Citrus as part of multi-shrub hedge?

11 years ago

I'm just about to close escrow and will have a garden for the first time in my adult life, and my brain is on fire with all the possibilities and potential pitfalls of getting it in order!

The back yard has a ~30ft side wall and a rear wall with a gate. Haven't fully decided what to do with the back wall yet (grow another tall hedge or go with vines), but for the side wall I'm envisioning a mix of various hedge plants to provide variety and different colors (probably some mix of podocarpus, photinia (don't hate me!), privet or ligustrum and maybe a couple of others I haven't thought of yet). Essentially, I'm looking for fast growers to get a privacy screen going sooner rather than later (isn't everyone), but I also really like the idea of including citrus trees in the mix and benefiting from the smell/fruit.

So, my question is how well citrus trees would blend and grow with the more traditional hedges noted above. Since they grow more slowly, would they get overrun or hidden? How well would they work privacy-wise? And how close could I plant them to the others for an unbroken wall of greenery?

I'm sure these are pretty basic questions, but I'm a little lost in all the different thoughts and possibilities - hoping someone can help guide me a little!

Thanks in advance... :)

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Comments (4)

Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
11 years ago
First let me say "Congratulations!" You have a blank slate, and a world of wonder ahead.

We are in the same boat with new property. Please don't think me negative. Just sharing our experience. We just ripped out tons of tall vining hedges, never to be seen again, and get the "thumbs up" from all the neighbors! Think beautiful house, hidden. There were various hedges, some vining, some not, but all invasive. Over 500' of stuff to remove. Not cheap, and not cheap to replace, either!

We are going to do an all dwarf citrus hedge behind the frontage wrought iron fence, and mix the types of citrus. The hedge will be topped at about 4-5', and we will lose some fruit, but not all. It will stay green all year, and that is the idea. I wouldn't mix a vine in there because vines climb anything and could strangle your citrus... Plus rats live in vines. They love that inner dark. Citrus are airy, so not so tempting to them.

I think the green of the podacarpus would look great among citrus, but there will be gaps because citrus grows sort of as wide as it is tall.

Good luck! I'm sure you will get lots of responses!

Suzi
JXBrown (Sunset 24, N San Diego County)
11 years ago
Congratulations on your new homes!

Rats love fallen fruit and citrus trees. Rats, in fact, can make a meal of just about anything. If you want fruit trees, just be prepared to do some sort of rodent control. Also, citrus won't thrive without plenty of sun so check the exposure for your planned hedge.
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@hosenemesis - Thanks for the great ideas. BTW the one landscaper told he meant "Podocarpus" as he said Privet Wax Leaf and Ligustrum is the same (?). The reason, however, that he is pushing the Texas Privet is that he said it's the hardiest of the 3. I didn't think of the fact that the ivy would grow into the shrubs and yes, it would make a mess. The barrier makes perfect sense but I imagine it won't be cheap to dig up that ivy, cut it back, and then make sure the roots are really gone otherwise if it starts coming back once the hedges are planted, ugh. I'd get rid of the ivy but I think we have it and neighbors too as it helps with the erosion of the sloped portion of the backyard edge. @yukkuri - My wife would love citrus and avacado trees but do they really grow together enough to provide privacy? And won't they get wide enough to take up a ton of room along that wall (the wall is probably about 100 feet or more)? I suppose those types of trees would at least live better with the ivy. @desertdance - Thanks for the Sour Orange suggestion. I'll take a look at it and ask someone at a local nursery. And I thought this part of home ownership would be the stress-free part. Now I'm almost frozen trying to figure out what to do as it seems there is strong potential for regret or a do-over due to so much I simply don't know...and you hope the landscaper suggest what is sustainable and not just to make $$$. Especially the fact that neither of the two quotes said anything of keeping the ivy away from mingling with the shrubs which makes sense that it would happen...and be a headache.
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Nice place! Talk to as many "nurserymen" as you can on this along with studying whatÂs posted here. My concern about your situation is a desire for a multi-tasker. You might end up making so many compromises to get that one plant that will do both, it wonÂt do both to your satisfaction. Look at all the options for a good muti-tasker. Then look at the options for a good screen planting. Then look at the options for a security shrub. Make a decision based on what really important to you and what will fit that role. This may be oversimplified but if you want security, get a dog. I would much prefer a good screen tree like Cupressocyparis leylandii or Leyland Cypress. Craig Evans, our local extension agent, writes this about L. C. Use: Ornamental and screen Mature width: 15-25Â Hardiness Zone: 6-10 General Shape: Open pyramidal form Mature Height: 30-60Â Growth Rate: Rapid Needles: Scale-like, most common cultivar is rich green Cultural Notes: Full-sun, prefers better soils although tolerant of poorer sites with drainage; extremes in ph and salty sites; purchase as a 1-5 gallon container rather than B & B. Pests; No major; tip-burn in the winter with extreme changes, gets a few bagworms Best Traits; incredible growth rate; dense foliage; beautiful form; good color year-round Negative features; tip-burn, but this is easily removed by hand while wearing a pair of leather gloves randy Here is a link that might be useful:
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yukkuri_kame
11 years ago
as jxbrown mentioned, citrus need plenty of sun, given that, they should create a nice wall of productive greenery.

Not sure if this is generally true, but from what I'm seeing, the lemons and limes have much less dense foliage than orange & grapefruit.

I'm working towards a long-term plan for a lazy citrus hedge. I snack from the tangelo tree already there and just keep tossing seeds into the bed along the north side of the property and if any of them grow, I will graft onto the rootstocks.
rfkavanagh
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for the feedback, everyone (and the congrats, desertdance - I don't envy you your de-vining project!). I'm vacillating between many options for the hedge, but I'll take any input to help me decide what to do. I still really like the idea of having citrus on the property, but it seems like trying to incorporate them into a privacy screen is not the way to go. More to ponder...

Citrus as part of multi-shrub hedge?

Comments (4)

Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b

JXBrown (Sunset 24, N San Diego County)

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Citrus as part of multi-shrub hedge?

Comments (4)

Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b

JXBrown (Sunset 24, N San Diego County)

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yukkuri_kame

rfkavanaghOriginal Author

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