What to use for low hedge

Apart from Box, I can't think of anything else to use. I want a hedge of about two foot in height and animal proof (right down to the ground). I dont want anything prickly or with thorns that could dammage young dogs. Can anyone suggest anything else I can use instead of the existing fence? Thanx

 

Are you trying to keep your own dogs in, or other dogs out?

To keep your dogs in you could consider an invisible fence (wire burried, collar on the dog(s) that bleeps if they get close, and then shocks.

I can vouch for the fact that a) it works, b) the dogs learn not to go near it, so only stings them during the training period and c) humans don't learn, as we all too often clutch the collars when carrying them through the gate!

Ours is backed up by hedge in some parts, rabbit wire fence in others, and nothing on one boundary (the boundary between lawn and flower beds, where they are not allowed)

Does nothing for other people's dogs of course.

Box is the only thing I can think of that is 2' high, and 2' high certainly wouldn't stop my dogs !!

 

Hebe?
Euonymus?
Choicya?

In fact, this place is full of good ideas

http://www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/

 

Hi Kristen. The idea is for a barrier to the veg garden to keep the puppies out so an electric fence is out of the question. I just want something more pleasing to look at than a wire fence. The pups can't jump but they can get through very small spaces.

 

Hmmm ... I don't think bushes are going to stop them. Box might, but only once it had matured and got thick - several years down the road.

Some sort of wooden-plank barrier? Or some rectangular tubs made from wood - with something pretty growing in them. That would form quite a narrow barrier.

We had some Norfolk Reed panels along the walkway to a tree house at our previous house. Not sure how low they might come, but possible a couple of feet is realistic.

 

I can recommend woven hazel that I used in The Pilgrim's Rest at Chelsea this year. Panels can be obtained from www.brandonthatchers.co.uk (other suppliers are available) and cut down to size. They look attractive and last well.

Chris

 

The woven Hazel looks nice, Boghopper. I'm now thinking along the lines of a 'raised bed' made from brick or breezeblock, say 12" to 18" wide, the hazel would disguise it nicely. Nurse when's suggestion of using Hebe? sounds a possibility or maybe a mixture of evergreen shrubs. I need something low growing and not poisonous to inquiring little mouths. Thanks for the suggestions all.

 

There's always Lavender as well.

 

My first thought was Lavender but it's short lived and dies back in winter. I'd be forever taking cuttings to maintain it from going woody.

 

How about a living willow 'fedge'? Basically just stick the willow sticks in the ground about three inches apart where you want them, arranging them to criss-cross each other. You can get the sticks for about 50p each and they grow really fast. There are loads of different hybrid vareities giving a range of different colours, including, so I've read, one with purple bark.

 

I think if you want to keep puppies in place, a form of fencing would be better than any plants. Even box can develop gaps where little wiggly pups can squeeze through. I'd just use the plants to make it pretty.