hi

first... shrub .. conifer ... trees.... all mean different things .. and evergreen can be used under each topic ...

what do you have... so we have a starting point of what is wrong ...

and what do you want????

shrubs include both evergreen and deciduous ... this group would include things like lilac, forsythia, daphne, weigalia .. etc ...

conifers... are evergreen ... most of them ... and therein lies the problem of you using the term 'evergreen' and not meaning anything .... there are all kinds of slower growing conifers that would work in your situation ....

then there are trees ... and perhaps you could go with some smaller conifers.. and add some redbuds.. or understory trees... for your screen ...

so ... if you could give us some more info about what you are thinking ... and hopefully a picture of the spot.. perhaps we could lead you in some direction ....

good luck

ken

Also, does this area get mostly sun? How wide and how tall do you want it to be?

thanks- and you are right. Clarification is needed:

I have a picture, but it's not uploaded yet.

Details:
South facing plot.
Something that can reach 4-8' in height.
Evergreen preferably. The plot is about 6' deep, with grass on one side and the sidewalk on the other.

I'd like to flank the shrub/hedge with perennials.. but have the main part of the boarder made of an evergreen plant that will provide privacy.

I'll upload pictures this weekend. NOt sure what I have now, small obovate green leaves. No flowering/fruit I've noticed so far.... Dies back slightly in the winter.

thank you.

If your soil is acidic, you could use several types of kalmias (Mt. Laurel) intermixed with some conifers. Full sun, I think, would be too much for most azaleas and rhodies, but kalmias prefer much more sun than they do. If you would consider "semi-evergreen' plants (lose leaves in very cold winters, but most hang on in your average winter), several viburnums would serve.

BTW, if you could spare an 8 ft depth of bed rather than 6 ft, you might have more choices.

thanks for the suggestions. I tested my soil last year and it's pretty neutral. 7.0 or so...

Here is a link to two pictures of our yard. Maybe someone can ID the shrub.

Here is a link that might be useful: pictures

Do you want it all one kind of plant to make a uniform hedge or are you interested in a mixed shrub border that may have variation in texture, color, and bloom time? The suggestions you will get will vary depending on the look you want. Also, are you planning on pruning to keep the plant within bounds?

Thanks nhbabs:

I really thought a uniform hedge was my only option with privacy in mind. But it would be great to have a mixed shrub boarder. I will be trimming it as it will be flanked by a perennial bed and veggie plots.

Various Hollies or Viburnums, Mountain Laurel, various Yews, Dwarf conifers, White pine (which can be sheared quite nicely, as long as you keep it up), and of course, the perhaps ubiquitous, medium sized Boxwoods, the last group not, of course, flowering.

I am not too familiar with what will grow well in your area, but would suggest that you keep your eyes open as you travel around, especially to public areas - parks, campuses, public gardens, etc. If the plants aren't labeled, usually the groundskeepers can tell you what is growing, and usually if it thrives under the treatment it gets from many public parks or campuses - who do a very good job, mostly, but it can't be as intensively done as a land owner dealing with an acre or less - then it should do well for you.

Look at places like Longwood Garden, as well as at Winterthur and any other large, publicly open estates, since they do have well-landscaped grounds with varied plants for varied situations, including hedges, as well as the funds and background to look for the unusual. I think both the first 2 have attached, retail outlets with plants for sale, but Spring might be a better planting time for you. In any case, a holiday time visit can tell you what looks good in the winter....

If the pH is really that high, I can tell you from experience you are going to be fighting that regarding recommendations from here to eternity. Most of the Philadelphia area is well below 6.0, and can grow azaleas and rhododendrons practically as weeds. You will struggle with them. Also, since most easterners have equally low pH, most of them don't have a good grasp of what shrubs can handle neutral soil and which ones can't. Unfortunately, the pH is going to pose a problem for just about all flowering, evergreen shrubs. Boxwood will do well, and yews can handle just about anything (except deer)

It looks like what is currently there is a kind of privet.

Since I currently live in an area with low pH, I can't make many suggestions for you, but I grew up in northern OH and am thinking back to what I see there on visits. I know that privet can look much better than yours. I've seen a variety with golden new growth, which might be nice for you. Many of the clematis varieties (vines) can grow quite thickly and can either grow up your shrubs or on a trellis of some kind. Be sure to get a type 3 (spring pruned) so your time with little coverage is short. There are columnar barberries which would involve little pruning to keep narrow, as well as golden and red leaved varieties. I'm not sure if any of these plants are invasive in your area, so be sure to check that out. There are many tall grasses that make good 'hedge' plants as well as clumping or non-running bamboos. You would have a short time in the spring with the grasses when you would not have coverage.

One other thought: Will your hedge provide too much shade for the perennials and veggies?

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm going to test the PH again as the previous test was in a different spot on my property. Otherwise, i'll look into the suggestions above. I really do appreciate it! The biggest job is going to be taking OUT the privet that's already in there. Can anyone suggest any ways to revitalize/prune/fertilize the shrub (privet) that is already there? It's old and neglected.

As for shade: That is a big concern for my veggies on the other side. The hedge/bed goes pretty much east/west and so I intially thought I had more sun to work with. Right now, the hedge is about 7-8' high and that's one of the reasons I'd like to take it out- so I can get more sun on my veggies- maybe replacing it with something that will go 4-6' high.

Thanks!

'Can anyone suggest any ways to revitalize/prune/fertilize the shrub (privet) that is already there?' The link below is a good general pruning guide from Purdue Univ. Cooperative Extension. They mention privet as a shrub to prune after flowering, but I'd ignore that since you are doing more severe rejuvenation pruning, and losing the flowers for a year is the least of your worries.

another one from Iowa State Extension: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1958.pdf

And here's a link to both a video and a written description on how to rejuvenate an old privet hedge from 'This Old House.' He mentions adding a shrub fertilizer, but if your town has a waste recycling program that allows you to get compost for minimal cost, I'd go get a bunch of that and top dress right under the hedge (and where you want to plant other stuff) now so that it can start improving your soil.

I googled privet rejuvenation pruning, and these were only a few of the links if you want more . . . Google is a wonderful resource if you know the terms you need ;>)

If you decide to go for the rejuvenation pruning, you will most likely have a shorter time to get coverage back since the shrubs already have an established root system, while if you totally replant, it will probably be at least three years. If you decide to remove the privet and replant, be sure to either dig in compost or do a lasagna layering to improve the soil, which will really help determine the success of your planting. Those current shrubs have been there quite a while, and if the soil was neglected as the hedge was, it's probably seriously lacking in organic matter which is really the key to productive soils.

To get rid of the oaks and other tree saplings in the hedge, cut each to ground level during the growing season, and paint the freshly cut stump with a brush killer, being careful not to get any on the plants you want. Round-up has a short half-life if you want something with low toxicity (compared to other brush killers) but may allow some resprouting and so will need to be repeated. Alternatively, cut all the roots below ground level by removing dirt with a trowel and taking a pruner to each root.

A final thought . . . it's easiest to look at your conditions and plant accordingly. So, if you want the hedge on the south side of your yard for privacy, you'll have shade over there, so start researching shade perennials by doing a search for threads with that topic over in the perennials forum (go down to the bottom of the forum) or google the topic. For your veggies, can you plant on the side of the yard farthest from the hedge to get the most sun or can you plant your tomatoes in the front yard in decorative obelisks instead of tomato cages if that will give them more sun?

Have fun, and let us know what you've decided and add some new photos as work progresses.

Here is a link that might be useful: Purdue Cooperative Extension Pruning guide