Narrow screening plants?

[Caran07]

We currently have a small hedge in a very narrow strip, less than 50cms wide. It runs along part of the front of our house, between the pavement and our path. The hedge was there when we moved in and we love the privacy, but the plants are too large and are now lifting the stones.

Is there something we could replace this with? Perhaps something evergreen? There's no sense in pulling up plants, replanting, and relaying stones if they will get too large again. Since it is the front of the house we'd like to take care that it looks nice. Front of the house is south facing.

I thought about bamboo but thought maybe it wouldn't look nice in front of the house?

Thank you for the tip on root bags however! Fairly clueless about gardening and landscaping.

Are you allowed to put in wires that would support climbing plants?

What is growing there at present ? Could you reduce what is there ?

@Trethew one of the neighbours said that no one is supposed to plant up their front garden but most people have something. Some have trees! So basically I’m not sure any of it is allowed, we can clearly push the envelope a bit, but I’m not sure I’d want to put up any structures/fences, that sort of thing.

@peridito there are three different plants but the only one I know is the Photinia in the middle. One of the others stays green in the winter, the other loses its leaves. I’ll see if I can find a photo to post.

I’ve tried to cut them down but they seem to grow so quickly. If the roots are established, will it be difficult to redo the paving stones and make them level? I assumed we’d have to take them all up.

i.imgur.com/cOzU6Mf.jpg

It’s a poor quality pic for various reasons but should give you an idea of what’s currently there. We’ve planted some roses and salvia to the left of the hedge, haven’t decided what else to do on that side of the house.

I would either go with a spalier tree (lots of fruit trees available like that)
or climbers on a chicken wire frame (almost invisible).
some clematis are evergreen.

Good old Box is slow growing and very neat looking

This place will give you lots of ideas for traditional hedging.

Hedges