Privet causing a "dead line"?

 

I am new to this house. The garden faces south and along the front is
privet hedge 6 ft high and 1 ft thick. I have planted plants just to
the north of it which I expected to grow and they have not grown or
grown poorly. This has happened so often that I have come to suspect
it's the influence of the hedge. Any opinions?

I live Newcastle on Tyne - I don't know if that's relevant.

Michael Bell

--

 

On 28/7/08 06:54, in article
f590d2c54f.michaelbell@michael.beaverbell.co.uk, "Michael Bell"


It's always relevant to post where you live because it affects advice people
give on what you can or can't plant in your area.
But in your case I think the hedge is taking all the nutrients from the soil
and they're struggling for nourishment and water in poor light.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

 


|> On 28/7/08 06:54, in article
|> f590d2c54f.michaelbell@michael.beaverbell.co.uk, "Michael Bell"
|>
|> > I am new to this house. The garden faces south and along the front is
|> > privet hedge 6 ft high and 1 ft thick. I have planted plants just to
|> > the north of it which I expected to grow and they have not grown or
|> > grown poorly. This has happened so often that I have come to suspect
|> > it's the influence of the hedge. Any opinions?
|> >
|> But in your case I think the hedge is taking all the nutrients from the soil
|> and they're struggling for nourishment and water in poor light.

In my experience, it's the water, not nutrients, that is the main
problem.  Privet dessicates the soil under it, especially in places
like Newcastle with relatively low rainfall.

I have a neighbour's privet hedge, and used to have one, and nothing
will thrive too close to them for that reason.  Cambridge.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

 

On 28 Jul 2008 08:44:54 GMT, nmm1@cus.cam.ac.uk (Nick Maclaren) wrote:


Low rainfall? Wrong Newcastle, surely?
--

Martin

 


|>
|> >In my experience, it's the water, not nutrients, that is the main
|> >problem.  Privet dessicates the soil under it, especially in places
|> >like Newcastle with relatively low rainfall.
|>
|> Low rainfall? Wrong Newcastle, surely?

Well, I was assuming Upon Tyne, rather than Under Lyme.  Look it up;
it's only marginally wetter than Cambridge.  In the UK, the rainfall
gradient is west-north-west to east-south-east, and it is a common
myth that we get a lot of rain.  What we get is very uniform rainfall
over the year, and essentially nil evaporation for half the year.

'Tis true, Sir!


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.