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

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Message

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 09 8:53 am Post subject:

Evergreen limits your options a bit. Berberris, elaeagnus, cherry laurel... They're all good. I'd be tempted to stick in some specimens of rosa rugosa too.

I remember seeing the prettiest little trimmed hedge of holm oak somewhere. Its also evergreen, but I should think that it could get monstrous if not controlled.

Yew is very slow growing, but forms a lovely evergreen hedge. Ain't otherwise the most useful plant.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

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

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 09 9:26 am Post subject:

pricey wrote:

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

I assume he means the non-bay laurels, the ones with the larger lighter green leaves that can often get out of hand and need radical treatment.

I'd also be careful of yew if there's animals about.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 09 9:27 am Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

I'd also be careful of yew if there's animals about.

I've often heard that mentioned, but I've not personally encountered it being a problem. Is it something that frequently occurs?

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 09 10:37 am Post subject:

Bodrighy wrote:

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.

Ditto leylandii & laurel though, blackthorn is high maintenance if it is to be kept on top of, whereas hawthorn/quickthorn is much easier to manage (and lay) even after years of neglect.

Bodrighy

Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 2157
Location: Near Devizes

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 2:07 am Post subject:

cab wrote:

Yew is very slow growing, but forms a lovely evergreen hedge. Ain't otherwise the most useful plant.

Except for woodturning. It has a gorgeous grain with a distinct colour change between the sapwood and the heartwood.

Pete

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 10:50 am Post subject:

Bodrighy wrote:

cab wrote:

Yew is very slow growing, but forms a lovely evergreen hedge. Ain't otherwise the most useful plant.

Except for woodturning. It has a gorgeous grain with a distinct colour change between the sapwood and the heartwood.

Also very useful in some kind of heart medication (but don't try it at home kids).

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

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

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 10:58 am Post subject:

Hairyloon wrote:

Bodrighy wrote:

cab wrote:

Yew is very slow growing, but forms a lovely evergreen hedge. Ain't otherwise the most useful plant.

Except for woodturning. It has a gorgeous grain with a distinct colour change between the sapwood and the heartwood.

Also very useful in some kind of heart medication (but don't try it at home kids).

And bow making. Yew has quite a few uses: https://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Taxus+baccata

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 11:05 am Post subject:
All true, but you're not likely to do any of that with your hedge.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

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

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 11:15 am Post subject:
I would. I've got several pieces from a yew in my hedge seasoning for some future projects. Routine pruning could well produce some nicely figured wood for future use.

mbeirnes

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 100

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 12:24 pm Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

Bodrighy wrote:

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.

Ditto leylandii & laurel though, blackthorn is high maintenance if it is to be kept on top of, whereas hawthorn/quickthorn is much easier to manage (and lay) even after years of neglect.

Was thinking of the sloes

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 6:53 pm Post subject:
Our neighbour ( a champion hedgelayer) loves blackthorn. It's prettywell stock proof. Alright, you have to wrestle with when you're laying it, but it makes a terrific hedge.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 6:54 pm Post subject:
I'll soon sicken him of it

earthyvirgo

Joined: 24 Aug 2007
Posts: 7972
Location: creating prints in the loft, Gerlan

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 09 7:47 pm Post subject:

mochyn wrote:

Our neighbour ( a champion hedgelayer) loves blackthorn. It's prettywell stock proof. Alright, you have to wrestle with when you're laying it, but it makes a terrific hedge.

... and at the moment the hedges are looking absolutely beautiful around here. I love the clouds of white blossom.

It's a stunning looking flower close up too, always reminds me of intricate, delicate Chinese watercolours.

EV

mbeirnes

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 100

Posted: Fri Mar 27, 09 4:44 pm Post subject:

Hairyloon wrote:

quote]
Also very useful in some kind of heart medication (but don't try it at home kids).

And there was me mis reading this as :
Try it at home ON the kids
You could get in so much trouble

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46211
Location: yes

Posted: Fri Mar 27, 09 4:53 pm Post subject:
birch oak ash ,mixed prunus species ,hazel a broadish band might work on a north aspect to form a good wind shield in a few years

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