I don't know if I should space them every 2 or 2.5 ft to get a completely solid hedge look quickly, or to buy fewer and space them a bit further apart & have gaps between them for awhile longer.

==>>> yes.. this is the dichotomy you face..

make up your mind.. and JUST DO IT ...

i know nothing of you zone or the listed plant.. but in general.. JUST DO IT ... planting plants of similar size.. will allow them to match competition levels.. and get the job done ..

link below to a good general planting guide.. check drainage .... do not amend.. unless real bad clay ... other suggestions for that.. water deeply on planting.. mulch properly.. and then let them NEAR DRY in between deep waterings [none pf this spraying the leaves stuff] .. do not fert.. unless a soil test shows something is missing from your soil ...

JUST DO IT ... according to your decision ..

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

I've got a neighbor with them on 3' centers, she got a beautiful solid tall screen in just a few months, but a quality screen does require good care.

You have to keep them straight by correct staking (two stakes away from the trunk, not the single one right next to the trunk the way it comes from the garden center--that method is for transport protection, not growing.) and she has had them tipped back regularly every few months since planting.

Do not just plant and forget. Maintenance and good care will give you a beautiful screen. Podocarpus is perfectly happy trimmed and trimmed and trimmed. It is a beautiful tree that makes a beautiful hedge IF NOT NEGLECTED.

Also do not plant them too close to the fence! It will be hard on the fence, and hard on the trees. Wooden fences don't last long, when it is time to rebuild it, you don't want to have to struggle with the Podocarpus at that time.

Thank hoovb,
I think I will go with the 3' centers. The wooden fence is actually on top of a cinder block retaining wall. I was thinking of planing about 18 inches from the block wall. Do you think that is reasonable? I plan to keep on top of tipping them back. What size were your neighbor's when they were planted?

Thank hoovb,
I think I will go with the 3' centers. The wooden fence is actually on top of a cinder block retaining wall. I was thinking of planing about 18 inches from the block wall. Do you think that is reasonable? I plan to keep on top of tipping them back. What size were your neighbor's when they were planted?

I gotta ask...who really cares what the side facing a permanent barrier such as a block wall looks like? Of course it's gonna look sh%##y, but unless you plan on a second life as a fairy or a toad, you aren't going to be spending a lot of time looking at it...which is why you planted something in the first place, to hide that barrier and to have the much more aesthetically pleasing plant facing you, not the wall, look good. And as for width, there are solutions for that.

As far as the effect of spacing on root growth, not sure anyone has the answer to that, not sure it has been studied in that way. Every spacing study i've seen is about top development, and most discussions i've had are about practical matters, such as how wide to allow for ease of digging with (brand) spade.

Strictly speculating, i'd say that similar to development of crowns, closer spacing may push roots to grow where there is less competition, pushing wide out from the row, but roots also freely form grafts where ever they cross, so it may all be blowing smoke to even try to answer the question.

If it was me I would do 3' from the fence minimum, but that's me. Too close to the block wall and you will have a perfect view of scraggly weak growth next to the wall with the block wall as a clean back drop so you do not miss any of the scraggle. Not to mention the roots against the footings of the block wall. However of course you may not have 3' to work with. For long term health and beauty, as much space as you can possibly give is a good idea. In nature these trees can easily get 60' wide.

Ken Adrian, the pics in the link you posted show P.g. as a tree form and not the way they are commonly used as a hedge or screen in Los Angeles. What I see most of the time around here is spacing about 1 to 2 ft apart and quite close to the fence or wall. Sometimes I see 3 or more ft apart. The plants are sheared to keep the plant depth 2.5-3 ft wide, even the part that grows above the fence on both properties. It looks real lush without that Christmas tree sheared end look.
I was trying to get advice about the healthiest spacing while minimizing heaviest root development. What strobiculate writes about that makes sense. Thanks to all for the advise. I�m still interested in any input on this.

Ken Adrian, the pics in the link you posted show P.g. as a tree form and not the way they are commonly used as a hedge or screen in Los Angeles. What I see most of the time around here is spacing about 1 to 2 ft apart and quite close to the fence or wall. Sometimes I see 3 or more ft apart. The plants are sheared to keep the plant depth 2.5-3 ft wide, even the part that grows above the fence on both properties. It looks real lush without that Christmas tree sheared end look.
I was trying to get advice about the healthiest spacing while minimizing heaviest root development. What strobiculate writes about that makes sense. Thanks to all for the advise. I�m still interested in any input on this.

Deni416, I will be using podocarpus for the same purpose you mentioned in your first post. I know this was a few years ago, but what did you end up deciding about spacing and also the distance from your fence/wall? Do you have any pictures of what the hedge looks like now?

I can only note an update to my neighbor's Podocarpus hedge. It still looks great, but within about 6' of the hedge nothing grows anymore because it is solid Podocarpus roots. She originally had various plants in front of the hedge. All she can do now is lay down some mulch. The hedge has not yet disturbed the fence behind it--the roots went for the watered bed in front of it. We are in 5th year of drought, so tree roots go for any irrigation they can find.

Thanks hoovb. Are you able to tell what spacing was used and how far away it is from the wall/fence?

We have 7 beautiful Podocarpus Graciliors in our backyard, over 7 ft high,, planted 3 1/2 years ago. Live in California and a few days ago a PG&E representative came by with concerns about the roots interfering with the gas lines. Does anyone know how far the roots go? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

This is basically ludicrous. Unless the gas line is deteriorating, in which case it should be replaced, the roots are not going to 'interfere' with it. (I'm air quoting him, not you)

HOWEVER, they might simply be, eh, how to put this, annoyed that there's anything planted along the line(s) that would slow their ability to maintain it. Should they have to in an emergency. In that case, it would depend on the language of their easement as to what can be planted near the gas line or not. (Of course the easement is a legal instrument that you have a right to see - if it wasn't shared during your closing on the house, you can probably view it at an LA county website or what not.) If he's 'expressing concerns' he probably has no legal authority to tell you what you can and can't plant in your yard - specifically the part of your yard with the Podocarps. Or he'd be telling you he does! See how that works?

So I say, tell this guy to go fly a kite, although I would first review the easement to see what powers in what part of your yard it grants them.