Neighborly etiquette question for privacy hedges and shrubs
6footzuch
12 years ago
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Cher
12 years agoRelated Discussions
My Lot and Native Barrier-Shrub/Hedge Question
Comments (6)Nice place! Talk to as many "nurserymen" as you can on this along with studying whatÂs posted here. My concern about your situation is a desire for a multi-tasker. You might end up making so many compromises to get that one plant that will do both, it wonÂt do both to your satisfaction. Look at all the options for a good muti-tasker. Then look at the options for a good screen planting. Then look at the options for a security shrub. Make a decision based on what really important to you and what will fit that role. This may be oversimplified but if you want security, get a dog. I would much prefer a good screen tree like Cupressocyparis leylandii or Leyland Cypress. Craig Evans, our local extension agent, writes this about L. C. Use: Ornamental and screen Mature width: 15-25Â Hardiness Zone: 6-10 General Shape: Open pyramidal form Mature Height: 30-60Â Growth Rate: Rapid Needles: Scale-like, most common cultivar is rich green Cultural Notes: Full-sun, prefers better soils although tolerant of poorer sites with drainage; extremes in ph and salty sites; purchase as a 1-5 gallon container rather than B & B. Pests; No major; tip-burn in the winter with extreme changes, gets a few bagworms Best Traits; incredible growth rate; dense foliage; beautiful form; good color year-round Negative features; tip-burn, but this is easily removed by hand while wearing a pair of leather gloves randy Here is a link that might be useful:...See MoreFast Growing Evergreen Privacy Hedge
Comments (3)It depends some on your dog, but I wouldn't count on a hedge to keep a dog in. At the least it will need a wire mesh fence in the inside of the hedge to keep the dog contained until the plants grow together. Even a well grown, mature hedge may have some gaps near the base which a dog could slide through, so it may continue to need a wire fence for the first two or three feet. This request may be a bit of a problem: "shaped like a box (not spherical and not pyramidal)" since in order to maintain dense foliage near the bottom of a hedge, you will need to taper it some so that the upper parts of the hedge don't shade out the lower parts of the hedge. To maintain a boxy tapered shape rather than a more rounded shape will require pruning to give you flat sides. Do you have deer? If not, there are forms of Thuja occidentalis that will stay shorter and will grow together to make a good hedge. I don't personally have experience with how they take to pruning since I like my plants unpruned for the most part. I have 'Sunkist' (green-gold) which will be easy to maintain in the 6'-10' range for quite some time based on mine as they seem to have slowed considerably at about 5'. I bought plants in the fall of 2007 at about 3'. As individual plants they are a bit floppy in heavy snow/ice situations, but that may be less of an issue with a hedge. 'Techny' is dark green and grows to 10'-15', and I have seen photos of it pruned into a hedge. I planted mine at about 4' in the fall of 2007 and they are about 6' now. I imagine that you can find other selections of this native evergreen that are dwarf in size compared to the regular species (which grows to around 40'.) If you have deer issues they aren't a good choice, but in my heavily wooded rural area, they haven't been bothered. spring 2010 From evergreen shrubs spring 2014 From evergreen shrubs Another possible choice to look into is a really hardy Rhododendron, though they will have a more rounded form and IMO don't look great pruned into boxy shapes and will make a more gently flowing shaped hedge. They will have the added benefit of spring flowers if you don't prune them. In really cold weather they don't provide a lot of sight privacy since the leaves tend to curl up, but most folks don't require a lot of privacy when the temperatures are below 15 degrees. The link below will take you to a search page from the American Rhododendron Society which allows you to put in height preferences. On left side of photoPJM rhododendrons in 3/4 shade (so not as dense as full sun,) about 5' at 6 or 7 years in the ground from >1' when planted. From evergreen shrubs You could ask this question on the shrub forum or the conifer forum for other suggestions beyond what you get here. It also might be worth visiting local nurseries (not big box stores which often have poor or inaccurate info and plants that may not be hardy here) to see what they have in stock that would fit your requirements. They could most probably order more to complete your hedge as it will take a rather large number of plants. Here is a link that might be useful: Rhododendron Plant Search...See MoreWhat plants are good for narrow privacy hedges/screens?
Comments (0)Thuja occidentalis What plant to use to screen a view that grows fast, tall and very narrow is one of the most commonly asked questions. If the space is VERY narrow, the best solution is to put up a trellis and cover it with a well behaved evergreen vine like Trachelospermum jasminoides, Solanum jasminoides or Hardenbergia violacea. Another option is to espalier plants that have a habit of growing flat to begin with.Grewia, Xylosma, Podocarpus gracilior, and Cocculus being good choices.The other possibility is bamboo, but be SURE that you plant a clumping bamboo, rather than a running species, or you and your neighbor will live to regret it. Good clumping bamboos for screening are varieties of Bambusa multiplex. They have foliage nearly to the ground, are very dense clumps, and are from 6' to 15' tall. They can even be sheared. If there is a bit more space, a fastigiate shrub or small tree may be the answer. These are plants that have mutated from the normal growth habit, and grow much narrower than usual. Italian Cypress is the most commonly seen fastigiate plant, but there are many others that are potentially useful. Possibilities are Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket', Deodara 'Gold Cone,' Juniperus communis 'Gold Cone', Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald', Buxus sempervirens 'Graham Blandy', Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil', Ilex vomitoria 'Will Fleming', and Euonymus japonicus 'Chollipo' and 'Beni Komachi'. There ARE a few plants that naturally grow tall and narrow, Nandina, Mahonia japonica and Podocarpus macrophyllus are the easiest to find. If you are trying to extend the height of a fence, you could plant a large shrub or small tree alongside the fence, then prune up the lower branches to provide room to walk (and even plant) underneath. Photinias, Pittosporums , Oleanders, Arbutus unedo and Prunus caroliniana 'Brite n tite' and 'compacta' are good candidates for this treatment. The last (and most labor intensive) option is to plant a row of evergreen shrubs and keep it sheared to the width desired. Keep in mind frequency of shearing will depend on the growth rate of the plant. I have an evergreen privet hedge (one of the fastest growers) that needs to be sheared twice a year to keep it under control, and could use a third if I was a perfectionist and less lazy. I highly recommend purchasing and using electric shears to make the job more bearable. However, if you go this route, DO NOT plant a broadleaf plant like English laurel (electric shears result in mangled and shredded leaves that look awful). Highly recommended species for a sheared hedge are Pittosporum tenuifolium, Myrtus communis and Eugenia. You also need to think of what is on either side of the planting area. If it's an asphalt driveway or your neighbor's foundation, you don't want the heartbreak of having to remove your hedge (tree) 10-15 years down the road when it's looking perfect but starting to cause underground structural damage....See MoreWildlife Friendly Privacy Hedge Ideas
Comments (13)floral_uk, the goats will be well fenced away from the plants like they are now. I just dont want to plant any more toxic stuff at the new place and stick to non toxic things for landscaping, going forward :) Floral & Ken, that makes sense. Good point on not planting a monoculture. Hoping to find mostly stuff that is evergreen (keeping its leaves over the winter). I will be planting an orchard of sorts, so there will be different kinds of plants there. So far, I found a huge Pecan Tree, a Crab Apple, and a Blackberry (that doesnt look like our scraggly wild ones), planted on the property. Everytime I go out there I find something new. We havent even went into the wooded part yet because its too overgrown to get into 😅 Jay, thank you for those suggestions. I will look them up! DM , I have found the Camellias to be drought tolerant once established here. I also have some banana shrubs (Michelia/Magnolia figo) but I dont know how tall they would get in the ground. I have had 2 in pots for about 12 yrs and they are about 7ft tall. They get bare legs but it might because they are potted. They smell so good. Gardenias do well up there too because there is a huge lovely one by the back deck that has managed to survive on its own for a year while the place was in foreclosure. Another question... I found one website that said you must buy a male & female Wax Myrtle plant to get the berries. Is that true? I didnt know there were female and male wax myrtles, I thought they all just made berries..never had Wax Myrtles before lol. Our local nursery just has them in different sizes not labeled by sex!...See MoreTiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
12 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago6footzuch
12 years agoTiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
12 years agomorz8 - Washington Coast
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12 years agoEmbothrium
12 years agoTiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
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12 years agoEmbothrium
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8 years agojva423
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoTheSocalNative
3 years agoNorthern Gardener (3b west central MN)
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5