The Wars of the Roses will be known to you as a period of civil war in medieval England between the Lancastrians wearing red roses and the Yorkists wearing white roses.

As a horticulturalist I think we are now witnessing the Wars of the Leylandii, Bamboo and Laurel hedging! Berkshire is being built upon at an amazing rate and the consequences are evident along the garden fence. Whether the development is a simple extension or an estate of hundreds of homes, we are constantly approached by both developers and home owners with cries of “We don’t want to see the neighbours!”

They want an instant screen that shuts out the view of the people next door.

I can understand the desire for privacy but why has the garden boundary become the next war zone where people no longer want to share a chat across the garden fence? The problem comes when everyone wants things instantly. Gardens and plants just aren’t like that. Yes you can get an instant hedge. It’s possible to supply Leylandii 6m tall on planting. One supplier I spoke with had to be on site at 4am with evergreen trees that had to be planted before 10am when the local market opened to ensure the car park was screened from view.

But I urge you to consider what happens after they have been planted. Hopefully they will establish their roots well and will continue to grow. If a plant grows quickly its maintenance needs to be considered carefully. Might you regret it when the Leylandii hedge you planted five years ago is now too high for you to reach and trim yourself? If you are happy to call in the experts you need to consider the maintenance costs of the future when making your initial decision on which species to plant.

Furthermore consider the neighbours’ response when those Leylandii hedges grow bigger and bigger or the bamboo roots start running under the fence.

Much as it is nice to have some privacy let’s see if we can minimise the wars in our beautiful Berkshire that result from decisions that are made as to what to plant on the boundary line.

“Going native” when you plant a hedge may be worth considering if you wish to attract wildlife or if you are in a semi-rural setting and wish to plant in keeping with the landscape beyond your boundary. Hawthorn, Hazel, Blackthorn, Field Maple and Holly are all native species that create hedges of interest.

So next time you hear the term “hedge fund” consider that it may not necessarily refer to placing your money in a rather dubious form of investment but may be the pot of money you have set aside to create a lasting, growing hedge of beautiful plants that may or may not screen your view of the neighbours. It can give years of pleasure and now is the time to consider its planting for the most cost effective establishment.

by Bernadette Varilone, from Unique Gardens, in Woodley.