Slimline and fast growing screening hedge?

[Poppins2016]

Can anyone recommend a slimline screening hedge that's fast growing?

The hedge would follow the line of a south facing 3 ft fence and is needed
In order to provide attractive privacy screening between gardens. I have a long, narrow garden so space is at a premium, however I hate the look of fence and/or trellis!

The hedge will need to be non toxic to children, dogs and cats.

Bump!

Hedging plants tend to be bulky shrubs. Have you thought of climbers theat would trail through wires fixed horizontally to the fence. Climbing Hydrangeas are sturdy, quite dense plants that would cover the fence.

I agree with PP in that hedging plants by their very nature tend to be more bulky. The climber up a structure is a nice idea. Otherwise the best I can think of is yew which can be easily tamed but they're slow growing at first
(Well ours are, anyway)

Dwarf bamboo?

Oh yes bamboo is beautiful. Op are you after evergreen only? Deciduous would open up many more options for you.

Eleagnus is good too but might be too bulky.

Or some of those pleached trees where the leaves are only above a certain level? Or standards/lollipop pruned type things?

Just an idea...
Then you can underplant with some pretty things.

Hmm, I thought I was after a miracle (if I'm honest, I knew I was really...).

@TheRhythmlessMan, I like the idea of standards or even espaliers (although perhaps not the right solution unless there's a fast/relatively inexpensive way of doing it?)

It doesn't have to be evergreen - I'm just after something to provide a bit of privacy during the summer months.

I'm currently toying with the idea of rustic homemade willow/hazel trellises and climbers... I don't really want to go down the shop bought route as existing shrubs which overhang the fence will require too much chopping (and we're very happy to keep them overhanging by mutual agreement with the neighbours).

How about a living willow "fedge"? You use willow whips (sticks basically) to build a fence, trellis or other structure. They then root and put out shoots/leaves. You will have to trim it every year to keep it neat. It's the right time of year to do it now.

How tall are the neighbour's shrubs that overhang the (3ft?) fence? Enough for screening? Could you have the same shrubs and blend them together?

Is it for a front garden or back garden (though not sure if it makes a hoot of difference)

@runoutofnamechanges I love the idea of a fedge, I actually just came to post to say that I was considering it! Have you tried it?

@TheRythymlessMan, it's a 3 ft fence in a back garden (typical long, narrow, garden... it's a bit of a hodge podge with some 6 ft fence and some 3 ft). I have lilac bushes on our side and a woody old 'tree' of a buddleia which I've pruned back to about 5 ft (from at least 12 ft!). I love the lilac but it makes a very bushy hedge that takes up a lot of space so I'm keen to avoid using it to supplement the hedging (but what I have will stay because it's beautiful in flower and the insects love it).
The neighbours have photinia, which is not really my cup of tea, so I'm trying to avoid that too! Again, I'm happy to allow the overhang to stay (good screening - not going to cut off my nose to spite my face!), but I don't want to add to it on my side...

P.s. I don't feel the neighbours photinia is dense or high enough (at least currently) for me. I'm aiming for about 6 ft high and fairly dense screening. I really love my neighbours, but I also love a bit of privacy and not feeling as though I'm in a goldfish bowl...

we inherited a photinia which is not really in the right place, so we have to keep it well chopped. It is a very dense bush/tree now, and because we chop it twice a year, it is always colourful, all over, so if you are able to cut it on you side, it will thicken up and keep a nice colour palette. It can easily grow tree height too. We removed one which was 15 foot high and mishapen, the one we keep under control is a tree, 10 feet at least, but bushy down to almost ground level

I've seen a couple of fedges in school gardens, they are amazing if you can get them to take.

I haven't had a fedge but our old home had a willow arbour. We didn't plant it though. It took quite a bit of trimming to maintain it looking good/fill in gaps. It looked fantastic.

I have to admit, I've only ever seen photinia at a maximum of 4-5 ft high, I had no idea it grew so tall or dense. I must have only ever seen young bushes... I've just had a Google and seen some very tall hedges!

So. Given that photinia actually makes a good/dense hedge... perhaps I should simply wait for my neighbours young hedge (currently about 4-5 ft and quite 'airy') to grow taller and fill out?! Seems silly spending money (and using up space) if I don't have to. How much does photinia grow annually in your experience, @steppemum?

If I go with the photinia option, I'll probably grow some tall perennials in the border that runs alongside. Two reasons: 1) I'm not overly keen on the shrub - too red for my liking - so I'd like to mask it a little 2) for gentle screening.
I'm thinking verbena bonariensis, fennel, etc. Cottage garden style. Any suggestions?!

Ok, if you don't like the red, don't cut it! Then you get green most of the year. (I am th eopposite, I prefer it when it is red )

It grows a lot I would have though a couple of feet in length, but also loads of thick side shoots.

Griselinia Littoralis would do the job well. It has in our garden. Has grown v well in first year. Grows fast, isn’t excessively bushy, evergreen. For a tall perennial for the border alongside, verbena is good. Ours grew HUGE in the first year of planting and really created a lovely cottage garden effect. Can somewhat overtake what’s around it though, a bit thuggish possibly, so just be aware if you’re planting it next to any other perennials.