Even the wet patches have been really dry this year, the bits that were squelchy when you were here were rock soild before it rained.
Bummer, that'll have done them no good at all.
I could be tempted by a solitaty American elder in a hedge somewhere. If you've just got the one then it shouldn't get pollinated and you'll have elderflowers all summer.
Berberis is pretty, and spiky, but is it any use for anything?
Sea buckthorn is surprisingly tough, might that survive your dry soils?
judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 22789 Location: Montgomeryshire
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 06 1:18 pm Post subject:
tahir wrote:
What about berberis?
I've seen some gorgeous berberis hedges - if you plant a good mix, you could have wonderful colour all year-round. Or even a colourwash effect if you plant blocks of different varieties.
Sea buckthorn is surprisingly tough, might that survive your dry soils?
There's another buckthorn (can't remember the name) which we'll be using with hazel to compartmentalise the plantings, has edible berries, extremely high in vit C and N fixer.
Prickly dense fast growing evergreen hedge with masses of golden yellow flowers on graceful arching branches April to May followed by small edible blue barberries in autumn. Shade tolerant."
judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 22789 Location: Montgomeryshire
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 06 1:30 pm Post subject:
tahir wrote:
"BERBERIS STENOPHYLLA
Not my favourite - I prefer the deciduous varieties - but pretty fast-growing and darned prickly.
Semi-evergreen fast growing dense hedge with medium sized leaves and clusters of creamy-white flowers in July, attractive to insects. Shade tolerant. An asset to wildlife with the flowers in July and long bunches of shining black fruits in winter, attractive to birds. In cold winters it will lose its leaves"
judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 22789 Location: Montgomeryshire
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 06 1:57 pm Post subject:
tahir wrote:
"PRIVET, WILD (Ligustrum vulgare).
Semi-evergreen fast growing dense hedge with medium sized leaves and clusters of creamy-white flowers in July, attractive to insects. Shade tolerant. An asset to wildlife with the flowers in July and long bunches of shining black fruits in winter, attractive to birds. In cold winters it will lose its leaves"
That would be nice as long as you don't have a plague of stick insects!
judith
Joined: 16 Dec 2004 Posts: 22789 Location: Montgomeryshire
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 06 2:21 pm Post subject:
I think it is berberis thunbergii that I'm thinking of, but a green cultivar, not the 'atropurpurea' (too purple) or 'aurea' (too yellowy).
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