Thorny hedge

[egit123]

Hello,

I am thinking to plant some thorny shrubs along my neighbor's fence. A couple of years ago he replaced his wooden fence but the new one is barely 1.50m high while the older was about 1.80, so now I have lost privacy and by law he is not obliged to make it higher. I asked him already a couple of times if he would do something but he does not care. Besides he now has got a cat that easily jumps the fence and use my garden as a toilette. I have tried most of the usual remedies but they won't really work. I think that a thorny hedge can stop the cat and will give me back my privacy at the same time. I would like to buy thorny shrubs that can be also decorative for the garden and that do not grow too thick as they may damage the neighbor's fence which is already in a bad condition. I was thinking to plant the shrubs 30-40cm from the fence and maintain it about 1.80-2m high and about 40cm thick. I like pyracantha but I am concerned it may grow too thick. What plant would you suggest is right for me?

Many thanks,

egit123

[David E. Ross]

You want it to grow quite thick if you want it to stop a cat. You also want it to have growth at the base, or the cat will merely walk under it.

Some forms of holly (Illex) have prickly leaves that are as bad as thorns. Depending on your climate, pyracantha could be perfect.

[penmart01]

The easy solution is to plant an attractive wooden privacy fence that's taller than the neighbors'.... you won't have to look at the neighbor's fence and you can plant whatever you like along your fence. As for the cat, there really isn't any hedge that will deter a cat, perhaps closely spaced bamboo. Cats will have trouble scaling a chainlink fence and there are colorful privacy slats that can be slipped into the fence, however chainlink is not very attractive regardless.

[David E. Ross]

Also consider closely spaced junipers. The shrub types can be quite prickly.