By Annelise
Warwickshire,
United Kingdom 
Urgent Help needed with our front garden hedge please.
We live in a corner house and for some strange reason we have hedging made up of two types of hedges. (I don't know the names of them as this was supplied by the builder's landscapers).
Due to the severe 2010 winter one of the hedges grew back very sparsley last year leaving thick large bare branches. I managed to coax some growth last summer but had to cut down the branches as they were so unsightly. At one point I thought we were going to be left with just branches. Growth is still slow on this hedge whilst the other is flourishing and I can't cut the branches right down as we will be left with big gaps. I really don't know what to do.
2 Apr, 2012
Answers
I think it looks like Viburnum tinus which could be suffering from Viburnum beetle. Leaves go brown and plant will look drought ridden. Plants should be sprayed mid-march before the female has chance to lay her eggs. Can spray with general bug killer, Bayer provado is very effective. Can also tell if it has small pieces (bite marks) in the leaves. A close up picture would be very helpful. Good luck.
TLG
3 Apr, 2012
Oh dear!! - Shall check out the leaves. This happened to several people's hedges in our street after the previous winter so...
We used to get tiny deep pink flowers on the weaker hedge which made me think it could be Escallonia, so not sure if it is a Virburnum Tinus. Will take some close up pics tomorrow as was concentrating on the bare branches last time.
3 Apr, 2012
Previous question
« Just noticed MG's remarks re watering acid plants. I live in E.Yorks which is...
Hello Annelise! ID not easy from the photos - to the left could be one of the bux hedging? At the base of the 'dead' branches could be a cut-leaf choisya coming through, also popular with developers, and susceptible to long hard winter weather? To the right, I don't know ... could be viburnum tinus? another popular edging plant for developers, but which also suffered in previous year's winter. Good luck, and I am sure others on GOY will have plant ideas for you to check out!
2 Apr, 2012