STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

itsapinkthing · Coach

Landscaping to create boundaries

Suasoria · Chanel

You want some kind of hedge, perhaps?

Boxwood - so formal, I love the look, but they grow slowly and of course you have to keep shearing them so they look tidy.

Roses make great barriers - not all are thorny. Iceberg is a notably thornless rose that people use a lot because it's kid-friendly.

For sure no fences? I love the look of a split-rail fence with various vines (even grapes) growing on it. I have a low stucco wall around the front yard capped with brick. I wasn't in love with it when we moved in, but it's really grown on me.

Anyway, here are some links.

http://www.garden.org/ediblelandscaping/?page=edible-shrubs10
http://landscaping.about.com/od/hedgesfences/a/hedge_plants.htm
http://landscaping.about.com/cs/hedgesfences/a/privacy_fences.htm

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I'd go to your local landscaping store and ask them what grows best in your area if you decide to go with a hedge (I wouldn't go to HD or Lowes, thier nursury knowledge leaves a lot to be desired much of the time).

You could also plant some hostas along the sidewalk. They are very hardy and strong, so they could easily survive a child, say, falling off a bike into them. And, they can be divided from year to year, so some small ones this years would be big next year, or a few big ones this year could be split for next year. They come in many different leave patterns, and arn't very high 12"-18" and get floery stalks in summer.

Elle · Hermes

I really depends on what does best in your area - I know the winters can be brutal there!

My favorite thing to do is to walk around the neighborhood and look at what other people have going on. Bring your camera/phone, and if you find something you like the look of you can take a picture (take one from farther away for overall form, and one closer so you can see the branch/leaf structure). Then you can research online or bring your pics to the garden center so they can help you find whatever it is.

I'd probably go with something that doesn't die back - a border is a structural element in the landscape, so using something that won't die back to the ground will maintain a sense of enclosure year round, even if you choose something that loses it's leaves in the winter.

Some thoughts - check for hardiness in your area though!
Forsythia - bloom vibrant yellow in the spring and take well to pruning. Not evergreen.
planting-forsythia-m.jpg?300:300

Boxwoods - (we have a boxwood hedge) Slow growing, some dwarf varieties available, takes well to pruning but only if you do it relatively often (at least once a year). Because it's a broadleaf evergreen though, I wonder if you might end up with winter damage thanks to heavy wet snow sitting on them for prolonged periods of time?

Burning bushes - Foliage turns bright red in the fall, but not evergreen. Takes well to pruning, low maintenance.

A tall-ish grass of some sort - most of these are super low maintenance, only needing to be cut back in the early spring. Lots of varieties available, low water needs in the summer. Like the grass here on either side of this path:
garden-awards-fireplace-l.jpg?400:400

Or here in the bottom left of the pic:
lushgarden-front-l.jpg?400:400

-- Edited by Elle on Monday 6th of April 2009 01:25:46 PM

-- Edited by Elle on Monday 6th of April 2009 01:26:25 PM

Kari · Dooney & Bourke

I really like that tall grass idea above....the trick is to make it perfect enough to not look messy