Hedge for narrow strip

Hi,
I have a very narrow strip of soil in between our property and the neighbours driveways that Id love to put a short, narrow box hedge in. It goes deep and has good soil and sun but its only a foot at the widest and then down to about 12cm at the narrowest point.
Would a box survive in a spot so narrow? If not any other suggestions to make a thin hedge?
Thanks in advance.
Ed

 

Do you mean 120mm, ie 12cm for the narrowest point @EdC? Also what is the depth and quality of your soil? Box suffers from blight and caterpillar problems in many parts of the country where it is preferable to avoid using it. I grow it here without any problem, so far! Another option, if you have sufficient root depth, is Euonymus Green Spire, which is similar to box with attractive bright green growing tips. I have a narrow, low hedge of it in one of my borders.

 

Yes, sorry, 12 cm. Edited.
Soil quality and depth is good.
I know little about Box (or other hedging) and hadnt realised is was susceptible to blight and bugs. Good to know.
Thanks for the suggestion, it looks very nice. Ill certainly look into it.
Any other suggestions welcome?

 

How high do you want this hedge to grow? You need to consider the rain shadow it will cast and thus stop rain getting in at the roots which will mean it struggles.

If the idea is simply to give you privacy from your neighbours or block access a short but decorative fence or wall may be a better long term solution that will not risk dying and not need regular maintenance - feeding, watering, trimming.

 

That width will be too restricting for anything other than a very low hedge but if that’s what you intend, young plants are easier to establish and will gradually build up tolerance to drought. They will still need maintenance like any plant in a restricted space or container.

 

I wouldn't have thought box was the ideal choice if you're in London, due to the problems with blight, and the box moth caterpillar.
It will depend on how high you want it and what maintenance you have time for. Other alternatives are things like Lonicera pileata or L. nitida, but they grow quite quickly, so would need more trimming. They aren't too fussy about conditions once established.

 

Thanks for these suggestions. Looks like I might want to avoid box.
I would aim for something up to knee height, so not intending it to be very high.
Even 30cm would be fine. I just would like to create a visual deterrent, rather than a big wall or fence.

 

You will have your work cut out keeping a hedge in that very small space.
I would have thought a low panel fence with a decorative lattice along the top would be much more suitable. No watering, trimming, picking up dead foliage, scratching vehicles and neighbour friendly as it will not grow through on your neighbours side to annoy them.

 

Perhaps. Id like to try though. If its a failure I can always put a fence in later.
If so I could possibly put in a couple of low maintenance vines to cover it.

 

I have just noticed the height you want. That is not really a hedge, it is more of a step over border so a line of lavender might suit, or low growing shrub of some kind.
I still think it will give you a lot of work to keep whatever you plant under control. Plants do not stop growing when "we" decide we want them to.

 

I'd give it a go @EdC. My small Euonymus hedge is just 18 inches tall at the moment and 12 inches deep. I put it at the edge of a border a couple of years ago to stop the birds throwing soil onto the patio! Apart from watering the young plants to get them established I have done nothing else, no trimming, no feeding and no extra watering. You will need to do more watering in a restricted space though. It doesn't drop leaves noticeably and they are soft and shiny so good for some winter cheer! Lonicera nitida is also a nice plant for low hedging.

 

Would you consider rosemary,evergreen, grows as tall as you wish, resists drought, easily pruned/shaped, will flower if required; therefore good for polinators. Makes a lamb joint sing..

 

It would be great and give blue flowers too but not as frost hardy as English lavenders so it depends on aspect and shelter.

 

Location given as London ,so , with the heat island effect, and my experience in surrounding counties, I think it will be fine after year one.

 

Yes I saw that but London can have wind corridors and shady aspects which wouldn't suit rosemary.