What should I order to plant a windbreak/living screen to block out the neighbours/noise ?
A Fedge will create an attractive barrier, however, if you want something more dense (although it will, of course loose it’s leaves in winter and will not totally block you from sight then) planting short cuttings might be more effective in the longer term. Ideally the short cuttings should be planted at 18 inch (45 cm) spacing and for more impact and a denser screen, if you have room, a double row would be good with 12 to 18 inches between the rows and the cuttings staggered in a zig zag pattern ‘Bowles Hybrid’ is the toughest of the willows we have available, and a double if not a triple staggered row would be best for a windbreak. Alternatively, one of the coloured stemmed varieties would give interest through the winter. Potentially, each short cutting will grow 3 or 4 stems, some of which, in good growing conditions, should reach 6 to 9 ft in the first year depending on the variety chosen. For a screen, the idea would then be, each winter, to cut down 1/3 to 1/2 of the stems. You
