New garden

Please could some tell me what kind of evergreen shrubs/ trees will grow in shady conditons. I have a new plot of land and we are building a new house. The local council need to approve a planting scheme before we can begin to build. We have a 150 feet to cover and six to nine feet high quickly. I doubt very much if the council will allow layandi. Please help.

 

i d image most evergeens would tolerate a degree of shade, i d assume they will grow into a sunlight area, try to envisage trees in a forest, their natural habitat
what about bamboo, they come in different colours, but some are invasive!
i ve never heard of a requirement to plant trees be4!
is the area shaded by other trees or a big building, im trying to envisage the area, can you post a piccy?
to get to six foot quickly you may have to buy slightly more expensive tress, and be aware that some can grow on to 50 - or more feet, is a hedge essential....... you can consider a 6 foot fence this might work out economical, but be sure to use tanalised posts and a fence which will allow some passage of wind, or it will be flattened in a gale

[ 13. February 2006, 12:34 PM: Message edited by: The Lady Gardener ]

 

It sounds irresponsible of your local planning authority to place such a requirement. Anything growing quickly to 9ft isn't likely to stop and will either be an invasive thug or chainsaw fodder in a few years. Privat will grow to 6ft and wouldn't be too difficult to manage with a hedge trimmer. It's also normally evergreen, relatively well behaved and not poisonous (important if there is public access to the other side of your boundary) although it's not terribly fast growing. Cotoneaster will also easily do 6ft but needs more maintenace, can sucker and self sets everywhere but it is faster growing.

Agree with LG, some pics would be helpfull to illustrate the position relative to the sun and your proposed property

[ 13. February 2006, 01:04 PM: Message edited by: frogesque ]

 

Thank-You Lady gardener for your quick reply.The hedge will be set at north west. I am sorry to say site photo will be of no use as there are to be five houses built each will cast an unknown shadow. The site sides five gardens. The council proable needs the information to protect these properties. I do feel sorry for them because their gardens are in full sun but with planning permission beign already granted their gardens will now proable end up in shade. The site was full of groase. We have cleared the site and have heavy, heavy clay soil. We will have to import top soil and manure.(I do not know what ratio to have???)

 

Thank-you Frogesque forgot about not planting poisnous plants. My children are teenagers now and I am enjoying growing berry bearing plants.

 

see previous posts about clay soil , this is nutrient rich but if you can work in loads and loads of farm yard manure it will reward you ,,,,, if you are in country a farmer might supply you
make sure you compost as much as you can and i'd not bother with topsoil unless u have too, you still need the undersoils to drain you mite consider buyin in turf for lawn areas as an alternative
btw make sure those builders know you will be a keen gardener and don t let them dump bricks and lime/concrete etc in your garden [esp happen if it is last site to finish

[ 13. February 2006, 06:21 PM: Message edited by: The Lady Gardener ]

 

i am still stunned by a planning requirement to plant a 2 metre hedge ........ but then i have just seen a domestic garage where planners insist on 6" re inforced concrete floor ..... this is twice load capacity of any farm concrete requiremnt .. where tractorc etc are working with loads of over 5 tonne regulalrly ... its a case of " if you have power .......... use it!"

 

6" re-enforced concrete floor is a nice base to have in a garage but for most folk this would be considered overkill. Sounds as if planning have treated it as a workshop, great if they are are going to install a heavy lathe or other machinery but a bit OTT just for parking a Mini in :D

 

to get back to the original question!!!!
How about laurel? it certainly doesn't mind shade, and will form a good solid base for any garden, where plenty of growth is the main factor.

eucalyptus would grow fast , but whjatever you do, don't let it grow near buildings! Otherwise you'll have problems, as it'll use up all water available and undernmine your foundations! (subsidence is the word I'm after!) Conifers will do the same - so keep them well back from the main house.

Birches and willows are big, fast-growing trees - worth thinking about. Try looking at http://www.treesbypost.co.uk/ - good info.

 

Thank-you Lady Gardener, My husband will be my builder. We have built two homes before, just as I get my garden beautiful, looking mature, he decides to move. Never mind good excuse to spend all my time in garden centres. We are thinking of stock piling top soil and compost in rear garden now. This will make delivery easy. After the house is built we will not be able to get lorries to rear. Will it KEEP?

 

Is that what was said? I read it as that the council needed to approve it, not that it stipulated that. Perhaps I've got it wrong.........

 

i can t see how they can approve or disaprove of one species of tree against another, eg leylandii are not a prob if cut back every year, and if ther aprove of 6 foot trees today....... well what happens if they grow to 15 ft next year?

 

Blockwell - not sure how long your intending to keep it - weather will degrade it, and weeds will colonise the rest if not stored appropriately. But if your talking about a few months, then should be ok'ish.