'Barrier' plant for front of border - protect my hydrangeas from footballs!

[ArtichokeAardvark]

Can anyone recommend a low growing, tough shrub that still looks pretty that I can plant along the front of my border to protect the plants behind it from footballs and rampaging children? I've tried growing a lavender hedge for the past few years but my soil is too damp (we're near a river and have very high groundwater) - even the English varieties don't survive a wet winter. I'm not a big fan of formal planting so want to avoid a box / euonymus hedge effect, but can't think of anything else that's evergreen! Or at least ever- present - perennials that die back underground are no use half the year or I'd go for sprawling mounds of hardy geraniums.

It's south and west facing, good loam soil rather than clay but very damp in the winter.

All suggestions greatly welcome!

What about low level conifers!? They are usually pretty hardy and can be shaped too. Also Himalayan honeysuckle (i think its called that).....its really pretty and the birds love the berries in winter. Sorry I don't know how to post a link to it

lol 😂 this sounds like a variation on the request for the paradoxical super fast growing but low maintenance hedge/ tree/ plant.

But I will give it a shot.

Teucrium? Hebe? Rosemary? Liberia grandiflora, Salvia caradonna or some variation. Naturalistic but slightly woody with a nice bit of flex/ to absorb/ spring the footballs back. Peppered with something slightly rambly like potentilla ‘Miss willmott’ to tie it all together.

I didn't say it was an easy ask! 😆 Some fab suggestions there though, thank you. I'd considered rosemary and salvia but worry they wouldn't survive the wet winter (like the lavender I've given up on). Teucrium I'd never heard of though - I'll look into that. Also potentilla, I have a couple dotted around the garden already so know they can cope with the conditions!

Holly

I would look again at hardy geraniums. My established clumps of some varieties seem to be wholly or partly evergreen though they are much larger and lusher in summer.

Dwarf pittosporum might work too though could look too formal and hedge-like if they're in a row. https://www.hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk/shop/hedging/pittosporum-hedging/pittosporum-tenuifolium-golf-ball-hedging/

Yes really had to think for a minute 😂

Do check out the libertia grandiflora. It is absolutely fantastic. My favourite plant. Evergreen, dry shade, sun and everything in between. Can treat as a herbaceous perennial and saw back if you ever want a refresh. Certainly football proof. Looks very modern. Like a grass - but it’s not. And glorious white flowers. Very in keeping with the hydrangea look especially if you have white ones.

how about a dwarf fence - Sarah raven does a metal one, or a little willow one?

Hmmmm. This is a challenge, isn’t it! I get the need for a barrier as I’ve had years of footballs into my plants. But the planting you like makes this a real challenge!

What about some kind of railing, that’s low, and planting a climber and training it across rather than up?

I wouldn't buy a fence from Sarah raven - products look beautiful on the website but I've never had one that wasn't poor quality. You could get something similar and more affordable elsewhere I'm sure.

I was about to plant hydrangeas as a plant that could stand up to balls 😆 (netballs in our case) maybe they aren’t as tough as I thought

What about:

Broom
Hellebores
Choisa
Myrtle

Colletia cruciata - it's slow growing but vicious. It flowers very late in the year and attracts the last of the butterflies.
https://d3bbsv6h7qkr8y.cloudfront.net/16/5c/165cede03bc677d13448307920931c3e.jpg

FWIW, I've killed umpteen lavender plants here - clay soil, wet - but the rosemary has survived for years.

RubusCockburnianus the white stemmed bramble. That we stop them.

Dwarf Spiraeas. 'Little Princess' would look good with your Hydrangeas. There's plenty of cultivars to choose from.