Conifer screening

[JoceAndChris]

Hi all

Want to block hideous view of dilapidated old asbestos bin shelter with adjacent oil tank and rotting shed ( I've thought about remodelling the bin shelter, but even if you put the bins under a pergola of grapes they still wouldn't be nice to look at, and how do you make an oil tank pretty?)

Anyone planted a conifer screen? The thing is, there's not a lot of space there really, and there'll need to be a path behind the conifers for me and the weekly bin-bag carrying. I'm looking for something tall and columnar that will produce branches from near the bottom of trunk. Any ideas? It would be nice if the trees could achieve around 15 /20 feet as this eyesore is an elevated view. Thanks.

 

[tobydog]

How high do the trees actually need to be to just screen the eyesore? The problem you have is that if you need 15-20ft then you'll be seeing it for some time before the trees grow high enough unless you go for a fast growing type like the dreaded Leylandii which leaves you with all the ongoing maintenance once you reach the desired height.

Alternatively, knock down the shed and put up 6ft hazel panelling next to the bins and oil tank and grow something like honeysuckle over it.

 

[LadyArowana]

I was going to suggest the dreaded Leylanii too. You have plenty of kit to keep it scythed down to a sensible size and it grows quickly.

These people have quite a bit of info http://www.leylandii.com/

 

[MdB]

No, no, NO.. ... Goes off shaking head....

 

[MatthewC]

Around here that sort of thing would have brambles, ivy (!) or convulvulus all over it, which would at least achieve the desired effect.

Personally, I'd go for the hazel or willow hurdles (or similar) - see http://www.peaktraditionalfencing.co.uk/WattleHurdles.asp for example

 

[JoceAndChris]

Love the hurdles, thanks ever so for the link Matthew. They look top quality- I wonder if they're long lasting? I bought cheap garden centre versions of this, I think I got just three years out of them - kind of put me off but I'm prepared to believe that if I'd spent more I'd have got more.

Leylanddi, well, they have a place I'm sure but they aren't beautiful really are they? And how fat are they round the middle if they're 10 feet tall? Wonder if there's another, skinny, pretty conifer I don't know about.

This is a very difficult part of the garden, I'm sure if I were Bunny Guinness or Monty Don I'd know just what to do but as it is I feel overwhelmed most of the time - some pics so you know what I'm talking about.

Here's the pesky view -the little estate gate top left is our main entrance

If you come through that little gate and look to the right here's the Garden Jungle - really thinking and planning and designing how I can remove the trees and shape this flower border

If you look to the left side you get this The oil men have to be able to access it as well

Then if you turn left past the shed you get to the bin shelter, which is visible from certain points on the path

All very much a messy eyesore that nobody's bothered with for about 60 years.

 

[JoceAndChris]

brambles, ivy (!) or convulvulus all over it, which would at least achieve the desired effect.

If you knew how many thousands of hours these plants have robbed me of to rescue my haha and orchard and front lawn you would not mention them!!!

 

[tobydog]

Joce - from the pictures I don't think you need anymore trees at all, particularly conifers at 15-20ft high. This looks ideal for the hazel / willow hurdles / fencing. Maybe stain the shed a fetching jungle green and then you can get away with 5ft panels to shield the oil tank and bins. I know that hazel is more expensive than willow because we've only just bought six willow panels at 6ft wide / 5ft high for £35 each from a local maker. The hazel is much heavier and sturdier and will no doubt last longer than willow. Having said that, we have existing willow in the garden and it's been there many years.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Thanks very much tobydog! Hurdles it is then. The difference in price between what you've just bought and the kind of B &Q panel I tried out before indicates strongly that I bought a heap of ***** Would love to see some piccies of your screening once you get it up.

Good idea to paint the shed, the only reason I haven't is because of toying with the idea of knocking it down. It's shed number 6 and all it contains is a box of bin bags and some mice droppings.

 

[LadyArowana]

Good idea to paint the shed, the only reason I haven't is because of toying with the idea of knocking it down. It's shed number 6 and all it contains is a box of bin bags and some mice droppings.

Mr Penners will be round to sort out that sadly inadequate set of contents, there needs to be a lot more useful bits and pieces in there. Very appropriate to get hurdles in an Olympic year.

 

[Flyfisher]

My experience of hurdles at a previous house is that they won't last much more than 5/6 years. However, this should be long enough to establish a mixed hedge if planted in front of the hurdles at the same time.

 

[tobydog]

I think if hurdles are being used primarily as fencing in the open then they can be subject to the rigours of our weather and deteriorate quicker. As a screen in a protected garden they tend to grow old more gracefully. At least they do in our garden and I like that look. I agree that something grown with the hurdles can enhance as well as support them.

Joce - I'll try and get some photos tonight.

 

[eezageeza]

Beech hedging would do a good job for you, and fit very well into your english country garden style. Although it's not evergreen, when trimmed as a hedge it retains its dead leaves until new green ones emerge in spring, so its always a dense screen. You can trim it to very thin if you need to, to get access, and it will easily get to 15 - 20 feet tall (or much more if required).

 

[JoceAndChris]

Thanks everyone - very kind of you all to respond so helpfully, when I'm sure your own gardens are calling you...

Milady, I'm sure even Mr P would be pacified if he were to take a peek in the workshop - and wherever is Mr P? We can't manage without him.

So interesting to read the different responses on the hurdles, FF, that was exactly my experience but as Toby suggests that particular screening (in London) was blasted by the winter winds and had no greenery to shelter it, so we pulled it all out when it rotted, and all the concrete it was screening, and made a pretty garden instead. I can imagine with a bit of honeysuckle, etc, and all the overhanging trees, it would have a degree of protection, but I really don't know what I could possibly get to grow there as a climber unless I take a deep breath and accept ivy has a place in the garden. There's masses of ivy covering the ground in front of the bins so it wouldn't take much to encourage it. Perhaps a shade loving clematis? I've never had any success with them. And I think the beautiful Virginia Creepers do poorly without at least a bit of sun.

Beech hedging is interesting and takes a neat shape I agree, but those brown leaves that cover it at the dark time of the year are an acquired taste.

 

[vicky whitworth]

I think conifers in gardens are dark and rather gloomy and looming. I'd try something like escallonia as a screening hedge. It's evergreen, might flower although it may need more light and if it does flower it smells nice. I have my oil tank which looks exactly the size of yours screened by it and it does a good job. For me it's only the oil tank and the bins that are unattractive. The shed is a shed. That's what gardens have. Could the bins go in the shed?

 

[angrybird]

Have you thought about Living willow fencing intertwined with climbing hydrangea ? a shade loving plant with pretty clusters of white flowersView attachment 1View attachment 1

 

[tobydog]

Joce - here are the pictures of the new willow fencing and you will see that even the girls managed to get in on the act :roll: . We will plant something up it in the autumn. This fencing is not fancy hence the £35 per panel price. I have to say though that I think we have all been trumped by Angrybird. What a great idea with the living willow and climbing hydrangea. I saw a climbing hydrangea at Beth Chatto's garden and they're quite impressive.

 

[tobydog]

Unfortunately Angrybird I've just thought that there may be a problem with your great suggestion. Both willow and hydrangea are deciduous so unless the branches get chuncky, the ugly tank and bins will still be on show 5 - 6 months of the year.

 

[eezageeza]

Willow and Hydrangea petiolaris also grow like topsy - you'd have fun keeping them under control!

Have you thought about Yew hedging - rather slow growing, but absolutely classic english garden hedging.

 

[JoceAndChris]

I have thought about yew, a lot, in fact I'm working hard stone-quarrying to plant low yew hedging elsewhere. Reckon I might be putting in as many as 150 little yews to act as low ornamental hegding - I agree it's a classic and over time can be clipped to perfection.

I also got very excited about angrybird's pretty suggestions but I think they'd need to be planted in front of a hurdle so as not to show the eyesore in winter.

I'm also wondering about a stone wall as I have plenty of stone to make a high longish one but lack the skill... Hurdles or fencing with trellis on top with greenery in front is probably the best solution here.

Joce - here are the pictures of the new willow fencing and you will see that even the girls managed to get in on the act :roll: . We will plant something up it in the autumn. This fencing is not fancy hence the £35 per panel price. I have to say though that I think we have all been trumped by Angrybird. What a great idea with the living willow and climbing hydrangea. I saw a climbing hydrangea at Beth Chatto's garden and they're quite impressive.

Gorgeous pics Toby, your garden is a real delight. That's highly successful design - a nice amount of shaping and formality with the focal point of your lovely bench and chickens - I'm really very jealous now! :mrgreen: (but also it's quite inspirational, so thank you).