Anything in pots will need much more water than it would planted in-ground. A layer of mulch over the top of the potting soil will help. I would try to feel the edge of a mature leaf of any of the bigger grasses before I planted one in a pot - some of them will give you pretty good cuts, pampas among them. I wouldn't try to use them in pots next to a patio. Another shrub to consider is butterfly bush. They get cut back hard in the late winter/early spring, and aren't evergreen, but they make huge growth over the summer, can be cut to whatever size or shape you want, and will produce flowers for most of the summer, into the fall. They come in all the blue/purple colors, as well as white, pink and yellow, and are scented. And, they shouldn't be expensive - I have friends who have given me a number over the years! If you can make it to one of the plant swaps - coming up soon - you should be able to get some - you don't HAVE to have plants to swap - and you do have your started vine seeds so maybe a few of them are spare? Any of the smaller conifers would do well in pots, although I am not sure how much screening power they would have - they don't grow fast. BUT, they would make great accents for a trellis, planted in big pots at the corners, etc., although they may be pricey. If it were me, I would put up a trellis, either digging the posts into the ground - double check with your land-lord - he might want to keep it after all, and might pay for materials. If not, you can either anchor it with biggish pots half filled with cement (filling the rest with potting soil, and plants, making holes in the side above the cement for drainage), or with brackets that you drive into the ground - I've not used them, only seen ads for them so am not sure whether or how they would work, but as a starting point... You could make a narrowish bed for planting annual vines along the bottom, or just plant the annual vines in pots too, and grow them along the trellis. If you wanted, you could also grow more perennial vines in pots - roses, clematis, etc., etc. and have the trees and shrubs as accents along the edges and corners. This may also run into more money than your budget can stand this year..., but, as perennials, you can take them with you when you move. For less expensive pots -try places like Garden Ridge, etc., and get the cheap foam and/or plastic ones. They will maybe need anchoring, although with potting soil and plants in them, they get heavy fast.

I should have been more clear, the hedge isn't mine, I just bought some bare root "sticks" from a near by county. I found that photo while searching for pics of rugosa hedges when considering doing it here. I'm waiting for mine to start breaking their buds and get to growing! Of course, being right next to the lake, it's not as warm here as inland, I don't think it's been warmer than MAYBE 60, but probably in the 50's still. Ha, I hear you regarding Toronto traffic. The QEW makes my hair stand on end. We got a wild hair last year to drive around the lake (Ontario) one day, don't ask me why...but the traffic in that particular area certainly contributed to making for a LONG day. Won't be doing THAT again! Rugosa are pretty tough from my understanding as far as growing conditions, they're also called Beach Roses because they'll grow in sand. They don't like being sprayed or fussed at from what I've heard so they aren't what you're thinking of as a "typical" rose. I have some well established Damask here that are the same way-I know for at least 10 years no one watered, trimmed, mulched, sprayed or even weeded around them. They wouldn't make a good hedge I don't think though. I tried finding Rugosa at nurseries around us, and only one, about an hour away had them. We were int he area so I stopped in-they couldn't even tell me if they were species or a hybrid, and they wanted $25 per plant. Since there are pretty variable heights and bloom times, I opted to wait. Luckily I found out the one county has a sale every spring with various bare root shrubs and trees, so I picked them up from them (10 for $10). I'm not sure all of them will end up viable or not, but it was less for 10 tries knowing they were the species than 1 unknown plant. If not for the winds, I'd try a BUNCH of Queen O The Lakes (just because I love that name) or other easier roses (I have a Queen O the Lakes and it was fine with no spraying, etc last year-I just planted Peace, hopefully it will be like my Peace at my old house and also not need much fussing)-or some other way easier to find rose variety. Hopefully my rugosa fill in and look like that hedge though! This post was edited by eclecticcottage on Thu, May 2, 13 at 16:47

We grow hops as an effective screen. Its deciduous however, so it doesn't provide a screening throughout the year, and it needs good support (something to twine onto as it grows). I wonder if you could somehow tie a high, taught rope across the area you want to screen, and hang twine down from that high, horizontal support. The vines will grow up string, but the system of support will need to be stout, as the vines weigh a ton (vigorous plants are loaded with water). Hops are a perennial vine. They will die back to the ground each fall. I cut the old vines down each fall or spring before any new growth starts coming onto the trellis I grow them up. They seem to grow about 6 inches a day during their most vigorous period of spring growth. Lovely leaves. Our plants often get aphids which can be remedied with some timely applications of sprayed on insecticidal soap. Hops is such a strong grower that it can be invasive - spreading to take over garden beds and chocking out other plants. Keep an eye on it and make sure you keep it in bounds (maybe even destroying it if you are moving out/away from your current domicile). We use it to screen our back patio. We don't use the patio until summer (for evening meals and such). Before then it is pretty much too cold to sit outside in the early evenings. By the time the weather has heated up and we are sitting there the hops have grown up and created our summer screen. Works great. We enjoy the look of the hops (fruit of the plant) that grows and ripens in the fall. We don't use them to brew beer, but just enjoy how they look, and when they are dry they can be crushed between your fingers to give off a lovely fragrance. I bet they would be a nice addition to a potpourri.

If speed is of the essence I would consider installing a chain trellis (my latest name for it) which is like a privacy fence, but is not a fence. It requires the installation of 10' posts every 8' or so. (2 1/2' buried in the ground.) For a 100' run that would be 13 posts. (If you've ever installed one post in concrete, you know how easy of a job it is.) Finials or decorative cuts of some sort at the top of the posts -- and painting -- make them look attractive. A pair of stout hooks are installed at the top of each post from which sturdy (like porch swing) chain is run connecting post to post, in swag fashion. From the chain, twine is dropped at 1' intervals and attached to short wood stakes driven into the ground. All of this is a support for vines to grow on. A solid screen can be achieved in 6 to eight weeks with annual vines such as morning glory or moonflower. Simultaneously, perennial vines (which start and grow slower) are installed. Within a reasonable period, they "take off" and provide permanent cover. In some cases it is an advantage to have vines over a hedge if a tidy appearance is desired; the vines only grow where support is provided and tend to look as if a clipped hedge. It could be a disadvantage if height greater than 7' is wanted since the support will never become taller than it was originally. One feature of this structure that I enjoy is that during a windy period, continuous waves form in the foliage and add a mesmerizing element of movement. In the picture, you are looking at first year annual vines (moonflower) ... picture taken about 8 weeks after planting seed. If none of that works for you, consider a hedge of tea olive (for great smell) or Camellia (for great looks). (Verify that they will grow well where you are.) Either one could be clipped. They may not be the FASTEST growing shrubs, but I would consider them fast enough. As well I would counsel to develop some patience about it. The need for speed frequently means sacrificing quality over the long term.