replacing hedge with wall

[shelaghc]

I am considering replacing a very old and tired leylandi hedge with a wall - but I have heard that there are problems with walled gardens - can anyone advise me of what they are.

[Paul mabbott]

Walls, if built properly, are expensive; they take strong winds full on and can cause turbulence and coolness to the lea side; they degenerate over time (in which case they become hazardous); the cement work makes the soil nearby very basic; they're not of much interest to wildlife; they block light and cast shadows.

Personally, I'd replace the leylandii hedge with something more interesting and useful for wildlife - perhaps putting up a trellis fence until the hedge grows? Good luck

[shelaghc]

Thanks for that reply Paul - can I just ask you, is it true leylandii are of little use to wildlife, and would, as you have suggested, a trellis fence with a climber be more beneficial.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by shelaghc

I am considering replacing a very old and tired leylandi hedge with a wall - but I have heard that there are problems with walled gardens - can anyone advise me of what they are.

Leylandii and eucalyptus going ! Sounds like a major blow against alien species.

Walls are certainly much more problematic than hedges, and a lot more expensive to build. However, if one is certain about all the ramifications - effects on sun side/shade side, gales on the lee side and windward side etc, a wall can be a major benefit to a garden. Still Paul's advice is very sound for anyone not confident about their local microclimate.

The benefits of Leylandii are debatable, some do provide roosts and nesting sites for birds as well as supporting some insects - aphid attack has recently been in the news - so Leylandii should not be considered a sterile environment. However replacing a stand of Leylandiis with a hedge of native species will certainly increase the range of wildlife that is supported.

Fencing with a single species of climber may not even match the range and number of faunal species supported by the Leylandii, the question would be whether a range of shrubs and trees were to planted within the fence line in addition to the climber on the fence.

CM

[Jez]

Biuld a Native Hedge and watch how much more wildlife you get!Beech is great, as is Hornbeam,buckthorns and many others.

[nightshade]

Could I suggest making a stone and earth bank and planting a native hedge on top,
these are the wild life havens we are missing as field hedges are grubbed up I wish
I had the space

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by shelaghc

Thanks for that reply Paul - can I just ask you, is it true leylandii are of little use to wildlife, and would, as you have suggested, a trellis fence with a climber be more beneficial.

Yes, leylandii has minimal wildlife value. Birds will nest in it, but then they'll nest in any hedgerow () - a problem is that leylandii and other coniferous hedges provide little defence against nest predators such as magpies. Magpies &c cannot reach a small bird nest in holly, hawthorn &c but have no problem intruding to soft conifers.

A trellis fence is intrinsically good because it reduces wind effects but doesn't create turbulence problems. It is okay on its own or you can set shrubs against it or let climbers grow up it. In the first case, you can put something useful such as apple cordons against it.

With climbers, the easiest, quickest growing and most useful for wildlife is ivy - it's a food plant for several insects but will provide shelter for many more and vertebrates. It may look a bit dull if left on a long run but it's easy enough to plant in a few more decorative species (Clematis or honeysuckles for instance.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Privet is nice an easy to maintain (unlike holly which is a bit of a pain. I'd imagine hawthorn would be the same amount of work as a privet hedge and has among the most diverse ecosystems of any british plant.

[Paul mabbott]

I disagree. Privet is far less useful than ivy or hawthorn. It is a pain to maintain - needs trimming several times during each summer. It is pretty boring to look at. It has extensive root systems which dry out and extract the nutrition from soil over a considerable distance. We has privet hedges around our front garden - you can guess what one of our first priorities was when we moved in! After the leylandii, that is
For interest, we have a large beech hedge which needs mowing once a year, a hawthorn hedge which gets hardly any management and a mixed hedge (i.e. whatever was there or seeds itself) which also gets a shear once or twice a year ... as necessary ...

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

Privet is nice an easy to maintain (unlike holly which is a bit of a pain. I'd imagine hawthorn would be the same amount of work as a privet hedge and has among the most diverse ecosystems of any british plant.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Ah i should have been more clear - yes it does need cutting more than once a year, a point well made - but I meant it was much easier to cut than a holly bush, especially with a hedge trimmer. But as you said a hawthorn or something similar is best

If you do plant Ivy beware i grows like anything when established and could upset the neighbours if not kept in check. One poor old lady i know can barely get to her side door as next door has a 4m high mound of Ivy on a 2m wall, which has basically grown over her 1m flower bed and 1m wide path now proceeding up the house. But on the upside its good for the sparrows etc nesting.