Planting Laurel Hedging Front Garden

[Bobbya82]

Hi,

I want to plant a laurel hedge screen in my front garden up against the picket fence that is already there.

The worry I have is that there is 2 drain covers, 1 directly in the row where I want the hedging and and one next to it. I am happy to leave a gap where the cover is as it will cover it when the hedge grows. However I am sure the waste pipes must run underneath but didnt want to disturb them by digging the holes, not sure how far down they would be?

Do you think this would be a problem, should I think about planting them in some kind of large planter instead?

Will provide photo if that makes it clearer?

Many thanks

 

[JohnD]

lift the covers and look down. Then you can see the depth of the pipes.

 

[Bobbya82]

Good idea, what would be a aceptable depth to be able to plant ontop?

Thanks again

 

[Bobbya82]

Is there a minimun depth they would have to be for me to be able plant on top?

Thanks

 

[JohnD]

two feet might do. Three feet better.

 

[Bobbya82]

Thanks John, will a laurel be ok, is there any other suitable shrub hedges that you would reccommend where the roots are not that big?

 

[r896neo]

A hedges roots will be proportional to its size. If your hedge is only ever to be 5 feet high then dont worry about the pipes the roots will never get big enough to damage them. If however you want a large 10ft thick hedge you will need to protect the pipes or rethink the hedge.

 

[Bobbya82]

Thanks, definatley not 10ft

More like 6ft, hopefully this will be ok then?

Thanks again

 

[r896neo]

Unless the pipes are unusually shallow i dont see a problem with that. As mentioned above simply lift the cover of the chamber to check depths. I wouldnt consider any extra precautions unless they are less than 500mm deep.