Anyone got a flower bed next to a laurel hedge?

[FrancisofAss]

Just that really! Our garden is bordered by a laurel hedge. I’d like to establish a bed next to the hedge but am not sure if the laurels will have roots that make it impossible?
Thanks.

Laurels grow fast and block light, can you prune it down?
I grow clematis through mine, cutting the hedge at clematis pruning time.

I love the clematis idea! Nothing I can do with the hedge as it is my neighbour’s

Which side of the hedge will your border be? You have more options if it’s the sunny side, but the hedge will take nutrients and water from the soil. Could you use containers?

Garden is south facing and the hedge is on the west side (left hand side as you are looking out of the door at the garden).

I have a border next to a laurel hedge...it's quite big ...I didn't put it in.....hedge faces south as does garden....rambling rose through hedge....border is full of Japanese anemone and tall summer flowers...verbena foxglove...iris...things still seed in it and grow every year...including plenty of weeds!!!!...dig down and then get plenty of topsoil and manure to raise it up a bit and allow things to seed....poppies foxglove etc have shallow roots and reseed in loose soil...