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Elaeagnus is getting hard to control

Dennis Bangham

pollinator

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Location: Huntsville Alabama (North Alabama), Zone 7B

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posted 6 years ago

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Many years ago I put in an Elaeagnus x ebbingei (Pungens and silverthorn) hedge and I was hoping that the growth would slow down and it would be easier to trim each fall. This hedge is maybe 10 years old now and so far it is just as out of control as before.

Will it eventually stop growing so much? Should I replace it with something that does not grow as tall (Goumi maybe)? I want some privacy, so 5 to 6 feet tall and getting fruit, feeding bees and nitrogen fixing is good too. I live in Zone 7B (North Alabama)

All suggestions welcome.

Other people may reject you but if you lie in the forest floor for long enough the moss and fungi will accept you as one of their own!

Bryant RedHawk

gardener

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Location: Arkansas - Zone 7B/8A stoney, sandy loam soil pH 6.5

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posted 6 years ago

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Since you are continuing pruning, the plants will continue to grow, these only slow down if they are "in the wild" and even then they don't slow down their growth rate until near their dying time.

Goumi might be a better choice for a hedge planting, but be prepared to do pruning every year, that is just the nature of hedges you want to keep neat.

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S Bengi

pollinator

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Location: Massachusetts, Zone:6/7 AHS:4 GDD:3000 Rainfall:48in even Soil:SandyLoam pH6 Flat

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It's a 16ft plant so trying to keep it at 5ft (30%) by cutting off the 11ft potential growth(60%), seems like a losing battle. Goumi which is naturally only 5ft does sound like a much better.

Iterations are fine, we don't have to be perfect
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Dennis Bangham

pollinator

Posts: 927

Location: Huntsville Alabama (North Alabama), Zone 7B

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posted 6 years ago

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I need to start over for sure. Thank you.

Other people may reject you but if you lie in the forest floor for long enough the moss and fungi will accept you as one of their own!

Mike Schroer

Posts: 46

posted 6 years ago

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Dennis,
Since I live about 6 miles from you I have been looking for something similar. Have you considered the southern bayberry or also known as the southern wax myrtle? It is a nitrogen fixer and has blooms for the bees and waxy berries for the birds. The wax on the berries can be collected for scented candles. But not much in the way for something to eat. It is evergreen in our area. I am in my second attempt to start some from seed. The first attempt was a failure. I can let you know if my second attempt works.
greybeardmike

Dennis Bangham

pollinator

Posts: 927

Location: Huntsville Alabama (North Alabama), Zone 7B

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posted 6 years ago

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Thanks Mike, I will keep that in mind. I like Goumi because of the food value for people and of course birds can eat it too. I will look into bayberry.

Other people may reject you but if you lie in the forest floor for long enough the moss and fungi will accept you as one of their own!

hans muster

pollinator

Posts: 386

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posted 6 years ago

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If I may: Elaeagnus X ebbinggeii is an amazing rabbit food. Especially in winter, when everything else is dormant.

Mine grows too slowly...

yeah, but ... what would PIE do? Especially concerning this tiny ad:

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