The area is quite sunny at the moment because the only shade available is the shadow from the fence itself. However, 2 shade trees (Capital Pear) were just panted.
There are small now, so it will be several years before there will be any significant shade from these.

This photo shows the 2 young trees that will provide shade some shade in a few years. They are in the far left and far right of this photo.
So. I'm looking for something that will be able to to handle sun for now and also be able to handle increased shade years from now when those young trees mature.
The photo is facing south, so the left is east and the right is west.

If you can grow picea in your area I really like 'Blue Totem'.

What about Italian Cypress?
What thing that makes me afraid to try them is that I see wildly varying specifications for width.
Some say they will only get about 3 feet around (which would be perfect for me), but others say plan on it getting 10 feet around which would be way too large.
Is there a specific variant of Italian Cypress that says in the 3 foot width range?

Here is a photo. Since I need a privacy screen, the ones in the photo are spaced too widely apart. I would want to space them so they provide a green wall of privacy.

They get 40 feet tall or even taller which is taller than I care for, but since there are no obstacles or power lines above, I suppose it really doesn't matter as long as it fits the ground space. I think if they were 40 - 60ft tall, they would appear oddly huge on a small lot and would suck a lot of water though.
Can they be topped at maintained permanently at under 20 feet?

Here is a link that might be useful: Italian Cypress

Here is a pic of Picea pungens 'Blue Totem' behind Picea abies 'Little Gem'.

Looks like Picea pungen would get way to wide at the base to fit my narrow strip of planting space.
I found a picture of a mature version of that plant and it is shaped like a giant Christmas tree.
Needs lots of empty space around it.

There are narrow forms of Picea pungens - I'm guessing with a name like 'Blue Totem' this is one of them. Another is 'Fastigata'. What about a mix of plants of different colors and textures? There are a lot of columnar conifers.

Sara

Yes, a mix of different plants would be fine if they all can fit together closely enough to be a privacy screen without having problems of being "overcrowded" and can also deal with the same watering schedule.

Blue Totem is supposed to get 3 ft wide. Tall and slender unless I have been mislead.

I'll look at that as an option. However, it also says zone 3 to 7 and I am in zone 9/8. Summer here at 105 degrees and 15-20% humidity might be too hot for it.
I still found some pictures that seemed like it was more like 5 feet or more around, but if it is really 3ft, it could work.

Im guessing he wants something faster growing than blue totem anyway? How long would a 1-3 yr plant take to get to a height where he gets some actual privacy?

Yes your right, may take too long to reach the height he wants. What about Juniper Skyrocket?

I'll look at the Skyrocket also, but I wonder if those will get too thick at the base and need to much planting room?.
What about Juniperus virginiana?

For some reason I thought the Juniper Skyrocket was something else..
The articles I read said they can be planted as close as 2-3 feet apart and grow to a height of 15 to 20 feet,
Sounds like a good match for a privacy screen to block those windows without getting massively huge and needing a lot of pruning.to keep it from intruding into the patio space.
I called a nursery and they have 15 gallon plants of about 6 ft height for about $60.each. A 6 ft would just barely reach the fence line. If they grow at a super fast rate of 1 foot per year, I would still be waiting for 4 or 5 years for them to start blocking the neighbor's windows.

I may check to see how much they cost in 24 inch box size and see if the extra money will be worth cutting a few years off the wait wait for privacy..

In your mild weather I suspect you have a longer growing season so they might have a faster growth rate .

Picea pungens 'Blue Totem' and Iseli 'Fastigata' don't make good screens especially when one side is blocked from full sun by the fence. The 3 ft. wide planting area is not acceptable either.

I am fairly positive your Z. 8-9 is a non starter also.

Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket' would be a better fit. It is ideal for urban gardens and spaces where a tree with a wide base is not wanted.

Of course for all those that have winter precipitation they are the first to suffer damage from ice and heavy wet snow.

Dave

Dave, your last post led to a different question. Why would the privacy fence pose and issue for totem and not skyrocket? You mentioned the back being shaded by the fence as a. potential issue. I hadn't thought about that but am thinking about screening a retaining wall. Ultimate size is not an issue. for my situation.

I'm not being of any help here with this comment but I think I spotted a garden chicken in your photo cococo. Yipee! Sorry, I'm just a crazy chicken lover.

I have seen quite a few large and very narrow Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) growing all over Southern California. They have a fast growth rate and can grow anywhere from 1-2 feet per year. Focus on annual growth rate and how long you are going to be around to see it. I personally wouldn't top off a narrow growing tree at 20'. Why not just let it grow?

I think either one, Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket' or Cupressus sempervirens, would make a good fit for your needs and I believe they have comparable growth rates that are quite fast.

I may check to see how much they cost in 24 inch box size and see if the extra money will be worth cutting a few years off the wait wait for privacy..

===>>> there MIGHT BE some faulty logic there ..

it is said.. that the larger the transplant ... the harder to transplant.. and the longer to get established and get moving to specs ..

as compared to a smaller transplant.. that barely knows it transplanted.. and takes off ... wait for it.. like a sky rocket.. and outgrows the larger transplant in a 5 year period ...

not to mention.. the 'box' itself indicates a ball and burlap digging.. which can be a risk .... [a box is really hard burlap] .... the point is that a mature specimen is dug out of a field ,...

if you insist... how about an experiment for us ... lets say you need 6 ... buy 3 big.. and 3 smaller ... and take the history in pix.. and every year.. report back.. and prove this theory.. right or wrong ...

in other words.. you speak of the cost/benefit ratio as to buying larger ... and i am suggesting the cost for larger ... may actually be a negative to vigor... and faster result.. in a 3 to 5 year period .... [with the caveat, of course.. that i am not familiar with CA at all] .. might be the smaller ....

your posts frustrate me ... on some level ... because we are talking about conifers/trees... and with trees we talk about decades of life ....

but you want instant gratification ... and that dichotomy .. well.. frustrates me ...

i wish you all the luck in the world .... but make the right choice for the long haul .... and i think you will end up happier ....

ken

ps: in my z5 MI ... for whats its worth ... i have gotten rid of all my upright tall juniper.. if not for snow/ice load [of which .. that is not an issue with you] ... and juniper tip blight .... call your county extension office and find out if that is an issue in your county [ask for odds, rather than possibility] ... if so ... i would tell you to skip juniper, in this application ...

coco

Picea pungens need 8 hours of sun to develop. They are usually, but not always, are grown as stand alone as a point of interest tree. and should be sited correctly.

Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket is a more forgiving plant and can tolerate part shade Backing them up against a privacy fence will have little or no effect.The little effect will mean weak on growth when sun deprived but not noticeable to the trained eye.

What part of California. are you from? Makes a big difference when trying to grow Picea pungens. Mountain foot hills...yes. In the valley never.

Dave

Hi jaxo,

You might call local nurseries for bamboo varieties, recommendations. You'll want a bamboo that's the least invasive as possible; a clumping type versus a runner type. You really should install a root barrier if you decide upon bamboo. I'll link you to a page showing root barriers so you may see what I'm talking about. Your nurseries will likely sell these, as well.

Dax

Here is a link that might be useful: Americover Root Barriers

Thanks for the informatiom Dave.

I'm going to try these 15 gallon juniper skyrockets.
I moved the 5 gallon Thuja to other areas of the patio where I'm willing to wait longer for growth.
Due to a bedroom sliding glass door at that location, I need privacy at the original spot more quickly than I can expect from 5 gallon Thujas any time soon..
From what I read, I can expect these Skrockets to grow a foot or more per year compared to the Thujas that may only grow 6 inches per year. So basically, double the growth rate for height and I should have those neighbor;s upstairs windows obscured and screened from view of the bedroom glass doors in just a few years..

I think that will look really nice and yes Garen good eyes. You did spot one of my chickens. All free roaming, no aphids, mice, ants, tics or chiggers. They are wonderful!