Can you plant a hedge against an existing fence?

[DaisyHayes]

Total novice here, so am prepared to be told what a fool I am!

Our property boundry is currently a fence but we would like greater privacy.

I'd really like Laylandii (fast growing, I think) but don't want the hassle of removing the fence. Would it be possible to plant pot-grown plants against the fence (the loss in land would be on our side rather than neighbours)? Or would this kill it?

Thank you!

[inmysparetime]

Be aware that leylandii grows very fast and while this is good initially, you need to keep it clipped or it will get unmanageably tall very quickly.
How about a hawthorn hedge, or beech, or Hazel, these would attract native wildlife. Being near a fence is not necessarily a problem, unless the sun never gets to your side, and as long as the concrete footings of fence posts are not too huge.

[EauRouge]

I'm growing a hedge against one of my fences, it is a mixed hedge with hawthorn, blackthorn and holly- great for wildlife and low maintenance!

If you do grow a leylandii hedge then not only do you have to clip it very often to avoid brown patches, you will also find it tricky to grow things underneath it. My neighbour had a leylandii hedge and it sucked up everything in the ground, the edge of our lawn was always brown. We were so glad when they got rid of it.

[ajuba]

Can any of these be grown in pots though alongside a fence? or would they eventually need to be planted in the ground? what about bamboo?

[inmysparetime]

Your best bet would be to create a raised bed along the fence line, as this would allow the roots to interlace and make the hedge more resistant to wind damage.