planting advive

[sillytrucker1980]

i don't really do much planting but a chap i know who has a small holding has asked if i could get hold of about 1000-2000 fast growing trees for wind breakers and privacy around the edges of his property,any advice welcome.

[button1803]

ever green tress or not fussed?

[sillytrucker1980]

yes,ever green

[armybloke]

Please don't suggest leyland cypress - there are so many more appropriate trees!

 

Excluding the fast growing requirement and depending on topography, soil structure, nutrient availability, pH, hydrology, prevailing wind, future management and many other factors you should consider when planting trees

 

Holm oak makes a nice hedgerow if managed

Yew

Western Red Cedar

Holly

Dawn Redwood

Scots Pine

and so the list goes on.....

[Warren Stirling]

Cant you convince him that a nice mixed hedge of native species would be both good for the landscape visually as well as habitat creation for wildlife we're losing. Good aftercare would keep the growth not that much slower than the 'L' word. Cost him less to manage in years to come as well.

[john k]

Sounds like he wants more of a shelter belt than a hedgerow.

 

How wide a strip would he be happy to plant up? What sort of final height does he want?

[sillytrucker1980]

don't really like it but i think he wants leylandii or similar but i just want to offer some alternatives,if it was me then i would mix it up!

[Pedroski]

Leylandii is great for nesting birds so don't know it. Also, assuming there is a lot of space around the smallholding, this wouldn't necessarily be high maintenance. But he might end up with a lot of the smallholding in shadow.

 

Ligustrum Superbum might be a better option - it's a variegated evergreen privet type, reaches up to 8m and is pretty maintenance free.

 

If fast growth is not a definite requirement, and there's plenty of money, then how about yew? Might not be too good if horses on the smallholding, but looks lovely.

[john k]

How about radiata pine for some quick growing height? You could underplant with laurel for a big solid hedge if that's the sort of thing he wants? Or go with a mixture of native plants for a less invasive hedge: hawthorn is the most common but field maple grows quickly and has a bit of height, dogwood and hazel are more bushy and fill out more.

 

Or for something a bit less usual, how about a hedgerow of trees that he could coppice for firewood like the French do: ash or sweet chestnut?

[Jesse]

i don't really do much planting but a chap i know who has a small holding has asked if i could get hold of about 1000-2000 fast growing trees for wind breakers and privacy around the edges of his property,any advice welcome.

 

Pinus nigra on clay you will have good cover in 5 years from small wips.