Fence Screening Plants

Chain-link, metal fencing or the neighbour's terrace – the question we hear most often is: what should I plant along the fence that grows fast and screens all year round? Here we sum up the four best-proven evergreen hedge plants to make your choice easier.

Cherry laurel is the most versatile choice: large glossy leaves, fast growth (40–60 cm a year), tolerant of almost any soil, giving a solid 2–3 metre wall. Leyland cypress is the speed champion – 80–100 cm a year – so if you need tall screening as soon as possible, it is the best route, in return for 1–2 trims a year. Photinia is for lovers of colour: its red shoots renew after every trim, and it is ideal for a sunny spot. Columnar yew grows even in shade, fits into the narrowest of spaces and re-sprouts from old wood – slower, but the most enduring of all. The decision comes down to aspect (sun or shade), the width available, the height you want and how urgently you need screening – at the free on-site survey we talk all this through and give you an honest recommendation.