Creating an evergreen screen
KitNovice
9 years ago
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allen456
9 years agoKitNovice
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Need an Evergreen privacy screen.
Comments (2)I planted evergreens here in northern VA as a screen and came to realize that they weren't really what I wanted and didn't screen all that well anyway. I just had them taken out and I replaced them with native flowering trees that will, in a few years, provide all the screening I could want for the three seasons we use the patio and deck. In addition, we'll have the advantage of beautiful flowers. I have several shrubs (hydrangea paniculata, flowering quince, etc.) around and among the trees and will fill in with more as well as hostas, ferns, annuals for color. This will give you a nice layered look and excellent screening except in winter when you won't be out there anyway...or will you?...See MoreEvergreen screen for zone 3b/4a
Comments (9)Spruce can be pruned into a hedge. If you go with colorado spruce get a named culivar. The color varies enormously. A hedge made from genetically diverse specimens will look blotchy and sick. I've heard that larch, and white pine can both be pruned into hedges. If you have room for a double hedge, plant two rows of shrub type willows. Get two varieties that have contrasting winter stem color. On alternate years you cut one row to the ground in early spring. This keeps them producing lots of colorful stems. If you are worried about willow roots invasiveness, you could use one of the dogwoods, or get willows that are water lovers, sculpt a swale into the spot where you will ahve the hedge, and flod irrigate it. I would expect that the willows would keep their roots wehre the water is....See MoreCreating an informal evergreen mixed border for privacy..
Comments (17)What often happens with a plant like this that is in or close to its lowest zone tolerance in this region is that a planting is fine for years - until one day it gets below the minimum temperature for the plant - and then the planting is not so fine. Particularly for a screen I would stick with fully hardy choices myself. But if you want to bother covering yours when it seems killing temperatures may be possible anything that blocks out sun and wind is suitable - burlap on sticks, wire tubes stuffed with leaves and so on. Probably best to keep material that comes in the form of flat sheets off the foliage, so that it doesn't freeze to it. I am sure various methods will be shown and described on the internet, as they are in gardening books....See MorePrivacy screen with conifers - Z5
Comments (19)Dax, thank you for all your suggestions. I like the idea of layering the conifers into 3 rows from the tallest in the back to the slower grower up front. This will add more depth to the privacy screen. And why do I have to choose between 'Goldilocks' and ‘Taylor’s Sunburst’ when I can have them both ? The concept sketch is a quick draft front view drawing of the screen and obviouly it's not to scale. The pool will be removed and also the second maple (the one in the middle). With the latter maple removed the site will get full sun. The 50 ft. bed will start from the first maple and will be extended to the last maple (in the corner of the yard). My previous idea was that specimen conifers will be forward of the maples. The yews and arborvitaes will be more in the back on the same row as the maples - up against the fence. That will put the yews right under the maples. But now I'm considering to bring the whole bed forward the maples. They are just some thoughts for the future: if golden arborvitaes lose their color in too much shade with time, I will enjoy them as long as I can. I may then replace them with columnar pines as suggested. I was also thinking about replacing the 2 remaining maples with Korean maples. They are hardier than Japanese maples and smaller than existing maples which I think are freemanii. Instead of arborvitaes, my first choice was junipers. Their upright needles would make a great contrast to the weeping Picea glauca 'Pendula'. But the nursery I'm doing business with didn't want to sell me any junipers stating rust and tip blight problems and Juniperus virginiana seems to be highly susceptible in our climate. Hope someone in the Montreal region has some experience to share on that matter....See Moreken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years agoallen456
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9 years agoKitNovice
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