By Haraseel
United Kingdom 
Hi, I have a very small front garden which has concrete edging that slants inwards. The ground is hard as it has been covered for years with mesh and stones. There are some rose bushes already planted. There are no boundaries and my neighbour steps onto our property daily and it is not very private. My aim was to plant some laurels on the edge to prevent this happening. However, I am concerned that the concrete will not allow much room for roots and also there is a drainage pipe at the side of the house and the roots may be attracted to this. Any ideas, help or suggestions. I would like to avoid a fence is possible. I have looked into large planters but not sure the laurel would grow but perhaps some other plants will that are on the taller side. Any other boundary shrubs that I could plant perhaps not quite on the border due to concrete. They would also have to withstand being hit by a car door and stepped on? Thanks
4 Nov, 2014
Answers
Or bigger stones that make it not so easy to walk on - I'm thinking of the sort/size often described as Scotch cobbles that local councils had a phase of setting in concrete. Stones are about 3"-4" diameter and set a little way apart from each other so that it is difficult to stand on them. Not flat, cut 'Coronation Street' cobbles but naturally shaped stones. Or you can use flat stones on edge to make patterns
http://www.helenmcfadden.com/Landscapes/China-Guilin-and-Jiantou/i-vF6pLgv/A
Bedding the stones in paving sand rather than concrete will allow a bit of drainage. And you can make the area next to your car flatter and easier to walk on.
PS a phot of what is there now would help
5 Nov, 2014
Laurel gets too big for what you want. Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis) is what I have in the frost garden. It grows slowly, has shallow roots, can take a trim and is hardy and will take children banging doors into it.
5 Nov, 2014
May I ask? after years of being covered in mesh and stones why you want to changed things and risk up setting neighbours?
Have you just moved in? if so do think hard before you upset the neighbours as you have to live alongside them whatever you do and bad feeling can esculate.
However, if you want to improve an unsightly area why not talk to your neighbours and let them know of your plans so you dont upset relations which can be so easily damaged over boundaries.
5 Nov, 2014
I don't agree DRC - technically the neighbours are trespassing and it is perfectly legitimate for Haraseel to redesign their own front garden without reference to the neighbour. It would be different if it was a shared pathway but it isn't, it's a private garden.
5 Nov, 2014
Its still worth considering the situation before rushing in!!!
5 Nov, 2014
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Or a fence.......prickly shrubs like berberis?
5 Nov, 2014