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Hi, I have these hedges in my south facing planter box and want to rip them out for something a bit better as they've started to die off.
Open to any ideas. Something with flowers or without. Preferably low maintenance.
Before choosing replacements @dabroa, it’s worth pausing to work out why the existing hedge has struggled, because that same issue will affect anything new you plant there. From the photo, the plants don’t look especially old or overgrown, which often points to an underlying problem rather than simple age. Common causes in raised planter boxes like this are poor drainage, inconsistent watering, or compacted soil. If water tends to sit in the bed after rain, roots can rot. On the flip side, if the bed dries out quickly and isn’t irrigated regularly, shallow-rooted hedges can decline fast, especially in warmer weather. Fixing drainage and refreshing the soil will give any new plants a much better chance.
Because the bed is south-facing, it suits a lot of low-maintenance plants. If you want something neat and evergreen without flowers, low-growing buxus alternatives like dwarf gardenia, liriope, or dwarf mondo grass can work well and look tidy year-round. If you’d like some flowers without too much upkeep, dwarf agapanthus, or even native options like dwarf grevillea varieties can do nicely once established, provided the soil drains well.
Whatever you choose, improving the soil first will make the biggest difference. Removing the old plants, loosening the soil, adding fresh premium potting mix and some compost, and checking drainage before replanting will set you up for success.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
