Plants for below a mixed hedge

[PipOfSuffolk]

Hi everyone,

I am in rural Suffolk, UK (growing zone 8b), and we have a beautiful mixed hedge about 7 foot high to the right of our front garden. It’s a mix of Holly, Hawthorn, and Rose of Sharon, with a thin strip of very weedy turf just front of it. The front garden is north facing, and the hedge gets a fair amount of sun throughout the day.

We have issues with three cornered garlic which we’e digging up en masse (I anticipate we’ll be doing so for years to come!!), but I'd like to plant something else in in the space below the hedge, particularly as birds use the hedge and I’d like a bit of ground cover for them. The ground has the traditional issue of being very dry below the hedge, and I'd guess fairly low on nutrients etc.

Any suggestions of what might do well? Thanks so much on advance.

 

[oneeye]

Hi everyone,

I am in rural Suffolk, UK (growing zone 8b), and we have a beautiful mixed hedge about 7 foot high to the right of our front garden. It’s a mix of Holly, Hawthorn, and Rose of Sharon, with a thin strip of very weedy turf just front of it. The front garden is north facing, and the hedge gets a fair amount of sun throughout the day.

We have issues with three cornered garlic which we’e digging up en masse (I anticipate we’ll be doing so for years to come!!), but I'd like to plant something else in in the space below the hedge, particularly as birds use the hedge and I’d like a bit of ground cover for them. The ground has the traditional issue of being very dry below the hedge, and I'd guess fairly low on nutrients etc.

Any suggestions of what might do well? Thanks so much on advance.

Can you post a photo of the area. I love Hollies, Hawthorn, and Rose of Sharon.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

My immediate thoughts are bluebells and wind flowers (wood anemone), remember bluebells take seven years from seed to flower, bulbs can be a better way to go. Lords and ladies give a flower and good berries, but poisonous if you have kids. A horizontal cotoneaster would probably make it, again, flowers and berries, and insects love the flowers.