Low water usage tree for privacy over 6 ft fence?

17 years ago

I would appreciate some direction. As I replant parts of my yard, I am trying to move toward drought tolerant and low water usage plants.

I have a 6 ft fence on top of a 4 ft retaining wall that forms a 3 ft wide planter. I want to plant trees along a 60'stretch that will provide additional privacy above the fence (neighbors are uphill). The nursery and the arborist are suggesting Fiscus Nitida. These look like they get pretty big, use a lot of water and have invasive roots. This may be a problem given one side will be contained in a retaining wall.

I need something that will provide dense foliage on top while topping out at maybe 15-20 ft. Any suggestions are appreciated!

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Comments (6)

deep___roots
17 years ago
Does it have to be a tree?
Oleander will provide a dense screen about that height and as far as I know you don't ever have to water it (well, maybe a couple a times in Summer, but not much once it is established).
Of course, all parts are POISONOUS, not that I could see anyone ever eating oleander, but it may be a consideration for you.
They use oleander on the freeway landscaping down in SoCal, I think. So you know it is low maintenance.

And oleander can be pruned into lovely standards (tree form). Just in case you wanted some plants under it in your planter.

If I may be so bold, how come you doubt the suggestion of the nursery & arborist? Ficus is a member of the fig family....not particularly heavy drinkers.
susi_so_calif
17 years ago
I'd definitely avoid Ficus - their roots can be VERY invasive. Depending on what/who is on the other side of the fence, you might need a very narrow tree so it doesn't shade your neighbor's yard. One good choice for a narrow evergree tree (depending on where you live) is Radermachera sinica (China Doll Tree). I've had friends grow this with success for privacy in a narrow side alley. If you can have a wider tree, say 15-20' wide, I'd suggest Calliandra surinamensis (Surinam Powderpuff Tree), which blooms every day of the year (at least in my area) and looks a lot like Mimosa but WITHOUT the problems of messy pods and self-seeding. Another possibility is Agonis flexuosa (Peppermint willow tree).
To learn about lots of other trees I recommend the book "Ornamental Trees for Mediterranean Climates: The Trees of San Diego," published by the San Diego Horticultural Society. It has over 500 photos of 260 trees that do well almost everywhere in So. Calif. with lots of info and an handy chart.

Here is a link that might be useful: San Diego Horticultural Society
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CA Kate z9
17 years ago
How about Italian Cedars? There is at least one that stays narrow even as it gets tall.

I was watching This Old House recently and their landscaper recommended a non-invasive Bamboo "hedge" all along a narrow area where they were trying to hide all the high-voltage wires that ran along that property line. You might be able to find that program on-line.
bahia
17 years ago
I'd suggest considering large shrubs as well. Things like the Oleander would certainly work, as would Xylosma, Toyon, Fremontodendron, Prunus lyonii or P. illicifolia, Rhamnus alaternus, Rhus lancea or the native Rhus species, Schinus terebinthifolius, Acacia species,Cassia species, Senna species are just a few suggestions. Almost all of these will do well in so Cal with just periodic summer irrigation once established. You might also consider good old Bottlebrush, Callistemon citrinus or C. viminalis.
habitat_gardener
17 years ago
Bahia has good suggestions, though some of them around here are pests, in the sense that once one is planted in a neighborhood, it shows up as a weed all over the place: Rhamnus alaternus, for one, I consider to be a noxious plant, almost as bad as privet. Schinus can be a problem in some areas, as can many acacias.

Other fast-growing shrubs/trees that top out in your range include mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides) and Ray Hartman ceanothus.
med_meddler
17 years ago
I would also suggest you check out the book California Native Plants for the Garden by Carol Bornstein, David Fross, Bart O'Brien. At the back it has lots of lists and one of them is for hedges and screens including some that can be sheared like coffeeberry and lmonade berry. These would both drought tolerant and good wildlife plants.

Here is a link that might be useful: Amazon link to California Native Plants for the Garden

Low water usage tree for privacy over 6 ft fence?

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deep___roots

susi_so_calif

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