Can a box hedge grow along a narrow fenceline?

Jack151022

Hi, I need ideas on the side of my driveway. I was initially thinking to cover it with weedmat and pine bark mulch. But also thinking about growing a Japanese box hedge.

As you can see it's quite narrow, there's a drain pipe and also water metre on the front end. Is it a good idea for a narrow hedge?

MitchellMc

Hi @Jack151022,

Growing a Japanese box hedge along the side of your driveway is certainly a possibility, but there are a few things to think about before you get started. One of the main factors will be how much sunlight the area receives. If the spot is heavily exposed to the sun for much of the day, the steel fence can heat up significantly, especially during summer, and that reflected heat can cause a lot of stress to young box plants. On the other hand, if the area is quite shaded, the hedge might also struggle because Japanese box, while relatively shade-tolerant compared to some other varieties, still needs a fair amount of light to thrive and maintain a nice, dense shape.

You’ll also want to keep in mind the space you’re working with. Box hedges can be kept quite narrow with regular trimming, but you’ll need to allow enough room for their roots to spread and grow. Be careful around the drain pipe and water metre too — you’ll want to make sure the plants don't block access for maintenance down the track. 

You'll obviously need to improve the soil dramatically, by removing much of the sand down to at least 30cm and replacing it with soil.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell