Fast growing, prickly deterrent hedge?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by chunkylumber111, Sep 14, 2011.

  1. chunkylumber111

    chunkylumber111 Apprentice Gardener

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    Hello

    Could anyone please give any recommendations as to a fast growing, prickly hedge with a dense year-round foliage? I need one that is going to grow quickly and spread if possible, to around 3m+ in height. The soil is quite thin and the area is fairly shaded so it will have to be something hardy that will not require any maintenance.

    Thanks
     
  2. gcc3663

    gcc3663 Knackered Grandad trying to keep up with a 4yr old

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    Try Bramble & Gooseberry. Height may be an issue.

    You can also eat the results - unless the Burglars, not being able to get in, nick the fruit for spite.
     
  3. Spruce

    Spruce Glad to be back .....

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    Probably a fence is what you after :thumb:

    Holly comes to mind but very slow growing which is evergreen but £££ expensive , hawthorn is cheep quick to grow and prickly but not evergreen but all hedges take at least 3 years to settle in before they look good .
    You have mentioned shaded what from ?? house trees ???

    plus you will need to sort the soil out as well as a hedge will be there for years so you would need to improve the soil with compost etc .....

    All hedges need looking after

    Anyway welcome to the forum, others may sugets other plants you could grow

    Spruce
     
  4. *dim*

    *dim* Head Gardener

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    I'd go for bamboo .... not pricky, but hardy and will reach the height in 1 season, will never need pruning if you choose one that grows 3m high ... is evergreen and looks very good all year round ... choose a non invasive one that grows in clumps, and read up about how to plant etc ... there are bamboo forums explaining how to plant and what to plant etc ... herewith an example

    Fargesia robusta

    on a sideline, bear in mind that if you grow a hedge higher that 2m, and your neighbour complains, you will be forced by law to trim it back to 2m at your own cost
     
  5. HarryS

    HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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    For prickly hedges I would suggest Berberis or Pyracanthus , though they are not particularly quick growing. You need to consider the length of your hedge and the cost you are willing to pay. There are hedging plant companies ,if you google , who will supply hedging shrubs in large numbers. This site below will give you a start :thumbsup:

    Unsure of What Hedge You Would Like : ShrubsDirect.com
     
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    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      I dont think its possible to get a hedge that grows quickly to 3 m high but requires no maintenance.
      If its not maintained its not a hedge, its a row of trees.:)
       
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      • *dim*

        *dim* Head Gardener

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        or bamboo

        :)
         
      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        Cant see it reaching 3 m quickly unless you start with large plants.

        And I think I could just walk through a bamboo "hedge" for its first three years at least.:)
         
      • ARMANDII

        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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        I agree with Harry, Pyracantha is evergreen, gives red, orange, or yellow berries at the end of the year, it'll grow to 12' easily, likes shade, poor soil, isn't all that slow once it's getting away. It's dense in habit, thorny and only a Rhino would contemplate going through it.
         
      • Boghopper

        Boghopper Gardener

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        I've been cutting a client's Pyracanthus today that grows along the side of the house and I can confirm that it's very spikey and grows fast. It's put on at least a foot since the spring.
         
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        • *dim*

          *dim* Head Gardener

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          takes 3-4 years (or longer) to get 6 foot high when you plant a small young one
           
        • clueless1

          clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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          I think if it was me doing this, I'd go for a mixed hedged, with fast growing stuff to get the height quickly, mixed with thorny stuff to be the deterrent, and some evergreens for the year round interest.

          My dad is a fan of willow "fedges", a cross between a fence and a hedge made from willow poles shoved into the ground that then readily root and grow. There are hybrid ones readily available (just google "willow fegde") that can gain 6ft in a single year.

          I'd chuck some wild roses in there too, just because there is nothing more fearsome than the thorns of wild roses. Hawthorn and Blackthorn have longer thorns than roses, but roses have the nasty hooked thorns that you barely feel go in, until you pull away and they try to skin you alive.
           
        • Madahhlia

          Madahhlia Total Gardener

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          My pyracanthas were slow to get going but now are absolutely rampant and need about 2' cut off each year. They are not pleasant to prune, either. Otherwise i'd say that's your best bet.
           
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          • *dim*

            *dim* Head Gardener

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            http://www.stockphotography.co.uk/Upload/Stock/Watermarked/24396.jpg

            barbed wire fence .... to the height you want .... cheap and can be erected in a day

            a few climbing roses ... and you have security, pretty flowers and thorns ... if you still have problems ... a couple of rottweilers for extra measure

            don't laugh .... this is what is done in south africa .... but they also include electric fence, and cctv
             
          • Jack McHammocklashing

            Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

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            Not forgetting the airosol hairspray can and ciggarette lighter

            Jack McH
             
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