What kind of hedging for front of house?
Next week contractors are digging up the concrete in our front garden, putting in my dream quarry tiled path and graveling the rest of the space except for the front border. We're taking current plants out (including the very fast growing rowan tree which we're replacing with a much smaller magnolia tree).
I still want to have some green and privacy for the front as we're on a main road, so a hedge makes a lot of sense to me but I'm not sure which type. I like that classic hedging style with very densely packed, tiny leaves that can be pruned to a neat shape.
Box/boxwood is the look I'm going for I think, but is it true it's very slow growing? I don't want it to be many years before I get it to a decent height over the front wall.
I like the look of privet too and I've been told it's much faster growing but I lived next door to someone who planted what I think was privet before and I remember having to keep my windows shut nearly all summer because it seemed to have a horrible smell (like cat pee or something?)
Are there any other little small-leaf evergreen hedge options that can be pruned neatly? Any hedging aficionados here that could help me? The front is south-east facing if that matters.
Thanks in advance :)
Comments (7)
hopingforsunshine
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Need inspiration for the front of my house and driveway!
Comments (43)This is a handsome house. First...symmetry. Can you make the front pillars the same height. I would lower the LH one to match RH. A strong iron railing along the LH side and in the small front piece LH. Keep front door a strong colour....dark green/blue, navy, whatever, and paint the iron railigs the same colout. Avoid lots of small pots...messy and lots to water. You could i) have a narrow raised bed along the RH wall between you and the next property planted with a mix of small evergreen shrubs and trailing plants..small Choysia Ternata, etc., There is a trailing euphorbia (Amagloides ?) which is sculptural but relaxed. ii) Acquire or have built two or three large tree pots. When they are empty, position them in various places, with bamboo canes, to see where they would work best, and how many you want. I would suggest something deciduous with autumn colour and blossom, like a prunus autumnalis; a crab apple; a quince on dwarf stock; a columnar flowering cherry,Prunus Amanogawa....the choice is huge. Avoid cottagey annuals and too much patchy, mixed planting. I would keep pots square, in harmony with the raised bed. This house is formal and urban. Keeo it elegant and with strong lines broken by the foliage and trailers. I needs beauty, not prettiness. cheers...See MoreWhat colour should I paint my front door and garage - 1930s House
Comments (43)I think your instinct is spot on - the grey does not go with your lovely house at all! You said yourself, 'the grey craze', why follow the herd? Perhaps you should question why you want a 'contemporary colour' instead of one of the many choices which will enhance your beautiful period house. You don't see lovely pink Suffolk cottages, or the black and white half timbered houses characteristic of some areas daubed with grey because it's the latest fad....See Morereplacing hedge with .... at front of house.
Comments (10)It’s a leylandi hedge that is at the end of its life. The plants only grow at the tips and the inside is old dead wood. It is becoming wider as it appears to already have had a crown reduction so the side tips are currently the active area of growth. You have tried to reduce the width by cutting the sides hard back but the dead Underwood is now visible. This area will not regrow. The hedge does give you a good screening from the other properties around and it will be a big change removing it. However the hedge is not going to improve by further pruning so removing it will inevitably have to be done. You need to decide how much screening you wish to have when it’s gone. A fence would provide some and with layered planting in your front garden you could create a far more attractive screen. Go for it!...See Morewhat kind of new windows 1930 house?
Comments (43)Mu previous property was a 1930s house and we had good quality upvc installed which were leaded but no stain glass. Was a good compromise to keep in character of the original ones that we had to replace and practicality...See More
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