Questions

I saw a plant/ bush that has yellow tops and it is spikey like thorn and is like something that you would see at the side of a motorway after it has been completed, any clue what it could be?

I want to plant 4 trees at the front of our house . want something no real maintance and wont grow to high. we also live beside the beach and can be very exposed to high winds.

I planted a big laurel hedge last year both sides of my site and 75% have survived, the others have possibly died due to water logging ground. I also have a 100ft back boundary to my site away from the house. I would like to know is there any trees or hedges that would survive heavy ground, sometimes wet in wintertime . Getting a minidigger for digging drains is not an option now im afraid.

My neighbour and I share front steps and have 3 black square wooden Versailles type tubs in front. Quite formal look which suits 19th century terrace. Currently planted with box (or something similar) which is brown and dead. I want to replace with something evergreen and not too demanding. Thinking pieris or fatsia. East facing so not good for camellias. What do you suggest?

I have a steep bank at the back of the garden but its very hard to grow anything, it seems quite dry and very stony! Daffodils appear to be about the only thing that is growing well. Can you recommend something to plant and also a fast ground covering plant that might cover the area. the area is roughly 90m2