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Landscape Design

Ideas needed for hedge plantings above retaining wall.

17 years ago

I have a 6 ft tall red block retaining wall (25 ft long)towards the back of our house and would like to plant some type of hedge above it. This is an attempt to stop the kids from jumping off the top and into the backyard. Currently there isn't anything planted as it is new construction. The planting beds are 5 ft deep. This area gets a lot of South wind and sun most of the day. Pruning would be difficult to do because of the vertical distance from the backyard side so would like something that needs little to no pruning. I would prefer something that has year around appeal and would be able to handle zone 5 winters. I was thinking of rosa rugosa but am concerned about suckers making their way into the lawn. Should this be a concern?? Does anybody have any suggestions as to what I could plant?

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Comments (4)

karinl
17 years ago
That's a tough question. I'd need to back up a few steps before contemplating it - why is this the right solution regarding the kids? If they're small, I'd sooner put a fence there, and if they're older, I'd think they could be taught to behave in the yard as you want them to. Also, if the wall faces into your yard, how do the kids get to the top of it... I'm confused, in short, and need to understand the assignment better before I can offer any suggestions :-)
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windmountain
Original Author
17 years ago
I was sort of joking about the kids but we do have nieces/nephews that love to play superman off the wall! Also, I thought the rugosas would help with the strong south wind that we sometimes get in the back yard. Hopefully the picture I've added will clear things up.
Thanks!

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:15517}}
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Ok, so pretty high up, not something where you'd have people looking down on plants, rather they would be looking up to them. That is something to be considered in making your choices. I see the fence. If you want evergreen vines, there are two natives that are evergreen: crossvine (which will adher to the wall with tiny discs) and Carolina jessamine (which needs something to climb like wire strung from top to bottom in a few places). It is a handsome wall, not sure why you want to cover it. Virginia creeper is a deciduous vine that could do the job. If truly there is no sun past 2 pm, then you can do things like the low azaleas or gardenias. If you want more native suggestions, those two are not native, let me know. I'm sure others will have ideas now that you have pictures.
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How tall do you need it to be? Choisya ternata, Mexican orange - will eventually grow to 8' x 8' (evergreen) Ceanothus 'Victoria' can get to be around 10' x 12' (evergreen) Morella californica, Pacific wax Myrtle - 15' x 15' (evergreen) Cotinus 'Grace' - maybe 20' x 15' Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen' - 8' x 8' You would only need a single specimen of any of these in that space to provide a reasonable degree of privacy screening. And there are bunch of lower growing shrubs that work as well, as well as a wide number of dwarf conifers. I hesitate to suggest the more common privacy shrubs like laurel or holly as they are both borderline invasive here.
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'Streib's Findling' has nothing to do with Cotoneaster dammeri, is so similar to typical C. procumbens that it may be most apt to consider it such. In either case (C. dammeri or C. procumbens) we are talking about very low shrubs that will have no ability to deter dogs or human foot traffic. And would need to be checked for local climate suitability in California (try a later edition of the Sunset Western Garden Book). With fire blight being a potential chronic and ruinous problem with cotoneasters planted anywhere temperatures above 70 degrees F. occur regularly in May. In addition to the soil migration issue - already I see some of the footings for the wall support posts sitting high, because of the differential between where they are and where the bottom of the slope is - if the bed is left wide open to the sidewalk, with no barrier where the two meet there will be random and recurring wandering into the bed by animals and humans. Depending on what the specific makeup is of the local human population this unprotected large bed could now become the new great spot to bring your dog by people who do not pick up after them. It even has a fence to keep them hidden from the property owners while they are at it.
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karinl
17 years ago
Ah yes, that helps.

The idea of the roses doesn't appeal to me. That might be just because I'm not a rose person, but also it seems to me that wind would be most bothersome in winter when the rugosas would have no leaves - wouldn't evergreen be better? Also, if kids are going to play there, I'd sooner they just jumped or at worst (if their parents can't watch them:-)) fell without getting caught up in brambles.

A weeping juniper, I suppose a blue rug type, would look fabulous spilling down the wall, and something taller behind it would look more natural, and visually lower the wall better, than something tall right next to it.
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windmountain
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the suggestion of the weeping juniper. You're right, that would look good spilling down the wall. I hadn't given anything like that a thought.
Thanks again!
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