'Defensive' Plants

[Mr. Tickle]

HI board!

I'd like to plant some brambles or other spikey-nasty-mean plants along a boarder for security purposes. It is a piece of ground by a carpark about .5-1m wide and maybe 10m long and is backed by a fence.

What plant can i use that will grow but not take over the whole place in 2 months flat? I don't mind doing work to keep it back.

Cheers for any help you can give me!

 

[Nige F]

Cactus....Holly.

 

[Diyisfun]

Trimmed & kept to the size you want.
Try this.. http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1072.htm

 

[Thermo]

berberis is always a thorny favourite on ammenity landscaping for defensive planting and boy are they sharp.

 

[dg123]

If you want something quick but manageable I would suggest Dog Rose. They are established quite quickly but can be chopped back when required, possibly a gap filler whilst the other recommendations are getting established.

 

[Mr. Tickle]

These all sound like great options!

Where do i go and get these sorts of plants? I've been to loads of garden centres and i can't find anything like this - am i looking in the wrong place, should they be available in garden centres?

Is there a time of year i should be looking?

 

[pickles]

Hawthorn, although it takes a while to grow so plant it close together and in depth

 

[sidecar_jon]

Get the plants from a specialist hedgeing place.. like
http://www.hedging.co.uk/acatalog/new_hedges.html (who do a rather good catalogue) bit late for bare rooted now, but bought in quantity fairly cheep anyway. Hawthorn (AKA Quickthorn) does make a good barrier but figure on 5 years for full "stock proof" barriers.

 

[2scoops0406]

Get the plants from a specialist hedgeing place.. like
http://www.hedging.co.uk/acatalog/new_hedges.html (who do a rather good catalogue) bit late for bare rooted now, but bought in quantity fairly cheep anyway. Hawthorn (AKA Quickthorn) does make a good barrier but figure on 5 years for full "stock proof" barriers.

www.hedging.co.uk I passed them today , I'd go for a berberis, fast growing, bit of interest, and very thorny.

 

[pitbull]

Berberis a.k.a. The burglar bush (keeps the thieving scum out)

 

[2scoops0406]

And I don't believe you can be charged for possesion of an offensive hedge!

 

[Thermo]

have a search on the internet, or even ebay. a lot of small nurserys use that as a cheap way of selling on the net. berberis is definetly the one. i hate removing it on jobs it always seems to get its revenge at some point