Which hedge to choose?

[Talkingtocamels]

We have just moved house. On one side of the garden there is a wall (ours) -the outside boundary- then a mismash of a hedge then a sheep wire fence- presumably to keep the previous owners dog in. We want to remove the sheep wire and replace the hedge.
im thinking beech but am worried it won’t provide enough privacy screening in the winter and wonder whether to go with an evergreen. I’m not a huge laurel fan, but it would grow quickly and provide thick screening. Anyone suggest anything else? It’s about 30m in length and I’ll be buying 5ft plants.

I'm a fan of a mixed native hedge: it's great for wildlife, but also gives much more interest than a single species hedge.

Ours is hazel, holly, ivy, blackthorn, dog rose, guelder rose, rosa rugosa, goat willow, hawthorn and interspersed with small trees like apple, plum and crab apple.

We planted 25m of Portuguese Laurel last year, it's fast growing. I also don't like "normal Laurel" but wanted a dark evergreen thick hedge as the 25m was a road boundary so we wanted it to have near immediate effect. We have had so many compliments on it and I'm so pleased it's the hedge we chose.

If we had time (and I mean years) and privacy was less of an issues I think we'd have planted a traditional mixed hedgerow, however neighbours planted a mixed hedgerow from saplings and I think it'll take 5 years + to look anything like a hedge

Our front garden, like all on this estate, had a griselinia hedge. It's a good grower and doesn't mind high winds and salt air, but it is sterile and boring, and really rather "suburban looking" for a coastal area.

Don't go there!

Beech is fine. Below 2m it keeps its brown leaves over winter. It won't be bare.

But, a mixed hedge as @FuzzyPuffling has mentioned will offer more biodiversity. If predominantly beech, holly and privet (a UK native) you'll have a lot of species which hold their leaves over winter.

I have never heard that the height of the beech hedge is what determines whether it will keep its leaves over winter..are you sure or have I misunderstood your post?

I think its the juvenile growth on beech that retains its leaves in winter, so as long as you trim it, the new growth each year it will keep its leaves.

Consider privet which has smaller leaves than laurel so fewer brown cut edges when you trim it

The leaves stay on our beech hedge all winter - a coppery colour.
But make sure you follow rules regarding number of plants, distance apart, regular pruning from the start to make it bush out.

We have Portuguese laurel on a road edge and it is excellent for privacy. I trim it twice a year and don't get any browning of edges.

Neighbours have beech and they keep their leaves all year, even when brown.

Mine looks nicer but I think thiers are better from a biodiversity perspective.

Mixed native would be gorgeous. Our Portuguese laurel is well established so am tempted to put a few other bits in between to maintain interest.

I've never had a formal hedge but I like the fragrance of privet hedges in Spring so I might choose that if I were planting one.

For a slightly more informal look Choisya Ternata (Mexican Orange Blossom) could be used as hedging. Beautiful fragrance and lovely billowing shapes. Very easy to grow.

We’re going for mixed native. Something for everyone!

Don't go mixed- they'll all grow at different speeds and thicknesses. Cut some back - it's just wood, others too bushy. Potentially very untidy looking.

I'd go privet, smells nice, evergreen.

Mixed is best! They all meld together and can be cut all at the same time and look tidy.

Privet is so terribly suburban dahling, and reminds me of the 1960s - and it smelling of dog wee!

I think privet can perhaps look suburban if cut in very rigid rectangular shapes with sharp edges. A softer shape can have quite a different effect (see pic)

Interesting about the smell - I have heard people complain about the smell before but I quite like it. Box however - bleurgh. I used to have some box topiary years ago and had to plant lavender all around to try and mask the smell.

Sorry forgot to add picture of a more loosely shaped privet hedge.

That looks very nice @WildCherryBlossom

Privet is so terribly suburban dahling, and reminds me of the 1960s - and it smelling of dog wee! It’s very 1980s to regard privet as 1960s. Well overdue a come back

That's me told!! 😂😂

Was just browsing Ashridge nurseries website and thought of this thread. Quite helpful descriptions of some of the most popular hedging plants.

www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/hedging

(I've bought fruit trees from Ashridge before - they are very good)

Another "yes" for Ashridge nurseries.