Hedges & Screens
There had to be a major effort to get some feeling of enclosure,
and some shelter from the East Anglian cold winds. Here's the
screens & hedges planted:
Screens
- Italian Alder- Alnus cordata This is used I believe in some orchards as a
windbreak- it doesn't harbour apple-type pests, and leafs out very early. I planted
a row as an irregular line in part of the back field to see they can cope with Essex dryness-
& they're doing very well.
- European Larch- Larix decidua Very fast, soft green fuzz is pretty in spring,
rather prone to leaning.
- Hornbeam- Carpinus betulis planted in error (I was told it was a hazel). Like beech here, a bit slow to establish.
Dead leaves hanging in winter are much darker than beech.
Hedges
- Holly- Ilex aquifolium has been used to thicken old hedge suffering from
Dutch Elm disease. Slow for three years, then 'took off'.
- Beech- Fagus sylvatica Acts as 'evergreen' because the leaves are retained in winter
when used as a hedge. Lovely green foliage, esp in Spring.
- Copper Beech- Fagus sylvatica purpurea I'm trying this at the end of a pergola,
through which the normal beech hedge can be seen. Will the effect be pleasing or pathetic?
- 'Blaze'- Prunus pissardi nigra? Great hedge!. Establishes fast, white flowers in mid-March,
leafs out in late March with purple/brown foliage which hangs late. It would be slightly bare-kneed if it were a boundary hedge.
Sparse crops of cherry size plums can be used for jam, or allowed to hang until they become very sweet. Best for 'eating and spitting'
in the garden, because of the big stone & the tough skin.
- Plum, myrobalan (Cherry plum) Prunus cerasifera Without any watering, survived a very dry period in their first year- so they must
be tough.
- Scots Pine- Pinus sylvestris Planted as a hedge Feb 2000. Any comments on pruning
for 6-8 feet high hedge gratefully received.
- Hazel Corylus About 50% died because I didn't water them through a dry period in their first year.
Low hedges
- Lavender- Lavendula vera Evergreen, flowers, scent, attractive to bees & butterflies...perfect.
- Senecio 'Sunshine' Evergreen, flowers, no scent....drought-resistant...almost perfect.
© 2001-2005 ARPopiolek.
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Larches in the evening
Scots pine hedge
Blaze fruit
Lavender
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