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Fast growing shrub for hedge...

11 years ago

I know this question gets asked every so often, and I've read lots of responses on the web, including some here at Garden Web, but here's my dilemma. I've been told that Arborvitae is a fast growing conifer that works well as a hedge. More research indicates that not all varieties are fast growing, and the giant emerald green arborvitae is the fastest. But I don't want a giant hedge, and in particular I'm not interested in one more than two or three feet in depth, so it doesn't take up a significant portion of my yard space, but I also don't want to wait 10 years for a decent hedge. And, of course, I want something I find attractive (I like the arborvitae, and I've looked at some yew that are very nice, too)...

Any help?

Thanks!

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Comments (7)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
giant emerald green arborvitae is the fastest.

==>>>no.. no.. no..

emerald green.. smargard is slow ...

the fast one is green giant ... which will get too big..

why not a wooden fence.

with what sounds like a tiny yard.. i cant think of anything.. that would be fast.. and thin.. and not be a 'i have to shear it twice a year plant' ...

more facts on the actual yard and space.. and a pic.. would probably be best.

your best bet MIGHT BE... thuja occ. de groots spire ...mine is 12 feet high.. and about 2 feet wide ... google it.. i have to go make dinner

ken
MattClara
Original Author
11 years ago
I've attached an image. I'd like the hedge for the left (west) and top (north) side of my property. I have no back yard to speak of (maybe 10 feet between house and a line of cedar trees), so I want to create a little private space in the side/front yard. It doesn't have to be completely private, or else I would just put up a fence and be done with it. Hedges are prettier than fences, too.
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Not sure which is the main issue - the appearance of the fence or "privacy." Simply in terms of what might survive under all those trees, you could try either eleutherococcus sieboldianus ('Variegatus' is a very pretty shrub and does OK in dry shade) or akebia quinata vine whose exuberance will be muted without access much water. Neither is evergreen. I have three rhododendrons within reach of the roots of my large maple and two dogwoods and they're doing OK. They look better now that my neighor cut HIS big maple down and they get more light. Agree with digging about the yews - they'll grow in the basement. They can also get very large, so don't plant them right up against the fence.
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Pierce, just be aware that you will need a male holly for every 5-7 female plants to get berries. Because you will be planting tightly, you might be able to stretch it to one per 10 females. Most of the male forms I know of are shorter growing than the females, in general. You could get around this by using 1-gallon males and planting in the same hole as the females/'Nellie R.Stevens' as you space them out - they can grow up and be available, but are 'hidden' among the mass of the females. I know 15 gal. 'Nellie R. Stevens' are available, but can't speak as to price. While the 'Nellie R. Stevens' are a good hedge plant, if you wanted to mix in another type of tree, the Thuja 'Emerald Green' (a.k.a. 'Emerald Beauty' or 'Smaragd') is another good hedging plant, growing fairly fast to 12-15', and about 3-5' wide. You can fairly easily find 5 gallon plants, at about 4-6' tall - and pay more for them than 1 gal. - so they might be good where you want immediate height. While running bamboos will provide a solid screen once they are established, they will also RUN!! I have pulled out runners that are up to 8' long, and about 6" deep, in the spring. As long as you mow faithfully, you can keep them in check. However, even asphalt won't stop them from coming up - cement MIGHT! You can buy barriers, but you need to make a 3' deep trench for the barrier to be effective, and even then, you will probably have to watch for escapees over the top. Clumping bamboos are much better behaved, and will expand, but stay where you plant them.
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I can't think of any ornamental grass which will fit your description of needs. Almost all of the tall ones need to be cut back to the ground every spring, and do not regain their mature height until sometime in mid-late summer. I also cannot think of any other sort of perennial which will grow from small pot size to privacy height in it's first year. Most of them take at least 3 years to reach mature height, in good growing conditions. Shrubs take even longer. Climbing roses need something to climb on. If zoning permits it, you could build a trellis of appropriate height, and install fast-growing flowering vines like Morning Glory. The trellis would provide a bit of privacy until the vines fill in every year.
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laceyvail 6A, WV
11 years ago
Fast and thin and very hardy, but very, very expensive--Juniperus virginiana 'Taylor'. Gets some 20 feet tall but remains only 2 feet wide. The only nursery I've been able to find that carries it is Sooner Plant Farm in Oklahoma.
MattClara
Original Author
11 years ago
Also, I should mention, I don't mind having to trim a hedge twice a year...it's just that I don't know what varieties take to trimming well. I'm likely to give whatever I have a "classic" boxy wall look, with square sides and flat on top.

(And thanks for the Juniperus virginiana 'Taylor' suggestion!)
MattClara
Original Author
11 years ago
What about English Boxwood? I understand it can be trimmed into about any shape. Any ideas what varieties would be best for lower Michigan and how fast they grow?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 years ago
Boxwood grows about as fast as molasses flows - very slowly :-) You either have to buy big or be patient.

How tall a hedge are you looking for? Arborvitaes are quite often found at around 6' tall or so and at very reasonable prices at places like Lowe's or Home Depot. 6' is a pretty decent privacy screen right out of the box :-)

Is there any reason a deciduous hedge wouldn't work? Or a mixed part deciduous/part evergreen hedge? Mixed hedges, sometimes called tapestry hedges or hedgerows, are extremely attractive and easy to maintain. Usually minimal pruning required. First, no monoculture so if you lose one plant for whatever reason, easy to fill in with another. They can offer an extended season of interest with early or summer flowering and fall color, often can produce berries or fruit so of value to wildlife. And you can vary the plantings from sun to shade if that's the situation, or all sun or all shade. Not necessarily narrow in profile but if you have a lovely and colorful shrub border that is servicing also to provide privacy, maybe it's worth losing a bit of unnecessary lawn?
Eimer
11 years ago
I would consider both: a fence and a row of evergreens. The fence would offer some quick privacy, especially if it is a solid wooden fence, and then a row of shrubs on the inside, the southeast-facing side of the fence (by your map), where they should still get plenty of sun. So, if some are slower-growing shrubs, the waiting should be easier to take.

Or you could consider a metal-mesh fence to support fast-growing vines. The vines, from clematis to passion vine to honeysuckle to ivy to Virginia creeper, could provide blossoms and attract birds, bees, butterflies ...

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