Questions

I recently planted a long hedge of laurel of about 7ft in height. They had been in containers before planting. The site is very windy and the trees will need to be supported. Can you suggest a way of tieing them that will not damage the tree and will not involve staking each plant individually.

I'm preparing a permanent planting area on a windy site on heavy clay soil. I intend to cover it with membrane and gravel. The backbone will be hebes, red robin, hawthorn, broom, and a crab apple tree. I'd love to plant permanent fruit, veg or nut trees. Do you have any advice for me on what you think would survive there? It also needs to look good as its at the front of my house.

Could you please list some colourful shrubs for a shady sheltered site

I want to plant some native Irish trees in about half an acre of land to create a small dense wood. I have no plans to ever cut down these trees once sown.I was thinking about common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and common alder (Alnus glutinosa) as an option. I dug a few holes in the field and on average there's about 1.5-2 feet of depth in clay (good clay soil) but past that the ground is quiet rocky. So I was wondering if the trees that I am thinking about sowing are suitable for this area and how far apart these trees (or perhaps other trees) should be planted in order to let them grow to their full size. Have you a particular native irish tree that you'd like to see growing?

I was planning on planting some common ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior) in a field, but I read on a webpage that they were poisonous to cattle and sheep. Is this true? Are there any of the native irish trees which are poisonous to cattle and sheep?

Im looking to put in a hedge, one that will grow quite high. I have seen tall narrow evergreen trees, cone like in shape and have a regal look to them. Ideally these would grow fast, maintain their shape with little maintenance. Any idea what these may have been?lenght of border is approx 50 metres so what would cost etc amount to?