By Fagan
United Kingdom 
I would like to know what shrubs are good for making a hedge above a dry stone wall in a small garden that would be strong enough to make a barrier for safe play for children- low maintainance if possible, and good for garden birds, any help would be appreciated! It is a south facing garden, and open so can be windy!
12 May, 2011
Answers
Thanks for the advice, it is much appreciated. I think I will try the berberis nana.
18 May, 2011
Berberis varieties or Prunus laurocerasus - the first are prickly, so will discourage children from going near, the second gets 25 feet if you let it and is quite boring, but is very strong and will prevent (eventually) inadvertent falling down the edge. For Berberis, check out B. darwinii (evergreen) B. atropurpureum (deciduous). There is a small version of the latter one which only gets 2 feet high - B. atropurpureum 'nana'.
13 May, 2011