitely put muck along the new hedge!
Shygirl - 6ft in the first year is exactly what we need, I'll have a look at getting Poplar!

But not evergreen? You'd be able to see through it in winter?

[laurelrus]

ohhh... That's a very good point Penninehillbilly. I really want screening all year round.

[Marches Farmer]

You could plant a double hedge - poplar for quick growth and perhaps holly for long-term screening - it grows quicker than you'd think. 

[Penninehillbilly]

Holly is great, once it gets going it does grow faster that expected, great for wildlife too, gives little birds a safe nesting site. Could end up selling for winter decorations (when there is plenty left for the birdies) 

[laurelrus]

Thanks Penninehillbilly - I'm going to a nursery at the end of the week that specialises in hedging plants to get their input as well. I've made a list of the suggestions I've received here to take with me