Best hedge

[Iknowtheanswer]

We have a small area behind a small formal pond, next to a fence which needs a hedge. It's a couple of meters across, but could grow up to 6 foot without a problem.

We were originally thinking of yew, but I'm wondering if that will be okay near a pond?

Quick browse around the garden centre today, and we saw some Euonymus japonicus plants that looked interesting.

Amy thoughts? Must be evergreen, not laurel.

Euonymus are a lovely bright colour, particularly through the winter. I also think the yellow & white varieties work well together if you want a more mixed hedging effect. They are not v fast growing, and I don't know if you'd get 6 ft? (We're in Scotland, maybe they are more rampant down south...)

Holly, particularly a variegated one? Birds love the berries.

Beech hedging is good for year-round colour despite being deciduous, as it keeps the brown autumn leaves right through to the spring. But, you would need good access for pruning. On similar lines, dogwood also deciduous but colours are lovely through the winter.

I have just put in some Portuguese laurel hedging, which has much smaller leaves than the normal kind.

What's the objection to laurel?

You could consider escallonia?

The only problem I have with laurel is that we already have a lot of laurel hedging in other areas, and I wanted something different. We also have a beech hedge in a different part of the plot.

It's not a big space, it's just to cover up an unsightly fence, but our neighbour (her fence) doesn't want us growing anything up the fence. Our wisteria (previous owner) destroyed the previous fence so understandable!

I am actually thinking back to yew. The only worry I had was whether it would be okay near a pond? We don't have any pets etc.

How close is the hedge to the pond? The risk is bits of hedge falling into the pond, esp when you trim it..

It's fairly close - not overhanging, but just behind it..

I cannot recommend cotoneaster highly enough. It grows into a dense, solid hedge which can be cut into a tidy rectangle if you so desire and makes a great nesting place for birds. It also flowers in late spring / summer and is smothered in tiny pinky white flowers which the bees and insects love followed by orangey red berries in autumn / winter which feed winter birds.

All round star

The perceived wisdom is that yew trees and ponds dont mix -that the toxicity of the yew can make the pond 'bad'. How true this is, I've no idea! But if you have the pond for wildlife, perhaps avoid yew?

Looks interesting. Would it have to climb up the fence though?

Yes, that's what I was wondering about yew. Don't think I'm comfortable with it, even if it might look best.

Try a mixed U.K. native hedge

https://www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/acatalog/mixednativeehedgingrange.html

@Iknowtheanswer

Looks interesting. Would it have to climb up the fence though?

Are you asking me? My cotoneaster hedge is freestanding (well there's a wall at the base of it on one side but I don't think it's a requirement)

@itwa The OP said evergreen, so a deciduous hedge would be no good.

If you like euonymus, eleagnus ebbingei might be another option.

Which cotoneaster do you have Clymene? Lacteus? Franchetii?

Well my favourite would be Quercus Ilex - an evergreen mediterranean fluffy oak. Very much similar in appearance to yew when well trimmed but can be informal and fluffy too. Can vary in colour from silvery, dark green and bright green depending on the time of year and position.

Not a cheap option

@MrsBertBibby

Which cotoneaster do you have Clymene? Lacteus? Franchetii?

Franchettii

I love a common holly if you don’t want beech as you have it elsewhere.