By Dave09
North Yorkshire,
United Kingdom 
What is the best evergreen dense hedge for an exposed windy site? I planted bare-root common laurel (prunus laurocerasus rotundifolia) in November, dipped in RootGrow. Since then, weeks of gales and storms then weeks of snow and ice. The ones just slightly protected from the wind look fine, but the ones in exposed positions have not a single leaf left! Is there a cold-wind-tolerant laurel? Or something else? I would like a reasonable growth rate, a foot a year would be nice. Many thanks.
7 Feb, 2010
Answers
One thing, you really shouldn't plant Prunus laurocerasus bare root but container grown in spring is much better. Don't quite give up yet as they may still shoot in spring. If they do fail, well Holly is a good candidate as said though this should also be planted from container of cell grown plants, not bare root.
7 Feb, 2010
what about escallonia, they can be very hardy and they have pretty flowers too.
7 Feb, 2010
Many thanks for the advice. Perhaps I will leave those laurel sticks in to see if they sprout and plant something else too as insurance. I will look at holly varieties.
8 Feb, 2010
Or just replace the Laurel plants which haven't made it in the spring - this is a hardy plant and will withstand the conditions you describe, though you'd need to keep the whole hedge well watered during dry spells this year.
8 Feb, 2010
All evergreens are more likely to suffer in exposed sites. but you could try Pinus contorta which I have known to survive full exposure to open fields.
8 Feb, 2010
Many thanks for the advice!
10 Feb, 2010
Previous question
Holly is one that comes to mind.
7 Feb, 2010