Hedge plants and other latest purchases

This post is mainly for my own reference, to keep track of what hedge and other plants I've ordered recently over the internet and to remind me which areas of the garden are needed to prepare next. 
I'll put the 'how to grow' notes with them as I buy new plants so I can easily find the info.


Next sunday we have a Plant Fair in the local indoor market, so I'm looking forward that as last time they held one I'd forgotten all about it until the last minute, but I did manage to buy a tree fern which had been a bargain, and can't imagine how that could be easily posted without damaging the leaves.


A tree surgeon will be visiting tomorrow to give me some idea how much it will cost to fell the ash trees, and they also do stone walling repairs.  I'll need to get a second quote for the job from someone else as well, and maybe they can do the work sooner than July.  


So these are the plants I'm awaiting delivery on, along with where I'm planting them. 
(all photos at end under CARE NOTES)


(from Burncoose Nursery)


4 x Hawthorn (CRATAEGUS monogyna) - to create a country hedge on the east side of the garden where there is a huge gap and no stone wall.  A lot of brambles encroaching from my neighbours garden have to be cleared first though if the hedge is to stand a chance of surviving.


1 x NANDINA domestica  - not sure where to plant this shrub now.  i wanted something with autumn colour interest and to hide the next level up from the terrace (after removing the awful mature buddleia bush that was there previously).  As I'm needing to get the corner of that 6 ft high stone retaining wall repaired, it may just get in the way of doing the work, so I'll plant it where I removed the dead tree that was covered in ivy on the terrace.  That should also help to screen that area from my neighbours' deck, should I feel like sunbathing there.  


3 x  -  SANTOLINA chamaecyparissus  (cotton lavender) - this is for the raised bed on the terrace, which will be my rockery/gravel garden.  This plant is supposed to be good for repelling flies, and will fit in with the lavender that I also want to plant there.  This bed will be my low maintenance bed, and I still need to finish the weeding and order some gravel.


1 x  Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum 'var pictum) - starting a collection of ferns at the side of the path towards the end of the garden.  Will get some more varieties once the trees are felled.  Never thought I would develop an interest in ferns.


My second internet order is from Scotsplants:


10 x   Escallonia Apple Blossom Pink / White Hedging  -  this was supposed to be for the collapsed bank by the side of the steps leading up from the terrace.  They phoned me after I placed this order to say they lost many of these plants due to cold weather, and as it was no longer on their website had wondered how I managed to order it.  They will be refunding this part of the order, so need to check this later.
Will order some New Zealand privet instead.


1 x  Goji Berry - Wolfberry (Lycium Barbarum - 40cm  Pot Grown)  -  Will keep it in a pot for now on the terrace or raised bed.




1 x  BERBERIS thunbergii Rose Glow -  (managed to find two of these in Morrisons, so now have three)  -  prickly shrub to stop the neighbourhood cats from taking short cuts across my garden (as i want to encourage birds and get a birdbath).  At least one of these will be planted on the terrace boundary (away from steps), as they need more sun than the purple variety I bought.  The others can be planted : one on the west side boundary mixed in with the purple variety halfway up the garden,where a section of the fence was blown down in strong winds last winter.  The other at the end of the garden in the eastern boundary where the gap/steps were from my neighbours garden (who has since bought back that strip of land from the previous owners of my house).


10 x  Purple Berberis Atropururea  -  this is to replace the blown down fence under the tree on the west side, as this variety doesn't mind the shade.  Prickly again, to stop cats from crossing, it also has seasonal interest as it changes colour.  So approx 3 under the tree, 3 at the end of the garden, and 4 in the middle section, al on the west boundary.
With all these prickly shrubs keeping cats and neighbours out, the garden will feel a bit more private and enclosed.


Below I'm adding the photos and 'care notes' for future reference.

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CARE NOTES

Purple Berberis Atropururea

Berberis thunbergii  or Purple Berberis is a compact, dense, prickly variety and great as an intruder deterrent!!.  Deciduous plant with deep purple leaves, orange flowers and red small fruits in the autumn.  Really useful, colourful, tough and versatile plant, most are prickly or spiny.  Great for discouraging people and animals from taking shortcuts.  Easy to grow, tolerates almost all soil types and situations including Coastal.  Likes full to partial shade. 
Plant 3-4 per metre for maximum density single row or 5 per metre double staggered row.




Berberis Rose Glow

Berberis Rose Glow is a dense, deciduous shrub, with mottled bronze-purple leaves and yellow bell shaped flowers. The leaves become redder in autumn and bear red berries. Rose Glow has an unusual colour pattern that at a distance will ‘glow’ when trapped by the sun. Ideal for banks and slopes, Coastal areas, perfect for groundcover, Hedging and Screening. Low maintenance hardy shrub. Ultimate height and spread – 6ft high x 5ft after 10-20 years. Plant full sun for best fruit and autumn colour, any soil except waterlogged. 




HAWTHORN hedge

Can be clipped closely to make a dense screen that will give privacy, as well as effective thorny barrier against animals or people.  Can be used as climbing frame to support wild roses, honeysuckle or clematis.  And make an excellent home for all kinds of wildlife inc nesting birds.


Plant young plants 1ft apart and cut them down to about 4 inches from the ground after planting.  Continue to trim the tops a little as they grow to ensure the fully grown hedge will remain thick at the bottom.


I'm also going to grow wild roses (Rosa rugosa 'Alba' and Rosa rugosa 'Rubra') over the hawthorn hedge once the latter has grown a bit taller.




NANDINA domestica (also called Chopstick plant, Sacred bamboo)

Evergreen.  Heavenly bamboo is the Far East equivalent of holly: its red-berried branches are used for temple decorations and in many houses.
Heavenly it may be, but a bamboo it is not. Nandina's closest relation is the berberis, but it does have the slimmest of canes, a bit like a bamboo, and airy cut foliage.   In spring, the new leaves emerge pinky-red; in summer, there are panicles of creamy-white flowers, followed by green berries, and in winter the leaves flush crimson and the berries turn red.  



Medium Shrub - Typically grow to around 4-6 feet in height - produces long-lasting, spherical, bright-red fruits.  Frost hardy - Plant can withstand temperatures down to -5°C (23°F).
Spread - in metres - 1.5m (5ft).  Preferred location - Full Sun - keep sheltered.
Soil - Fertile moist well-drained soil.

Goji Berry

( following blurb is from Victoriana Nursery website)

Whilst some may pretend Goji Berries are new to the UK and a secret to the Western world it is well documented that Goji’s were first introduced to the UK in the 1600’s. The name ‘Goji’ is fairly new and is based on the Chinese name ‘Gou Qi Zi’ – before this it has been known as The Chinese Wolfberry, The Matrimony Vine, The Chinese Boxthorn, The Red Medlar and even The Duke Of Argyll’s Tea Tree. Surprisingly it is known to be a naturalised specie in the UK, being found in hedgerows in some parts of the Country.

Goji Berries prefer a full sun or partial shade position and once established are wind tolerant and similarly salt wind tolerant. Once established they will prove frost hardy to at least -15°C but will similarly survive temperatures as high as 40°C. Goji's prefer a well drained rich soil but will perform well on lighter sandy soils - in some parts of the world they have been used as soil stabilisation plant; under no circumstances will they tolerate heavy soils prone to laying wet. They have good tolerance to drought but attention should be paid to watering in the first season after they are planted out.


Container Growing
Goji Berries can perform well if grown in a patio tub or container and should ideally be allowed to grow to a minimum height of around 3ft - 4ft and similar width in order that they can produce a worthwhile crop.

Do not over-pot your Goji plant as this may cause your plant's roots to become waterlogged; pot up into a container just one or two sizes larger and allow the plant to fully root out before re-potting into the next size up - continuing until you have reached your final chosen size of container. Any proprietary potting compost will be fine though we would always recommend the addition of a little horticultural grit to improve drainage, particularly if you choose to use a soil based compost such as John Innes or similar.


After their first full growing year, container grown plants should prove perfectly hardy and can be left out all year round - that said, as with anything container grown, Winter protection will improve Spring growth and ultimately yield.

Planting Out
Goji Berries will grow in most soil types, but will not tolerate wet soggy soils, and prefer a full sun position. If planting more than one allow a minimum of 6-8ft apart and remember that if you have room they can be allowed to grow to their full height of 8ft - 10ft.




Japanese painted fern

This elegant, deciduous fern has deeply cut, greyish-green fronds effused with silver and purple. An excellent companion for shade-loving woodland plants it provides long-lasting foliage interest for a shady, sheltered patio or courtyard garden with moist, fertile, neutral to acid soil.

Garden care: Incorporate lots of well-rotted leaf mould, composted pine needles or garden compost into the planting hole. In cold areas in late autumn protect the crown of the plant with a dry mulch of straw or bracken

Position: full or partial shade

Soil: moist, fertile, neutral to acid soil

Rate of growth: average

Hardiness: fully hardy

SANTOLINA chamaecyparissus  (cotton lavender)

S. chamaecyparissus is a dwarf evergreen shrub with narrow, silvery-woolly, much dissected leaves and long-stalked, button-like bright yellow flowerheads 2cm in width.
Easy to grow evergreen sub-shrub that thrives in hot, sunny, well-drained sites. Useful as a dwarf-hedging substitute although they can be short-lived.  Will need protection in cold winters.

Remove the faded flower-heads along with any straggly shoots in autumn. In early-spring cut back the flowered shoots to within 2.5cm (1in) of the old growth.
Flowering period: July and August

Position: full sun
Soil: poor to moderately-fertile, well-drained soil
Other Features: It deters aphids and white flies and can be used for potpourii.

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