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What evergreens can fill my barren gap?
Q I have a 12-15in (30-38cm) strip of garden border that has a brick wall one side, a house wall on the next side and a block paved drive on a third side. The soil is mostly very dry due to a slight roof overhang. I am looking for suggestions for an evergreen shrub that likes dry sunny conditions and is shallow rooted that will get to around 6x3ft (1.8x1m) wide or can be kept that size. Can you help?
Mark Jones (via email)
A There are several contenders for the situation you have in mind, but because the site is in a ‘rain shadow’, work in a good quantity of moisture-conserving composted manure mixed with a ‘whitening’ of fish, blood and bone meal. Water well in dry spells.
The following will grow to around 6ft (1.8m) and spread to 3ft (1m): Cotoneaster lacteus: Milky-white flowers followed by crimson berries. Choisya ternata: Mexican orange has a wealth of creamy-white flowers sleeves shoots in spring and early autumn. Escallonia ‘Slieve Donard’: Apple-blossom-pink flowers in late summer. Daphne ‘Jacqueline Postill’: Richly perfumed purple blooms in late winter. Camellia ‘Donation’: Semi-double, peach-pink flowers in April. Euonymus japonicus ‘Ovatus Aureus’: Golden variegated leaves. Cut out any green-leaved reversion.
If the one you choose outgrows its allotted
