As a few of you know, a new fence will be going up at the back of our garden due to the old one being vandalised and darn near pulled right off (all of it!) Just waiting for the weather to break a bit more as OH wants to put in new posts and a new back gate.
I would very much appreciate some advice and suggestions on the following:
Once the fence is up I'd like to plant a BIG prickly, spikey, thorny, aggressive bush growing up the fence and possibly growing just slightly over the top (hoping to get by the 'no higher than 6ft' fence law by adding a bigger base for it to sit on - and maybe even some little trellis on top, hehe) So am looking for something that will eventually grow to no less than 6ft but hopefully higher. It would also be good if it's something I can charge at with pruners/shears when it gets too unruly widthways - but that isn't essential.
There are various bushes and trees planted on the other side of our garden fence so I'm hoping that having bushes either side will deter both vandals (especially the thorns, snigger snigger snigger (http://bestsmileys.com/happy/7.gif)) and cats.
Thanks for your help.
Oh, must just add that the soil is quite clay like but we can work on that and the back of the garden doesn't get much sun at all.
Hi
Try http://www.hedging.co.uk/
They do all sorts of hedging including edible hedging
Mixed Edible Hedging The basic hedge is 20 plants for a 30ft hedge (9m) and will consist of 5 Rugosa Rose and 5 Blackthorn with the balance made up from 2 Amelanchier, 2 Cornelian Cherry, 2 Hazel, 2 Myrobalan Plum and 2 Quickthorn, all 2-3ft (60-90cm) transplants exept Myrobalan Plum which will be 2-3ft (60-90cm) seedlings. This will be an attractive hedge with flower, fruit and some good autumn colouring and will be suitable for hedges 4-6ft (120-180cm) high.
Min order 20 plants @ .99 pence each
but thats just an extract they have loads you can mix and match.
Cambourne7
hawthorn or holly might work for you. my mum has both in her garden with clay soil and they've thrived. the hawthorn is a bird-seeded plant that is growing at the base of a huge ash tree so in complete shade with very little soil to grow in but it's fine. the holly has grown into a beautiful quite compact goblet shape and is always smothered in berries every winter which the birds love. I think hawthorn is traditionally used to keep stock in, good for wildlife too, and having pruned our hawthorn hedge at home I can vouch for just how prickly it is! both would need pruning to stop them from getting too tall.
Pyracantha? I have the scars to prove the spikes! :o ;) ;D (mine was growing in clay too! And the birds love the red berries, tho not so keen on the yellow ones, they are the last to go :-\ )
This may be of interest,
http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/plants/pyracantha/1003352/ (http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/plants/pyracantha/1003352/)
Pyracantha is great. You can grow it tall and thin with careful pruning.
what about eleagnus?
QuoteAt a time of year when gardens are crying out for scent, elaeagnus produces clouds of sweet fragrance to rival the best rose, and for that alone it should be revered. It is little known that the silver-dusted red berries that follow in late spring are edible and very sweet. Elaeagnus has the added attribute of being able to fix nitrogen in the soil and is thus able to feed itself; it is also wind-and salt-tolerant and quite thorny. If you want an evergreen burglar-proof hedge with scent and edible fruit, this is the one for you. There are several other elaeagnus options with similar traits: E glabra has smaller leaves and bears more fruit, while E pungens ‘Variegata’ has yellow variegated leaves.
Another vote for Pyracantha ;D
Berberis?
http://www.victoriana.ws/Product.asp?PID=562
we're getting some of these for around the new fence on the allotments, I like the idea of a growing barbed wire fence :)
'Himalayan Giant' blackberries?
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on January 08, 2007, 20:50:47
'Himalayan Giant' blackberries?
Thoughts of Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby suddenly sprung to mind ... :)
Briars are an EXCELLENT barrier and the fruit is a bonus of course (gorgeous with icecream ... mmm)
Looking at people's suggestions, hawthorn and pyracantha are also popular with birds, and I can't resit adding that you would be able to make sloe gin with the blackthorn! We have all those and they would do the job I am sure. T.
Like the idea of blackthorn where would ya get that from
Gotta be pyracantha! Beautiful evergreen leaves; honey-scented flowers; glorious winter berries; big, vandal-proof, brutal spikes. Birds nest in it - (safe from felines!) - and scoff the berries. Not fussy (in my garden, at least) as to aspect or soil. Easily kept within height/width bounds with shears/secateurs. Bog standard 'Orange Glow' best all round in my opinion. (Prickly cuttings useful for keeping slugs/snails/cats off seedlings too!) It's a must-have! (But don't forget the Elastoplast ;))
I use berberis & have the scars to prove it!
I like the rosa because I can use the hips in autumn :)
Many thanks to all of the suggestions, I really do appreciate it.
After reading all of the posts I was torn between Hawthorn and Pyracantha but I think I have decided on the latter. Was also suggested by my mum (Rosebud) and dad. Ah, if only my garden could look like theirs <sigh>
With the bushes and little trees the local council have planted on the other side of our fence, having a Pyracantha should go just right. I like the idea of the berries and the colour. Obviously like the idea of some nasty prickles plus being able to prune it easily (I do tend to brutalise a bit when it comes to pruning, hehe) and it's a plus that the wildlife will be attracted to it as well. Let's just hope that our son doesn't forget his front door key one day and try to get over the back fence instead!!
Quote from: Grandma on January 09, 2007, 12:07:10
Gotta be pyracantha! Birds nest in it - (safe from felines!) - and scoff the berries.
Eeeek, really? With all of those spikes? I'd be running out there every day to add some cotton wool! ;D
Many thanks again, everybody :)
I have today pruned my pyracantha so that the window people can put the new window in without getting too prickled so I think it will do the job for you. We have a blackbird who loves ours and enjoys the berries. Depending on what colour berries you go for they last longer, ours is orange and still has a few left. :)
and if the yobs kick their ball against your fence it will eat it.....ppsssssssssssss...
they won't try it twice!
;D
Poncirus trifoliata is very very spiny, has nice little leaves and scented white flowers (it's a citrus) and reportedly tiny oranges that can be made into something sugary (very bitter). There's a beautiful one in Cambridge Botanical Garden, a vison when in flower. Mine is vicious, and not yet flowering well.