Does anyone know anything about gardening?

There are pages on facebook where you can put yourself forward to be a dumpsite for tree surgeons.

Freecycle? My in-laws managed to clear a load of gravel they didn't need in about 10 minutes by advertising it on there.

Starting to get some colour.

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I've got a bare mostly breezeblock end wall in the back garden. I'd like to line it with a hedgerow - on the other side is a small group of tall sycamores and ash trees, neglected by the behind neighbours, so whatever goes there has to be reasonably tolerant of dry and summer shade.
Does anyone have recommendations of where to buy? I don't drive.

I'm considering this https://www.suttons.co.uk/Gardening/Trees-and-Shrubs/Hedge-by-Type/Create-a-Wildlife-Hedgerow/Mixed-Native-Hawthorn-Based-Bare-Roots_253575.htm - either that or the blackthorn based one - I think it's about twice as much as I need, would anyone be interested in going halves? Or smaller quantities.

Do you specifically want a prickly hedge? Berberis is properly vicious if that is what you want. If you want a hardy hedge then a Privet will tolerate almost anything and as a bonus Indian stick insects love it, if you want a pet.

Indian stick insects love it

Good thinking, a self sufficient source of twiglets may well prove to be a welcome protein supplement post-Brexit.

Blackthorn;
+ve; Sloes, (eventually),
-ve; blackthorn spreads by suckers from the roots, throwing up a new tree about every 2 feet,
and,
they will want to be getting away from your neighbours established trees.

I like hawthorn and blackthorn aesthetically, and I'd like to encourage small birds. I'm guessing the thorns deter cats and foxes.

Thanks, that is certainly something to consider. It's hawthorn the same in terms of spreading?

Hazel could be another option, or mix:

https://www.habitataid.co.uk/hedge-mix-conservation-hedge?gclid=Cj0KCQiAk-7jBRD9ARIsAEy8mh4BmlOPET67fwopBzSB3XknvSG2gE2mRtJjjFPqhGVoeV-mQBAaB2IaArDyEALw_wcB

yep I was also thinking about planting a hazel as a shrub or a tree. the one you linked to is similar to the Sutton's one - 50% hawthorn then a mix of other things including hazel. looks like a nice site though, thanks.

Nah, I've never seen a hawthorn spread by the roots.
Also consider a yew, for year round foliage, and berries for the wildbirds.

You could intersperse with Mirabelle plum trees which a guy down the road has in his hedge. They take trimming and in the summer he gets loads of tasty little plums.

+1 for Myrobalan/Mirabell plum

There are a couple of street trees in Ealing that yield sufficient (in a good year, older specimens tend to biennial fruiting), for several kilos of Winter carbohydrate enlivening chutney.

They make good crumbles too.

If anyone needs fresh woodchip west of Acton then hit me up. Our chip mountain just got cleared but we generate 1-5tons a day on average...

How far west of Acton?
What size is your woodchip?
Suitable for winterising footpaths?
(Waving from Ruislip).

Yard is Iver but can dump loads when out n about depending on what we’re up to that day.
Chip size varies depending on what’s going through and how recently I changed the blades on all the chippers.
Dry dead chips are generally pretty good for paths etc.
Chip is better this time of year as still dry and relatively leaf-free. The sap is rising and it’s about to get leafy so will be much wetter and stickier over the next month or so.

Cheers!

Is it something that needs to be picked up weekday work hours?

You have a private message.

how do i stop a motherfucking cat/fox/whatever digging under the fence and fucking the garden bed in the process?

Tried the Lion poo? Silent Roar I think is what it's called. Gets mixed reviews but might work for you.

.

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The longwinded method would be to trench and fix a wire mesh at least 9 inches down into the soil. There are thicker gauge, galvanised meshes available, rather than'chicken wire' from diy superstores that seems to have declined in quality/durability.

I put new fencing with concrete gravel boards up on the summer. In 3 places something has made a concerted effort to get under. I've been considering finishing the job and exposing the underside of the boards a little - I've been worrying about the lack of permeability of the boundaries. The cats/foxes go over, but I know we have toads and frogs and I worry about them not being able to roam. I don't think we have hedgehogs in the area, sadly.

The digging is fairly contained though, and only locally destructive in each location.