What shrub/tree should I get?

[bufferz]

Right, we are currently in the process of organising our front garden, what we have is a triangular area next to a concrete slab driveway. The length of the triangle is approx.6m, 3m across the front of the house, and then returns to the start of the drive.



We want some shrubbery at the point to the left to dissuade people using the area to walk on, bringing mud/grass into the house. Whats a quick growing shrub, about 3-4 feet max height that will not damage the cars if they rub against it, and will itself not be damaged by the cars itself?

Thanks in advance

 

[JohnD]

Lauel is a non-thorny bush, the leaves are big and waxy, and it has soft stems rather than twigs or trunk so will not scratch the car.

Not especially fast-growing but is evergreen and makes a long-lived bush.

 

[carlap]

If hollies do well in your part of the world, many of them will grow to that height and would work well.

 

[WabbitPoo]

Laurel will grow to a very large tree if you let it, and even if you don't the branches will get really thick and not good for walking by or cars nearby.

Don't want to dodge the issue but why not go to your local nursery and look at the labels? alternatively, go to the RHS web site - they have a plant selector in which you can search by size/colour/soil type etc.

 

[Nerine]

This sounds quite a big area for one plant; but it gives you the chance to make an attractive border. Stick to evergreens that will give good cover so you do'nt have lots of weeds creeping in underneath. You do'nt say whether its sunny or shady; is the soil heavy clay or light and sandy? Mix in some bags of compost when planting, it can only inprove things. Get the nursery to recommend one for your soil. Its worth getting it right from the beginning, then you can enjoy it for years to come.

Laurel can be a bit of a thug, depends whether you want to hide front door behind the shrubs. Anything really fast growing is likely to get quite tall.

Try these, they will do in most sites: Ceanothus impressus 1.5x3m low, spreading, blue flowers early summer. Euonymus fortunei '
Emerald Gaiety 1x1.5 dense low growing variegated leaves.
Lonicera nitida 1.5x1.5, small leaves, dense. Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken'
Fan-shaped, white flowers in spring 0.75x2m. If you can't find these or want something different read the label carefully or ask at the nursery, but I can guarantee these will look good.

You might be able to get all of these in your border. They dont need much pruning and will look after themselves. You can cover the soil between the shrubs with bark chippings to keep the weeds down.

Get down to the garden centre now - this is the best time to get them in.
They might look small to start with but they will soon fill out come spring.