Laurel or Leylandii?

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Laurel or Leylandii?
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Which to plant as a perimeter hedge?

Laurel

13%

[ 3 ]

Leylandii

[ 0 ]

Other

86%

[ 19 ]

Total Votes : 22

Author

Message

Gill

Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Posts: 244

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 09 7:08 pm Post subject:
I'd opt for blackthorn too.

happytechie

Joined: 24 Jan 2006
Posts: 408
Location: Surrey (at the mo.)

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 09 7:16 pm Post subject:
I'd go for escalonia, fast growing yet controllable easily, evergreen and doesn't go brown in the wind (it will deal with salt better than anything). It was lovely purple flowers and is easy to propagate. Dad used to do several hundred cuttings every autumn and sell them to house builders for a few quid each 18 months later.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 09 7:16 pm Post subject:

Well whatever we plant it has to be evergreen, if only to stop my annoying neighbour from criticizing everything I do on the veg plot, and now is the worst time of year, just when I'm trying to get stuff in.

Thanks for the advice folks. Obviousely Leylandii is out then but I am still leaning towards the laurel as we can plant other bushes in the other three hedges where we already have holly, hawthorne and sloe.

The wind isn't that big a problem. I just prefer not to feel it at this time of year whilst the sun is blazing but to no effect due to wind chill.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 09 7:20 pm Post subject:

happytechie wrote:

I'd go for escalonia, fast growing yet controllable easily, evergreen and doesn't go brown in the wind (it will deal with salt better than anything). It was lovely purple flowers and is easy to propagate. Dad used to do several hundred cuttings every autumn and sell them to house builders for a few quid each 18 months later.

Ah, now that might be an option. Seems to fit all the criteria. Now to find out if we can get it here. I'd love something I can easily take cuttings from as I plan to 'hedge us in' eventually.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 09 7:24 pm Post subject:
As has been suggested some berberis and bay laurel are evergreen and, once established, seem to rocket away. Berberis can be very prickerly keeping people out and providing places for birds to nest and bay is edible, smells nice and can grow into trees if left.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45704
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 09 7:27 pm Post subject:
Elaeagnus? (N fixer, fragrant flowers)

pricey

Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Posts: 6444

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 09 7:40 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

bay laurel are evergreen and, once established, seem to rocket away. and bay is edible, smells nice and can grow into trees if left.

In Madeira I have seen laurel trees 60 ft +, we send the kids up to pick the leaves and bring bags of it home with us.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 09 7:48 pm Post subject:

pricey wrote:

Treacodactyl wrote:

bay laurel are evergreen and, once established, seem to rocket away. and bay is edible, smells nice and can grow into trees if left.

In Madeira I have seen laurel trees 60 ft +, we send the kids up to pick the leaves and bring bags of it home with us.

Probably a bit shorter in this country but I've seen a few nice looking trees, some I've walked past for ages before realising they were bay. It does really well in our poor soil and I regret not planting a decent hedge when we moved in, I will do when we next move.

Occasionally you can pick up pots which are basically a load of bay seeds germinated. For a few quid you can slit them up and have 10 - 20 plants. Some people also find it takes easily from cuttings.

pricey

Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Posts: 6444

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 09 8:08 pm Post subject:
Just a thought Simon but I seem to remember a Laurel tree at your mate the barbers house over the gate i think, if not ask Spazza he must have some on the farm, cuttings are free

Dekk

Joined: 21 Feb 2009
Posts: 48
Location: somewhere between raising hell and amazing grace

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 09 8:53 pm Post subject:
Please don't use either of them. they are probably the worst things in the world ever. I regularly have to remove both when they have got out of hand. go for something edible/ native a nice mixed hedge of hawthorn, beech, blackthorn, hazel, dog rose, flowering cherry, with some nice climbers like honeysuckle running through it would be my choice. add some elder if you don't mind a few high spots.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 09 8:58 pm Post subject:

Dekk wrote:

Please don't use either of them. they are probably the worst things in the world ever. I regularly have to remove both when they have got out of hand. go for something edible/ native a nice mixed hedge of hawthorn, beech, blackthorn, hazel, dog rose, flowering cherry, with some nice climbers like honeysuckle running through it would be my choice. add some elder if you don't mind a few high spots.

bodrighy

Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 2159
Location: Near Devizes

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 09 10:03 pm Post subject:
Blackthorn and / or hawthorn with wild rose and / or honeysuckle makes a fantastic hedge. Though it isn't evergreen it can get thick enough to be difficult to see through. Also pretty quick growing and natural with lovely flowers, fruit and scent pete

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 09 10:08 pm Post subject:
Blackthorn is the work of the devil, I'm amazed it has come up as an alternative to leylandii as being easier to keep in check- at least leylandii only shoots upwards.

bodrighy

Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 2159
Location: Near Devizes

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 09 10:14 pm Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

Blackthorn is the work of the devil, I'm amazed it has come up as an alternative to leylandii as being easier to keep in check- at least leylandii only shoots upwards.

Blackthorn is only a pain (literally at times) when it is left to do it's own thing. We have 20 foot example of this between us and the road. As a hedge though it is ideal and can be trained and layed just like hawthorn. Added to this is the fact that you get sloes and things will grow under and around it. Also the wildlife likes it. Never seen a bird in a Leylandii tree yet.

Pete

pricey

Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Posts: 6444

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 09 11:47 pm Post subject:

Dekk wrote:

Please don't use either of them. they are probably the worst things in the world ever

How can a herb be the worst thing in the world

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