ᐅ Hedge near the terrace and garage – any potential issues?

Hello everyone,
we are planning our fence together with the neighbor.
We are currently leaning towards a hedge combined with granite pillars.
What concerns me a bit is the immediate proximity of the hedge to the paved area and the garage.

How do hedge roots spread?
Do they grow under the curb and through gravel, eventually lifting the paving?
Is there anything that can be done about this? Google mentions root barriers—are they effective? If roots can grow through concrete, wouldn’t they also penetrate the barrier?

For the hedge, we are considering either yew or laurel. Are there any experiences regarding their roots, maintenance, or diseases?

Thanks in advance to everyone.

FF2677 schrieb:

How do hedge roots spread?

It depends on the plant species. If you have paving next to it, you should choose plants with roots that grow deeper rather than spreading wide. Also, consider the growth habit—select plants that stay relatively narrow if space is limited.

FF2677 schrieb:

We are considering yew and laurel for our hedge.

Yew is a plant often associated with cemeteries and grows very slowly. It prefers acidic soil. Laurel comes in many varieties—more than you might expect.

I recommend searching on gardening or hedge-focused websites for more detailed information.

FF2677 schrieb:

How do hedge roots spread?

If the hedge is planted correctly, damage to the patio from roots is unlikely over a very long period.
However, if people plant the hedge trees with their roots bent towards the patio, damage is likely to occur soon.

FF2677 schrieb:

We are considering yew and laurel for the hedge. Are there any experiences regarding roots, maintenance, diseases...

Yew provides added value for native birds. The yew berries are inedible to toxic—some people worry about their children’s safety because of this.
Laurel is like a desert for most insects and birds. Some choose laurel precisely for this reason, as well as because it is inexpensive and grows quickly.
If I had to choose, I would prefer yew, but I especially like beech hedges, which keep their foliage in winter and remain quite dense.

I would recommend privet – depending on the variety, it can stay green even in mild winter regions. It grows very narrow and slim, flowers beautifully if left alone, but can also be pruned well. It roots where it can access water, which it probably won't under the terrace.

As long as there are no deer nearby, which love the shoots of privet.

ypg schrieb:

Yew is a plant associated with cemeteries.

I thought Thuja was the cemetery hedge...