Need Privacy Shrub to Replace Lilacs
baseballmom94
16 years ago
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conifers
16 years agobaseballmom94
16 years agoRelated Discussions
Suggestions Needed for Privacy Shrub - zone 9
Comments (3)You don't say where you live, but it looks like it could be a California zone 9. I know people love White Birch trees, but these are so disease/insect prone in dry summer climates, as well as needing a ton of irrigation to look good, and also deciduous in winter, so no privacy then. I wouldn't move the Lycianthes rantonettii to that corner unless it gets at least 6 hours of sun, or it won't bloom well. They are best in full all day sun for best bloom. If you prefer to keep the birches, then by all means plant another, and just make sure you can keep this corner well watered. A compatible shrub for this corner might include Pittosporum tobira variegata, or also fragrant Osmanthus fragrans, or Edgeworthia chrysantha or Pieris forrestii, both could also look good in this spot with semishade or morning sun, but neither of these last two like hot sun and little water. If you like the weeping character of the birches, but would prefer an evergreen, then a grove of Mayten trees could also work here, but this tree does have a tendency to send up shoots from the roots, which need to be kept trimmed occasionally. Acacia cognata is another fine textured weeping evergreen that does better in California conditions long term than Betula pendula, and wouldn't have the sticky aphid poop raining down on you like the birches do....See MoreNeed short privacy shrub to preserve view
Comments (7)Thanks Dax for the links. My garden should only look as beautiful as Monique's!! Ahh..maybe someday. I really liked the Escallonia's but with the bees...and the fact that they keep flowering all season, the bees are constantly there. I'll find someplace to move them were they will thrive and the bees won't bother anybody. You are right about the Euonymous, they are quite boring. I was looking into the Daphne's, but saw that they are frost sensitive. I live just west of the Cascade foothills and we do get snow, ice and frost here during the winter. My climate is more severe than the City of Seattle. I'm not sure they would survive here. I was looking at some varieties of Azalea's and Rhodes and I think I will concentrate on those varieties. We have lots of deer and elk around here and they come right up on the patio. They have nibbled on the Escallonia's quite a bit, but I'm sure they will come back. But, I believe, they don't particularly care for Rhode's or Azalea's too much. And, you are so right, rhododendron is our state flower here, I should have a few in my landscape. Also, I see that your specialty is conifers. I love conifers, too! We have lots of different varieties, although, mostly large douglas firs, deodor cedars, australian pines, weeping AK cedar, and more. But, I don't have too many drawf varieties. What do you think of the Drawf Japanese Cypress "Sungold" shrub? I think they are pretty cool and might be a good choice for the patio border. Thanks for your help! Judy...See MoreSwap hostas for lilacs, vines, sumac, shrubs
Comments (9)Jazzygardener, I don't have anything that's that large yet. I have Joe Pye, but they only will get about 6ft tall. I was going to divide them, as I'm also trying to fill in along my fence. We have a very small pine tree. If it were other things, I could help you, but all my things are new, and very small right now. I hope someone here can help you out. You don't live far from me, I live in Blaine. If you need sun lovers, I have plenty to spare this year, the back yard is what we're working on now. Good luck to you....See MoreSTAT: Need ideas for privacy shrub/tree/vine
Comments (9)How much sun does the fence get, and from which side? Yoiu do not want to create a planting that will totally shade out your neighbor's acuba, because that will compound your problem. A neighbor moved behind our house and immediately installed a chain link fence. It is on a bank which used to have attractive shrubs, but he has made it clear he doesn't want anything "touching" his precious fence. Maybe your neighbor believes you are the same way, and is trying to accommodate you by trimming his acuba. Additionally, he may want privacy as much as you do. I would sugest consulting with him, but that does not appear to be an option. The larger ferns, augmented with enormous hostas and such things as ornamenal rhubarb, might be a good way to go. If your neighbor eliminates the acuba, you might want to check into the viburnums. There is a small version of doublefile viburnum which grows fairly rapidly and is an excellent screen, especially in summer. If you want something that is equally effective in winter, you will need to use evergreens such as the rhododendrons suggested above--make certain to obtain a larger variety, as there is tremendous variation. In the meantime, you could plant honeysuckle vines all along the fence to cover it, or vary that with the hops suggested above. Honeysuckle smell nice, if you obtain the right varieties, and I read somewhere that young hop sprouts are considered edible! Of course, there's always bamboo.... (There are clump forming kinds, but I am really joking....)...See Morelaceyvail 6A, WV
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