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need very thin hedge

17 years ago

Hello,

I would like to create a screen between my backyard (new house, entirely clean slate) and the driveway that runs right along it. I don't want to look at the cars while out back (shared driveway).

I don't really want to put up a big privacy fence and I thought I could put up a hedge along the driveway, leaving a space on both ends (there is a door to the garage at the corner, see below - all that junk at the bottom left will be gone).

However, I'd like one that doesn't take up a lot of space. Would a privet be a good idea? Is there such a thing as a very narrow hedge that is still full enough to screen the cars? This area gets full sun, zone 5b.

{{gwi:255270}}

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Comments (5)

jenny_in_se_pa
17 years ago
Privet gets big too and would need to be sheared regularly to keep "thin".

One possibility might be Ilex crenata "Sky Pencil" which is a japanese holly with a more upright narrow habit. This would be less formal than a row of aborvitae. Another idea may be a row of rose of sharon or even a row of bridal wreath spirea (other spireas tend to be more wide and mounding, where the bridal wreath is narrower and upright but would probably need some staking if you want to maintain the height without them flopping over too much).

Or what about a sheet of decorative lattice attached between a couple wooden poles and then plant some caned shrubs (climbing roses, etc) that could be secured against it? Alternately, you could put up the lattice and on the garden side, sink some trellises along the length and grow some vines like clematises.
shrubs_n_bulbs
17 years ago
Chain link plus a vine.
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P. Allen Smith's book Garden Home has a nice simple homemade trellis set into two large planters with vines growing on it. Attractive, narrow, and portable if necessary. I'm thinking of putting up something similar to add some privacy to my patio until the shrubs get bigger.
john_4b
17 years ago
A fence with vines. Anything else will be too wide for your requirements, will require constant maintenance to restrict growth and/or will not screen the view, especially in winter.
reginacw
17 years ago
What vine will screen even in winter? I think lattice with vine would work and not look too 'fenc-ey'. Ivy stays green all year now I think on it, but it's awfully invasive.

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