Blackthorn hedge close to house?

[Tobyh]

Hi all,

We have blackthorn in the garden already and rather than put up a fence in one part of the garden I wanted to maybe plant some of the saplings. It would be just a small corner area to block off access down the side of the house. I'm thinking maybe 3 or 4 bushes

What I'm concerned about is the distance from the house - would only be about 4 feet from the outside wall. I would obviously keep them well trimmed but am worried that the roots may do damage underneath.

Any advice please?

Thanks

TobyH

[Meta menardi]

I certainly wouldn't worry about root damage unless you let things grow excessively, though root effects do depend on soil type. Hedges are very often used to split gardens between two houses, growing right up to the wall, after all.

It's no great task to whip out a hedge of 3 to 5 plants.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Tobyh

What I'm concerned about is the distance from the house - would only be about 4 feet from the outside wall. I would obviously keep them well trimmed but am worried that the roots may do damage underneath. Any advice please? TobyH

A question that comes up regularly.

As a very broad rule of thumb for trees - distance from wall should equal eventual height. In practice this is errs heavily on the side of safety and the tolerable limit may be as little as 70% of eventual height. However, there are variables that need to be considered, including soil type and how the plant is to be managed.

Keeping the plant to a given height as with a hedge, will limit the growth of roots, the effect of limitation being somewhat in proportion to the maintained height. Over time however a robust species may develop a root system somewhat beyond proportion with its above ground growth.

I think I would be happy with Blackthorne growing to maybe 1.5m high at, at least 1m from a structural wall, on a well drained soil, and with a post 1950 property. With an older property, clay soil (subject to shrinkage) and any greater height I would add distance accordingly.

CM

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Cotham Marble

A question that comes up regularly.

As a very broad rule of thumb for trees - distance from wall should equal eventual height. In practice this is errs heavily on the side of safety and the tolerable limit may be as little as 70% of eventual height. However, there are variables that need to be considered, including soil type and how the plant is to be managed.

Keeping the plant to a given height as with a hedge, will limit the growth of roots, the effect of limitation being somewhat in proportion to the maintained height. Over time however a robust species may develop a root system somewhat beyond proportion with its above ground growth.

I think I would be happy with Blackthorne growing to maybe 1.5m high at, at least 1m from a structural wall, on a well drained soil, and with a post 1950 property. With an older property, clay soil (subject to shrinkage) and any greater height I would add distance accordingly.

CM

How much more articulate than my whitterings!

[Paul mabbott]

Belated response - missed this thread.
Blackthorn won't be a rpoblem to a building, it just doesn't grow big enough. However, it is very much prone to 'suckering' - sending out lateral roots which can be a problem for the garden, the roots competing with other plants and, in effect, the hedge can grow out and cover a wide area!

I know - I've got one - new stems are constantly appearing several metres away from the bush - doesn't worry me too much because they're mainly on a lawn so get mown but some of them are appearing amongst my apples and will obviously be competeing for nutrition: something must be done.

Hawthorn is a safer (and quicker) hedgerow ....

[witham]

Blackthorn needs trimming regularly the same as Hawthorn to encourage dense growth when used as a barrier hedge to be effective as part of the 'Burgalaris Disembowelis' campaign, if kept to a sensible height it shouldn't cause problems, we have Hawthorn close to our place with no determantal effect, also you won't have far to walk to pick the Sloes when it matures