Are there any quick growing plants for privacy?

14 years ago

Hi Folks-

This is my first post, and I want to thank in advance any and everyone who can give me advice...

I live in a community in Northern Colorado that only allows 4 foot high fencing, but has no stipulations on plantings. I would like a bit more pivacy around the back of my yard by the bedrooms. I was thinking of a decorative grass (bamboo maybe?)

Any suggestions?

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Comments (6)

Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
14 years ago
Only one or two bamboos grow here and I'm not sure you'll like them after a few years. The general rule is (esp around here) is: fast growing, fast dying. You might try the grass giant Sacaton, but it looks disheveled in winter and you'll chainsaw it down in 4 years. Not the best climate for what you are looking for. You might try some sort of pine for the next owner. I'm not feeling it today...

Dan
treebarb Z5 Denver
14 years ago
Welcome Renogal! I know you will get great tips here. It would help to know what the area is like. What direction does your bedroom face? What is your soil like? Is it clay or sandy? How much room would the plants have to grow up and out? How much sun does the area get? Is it an area protected from our lovely winds? What kind of plants do you like? Neat and tidy or bid and bushy?It really helps to post a picture. Can you take a photo from your bedroom window to the area you want to plant? Then we can see the planting area and make better recommendations. I'm laughing as I write this because I have to hit up the bh. "Honey, could you take a picture of this, download it and insert it right here for me?" I'm clueless about posting pictures. I figure if I watch him do it enough times I'll catch on.
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Anything in pots will need much more water than it would planted in-ground. A layer of mulch over the top of the potting soil will help. I would try to feel the edge of a mature leaf of any of the bigger grasses before I planted one in a pot - some of them will give you pretty good cuts, pampas among them. I wouldn't try to use them in pots next to a patio. Another shrub to consider is butterfly bush. They get cut back hard in the late winter/early spring, and aren't evergreen, but they make huge growth over the summer, can be cut to whatever size or shape you want, and will produce flowers for most of the summer, into the fall. They come in all the blue/purple colors, as well as white, pink and yellow, and are scented. And, they shouldn't be expensive - I have friends who have given me a number over the years! If you can make it to one of the plant swaps - coming up soon - you should be able to get some - you don't HAVE to have plants to swap - and you do have your started vine seeds so maybe a few of them are spare? Any of the smaller conifers would do well in pots, although I am not sure how much screening power they would have - they don't grow fast. BUT, they would make great accents for a trellis, planted in big pots at the corners, etc., although they may be pricey. If it were me, I would put up a trellis, either digging the posts into the ground - double check with your land-lord - he might want to keep it after all, and might pay for materials. If not, you can either anchor it with biggish pots half filled with cement (filling the rest with potting soil, and plants, making holes in the side above the cement for drainage), or with brackets that you drive into the ground - I've not used them, only seen ads for them so am not sure whether or how they would work, but as a starting point... You could make a narrowish bed for planting annual vines along the bottom, or just plant the annual vines in pots too, and grow them along the trellis. If you wanted, you could also grow more perennial vines in pots - roses, clematis, etc., etc. and have the trees and shrubs as accents along the edges and corners. This may also run into more money than your budget can stand this year..., but, as perennials, you can take them with you when you move. For less expensive pots -try places like Garden Ridge, etc., and get the cheap foam and/or plastic ones. They will maybe need anchoring, although with potting soil and plants in them, they get heavy fast.
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We have a row of sea grapes planted for their quick growth and ability to provide privacy. I have no complaints, but I do not mind a natural look. When it gets very very cold they do drop some leaves and thin out a little. We leave the leaves where they lie and let them naturally degrade and add compost and nutrients to the soil. The fallen leaves act as a very effective mulch against weeds. When they are in bloom so to speak they do drop grapes. However, we have a relatively micro tiny yard (hence the need for privacy) and none of that has bothered me. No matter how drastically I prune them back, they take it well. I have found them to be robust, tolerant, pest resistant, and highly effective for privacy. If you can prove to your satisfaction that the plants themselves and the grapes are not toxic to your animals (and as far as I know the grapes can even be used by humans to make jelly) I would highly recommend them.
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Mimosa trees or Empress trees would be at the VERY BOTTOM of my list. Both are a tier 1 invasive (extremely harmful to the environment). Both are weak wooded and short lived. Both are deciduous. Thuja 'Giant Green' is one of the best rapidly growing evergreen screens. They grow about as fast as a tree can grow. They are evergreen. They are virtually pest, disease, and problem free. The downfalls of a solid Thuja 'Giant Green' screen are that they are boring if planted in a monoculture, they are starting to become overplanted as more and more people hear about them, and they can grow too large for some areas. If you do plant them, I would recommend a mixed planting of them and other types of trees for variety. I would also stagger them if possible. That will produce the fasted visual closure rate and provide at least some protection if one is lost. Otherwise, you could end up with a giant ungreen gap one day. Always pick single leader evergreens to reduce likelihood of damage by snow and ice load (Green Giants usually hold up very well with snow and ice load), and take mature size (and maybe even ultimate size) into consideration.
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eatsivy
14 years ago
We grow hops as an effective screen. Its deciduous however, so it doesn't provide a screening throughout the year, and it needs good support (something to twine onto as it grows). I wonder if you could somehow tie a high, taught rope across the area you want to screen, and hang twine down from that high, horizontal support. The vines will grow up string, but the system of support will need to be stout, as the vines weigh a ton (vigorous plants are loaded with water).

Hops are a perennial vine. They will die back to the ground each fall. I cut the old vines down each fall or spring before any new growth starts coming onto the trellis I grow them up. They seem to grow about 6 inches a day during their most vigorous period of spring growth. Lovely leaves. Our plants often get aphids which can be remedied with some timely applications of sprayed on insecticidal soap.

Hops is such a strong grower that it can be invasive - spreading to take over garden beds and chocking out other plants. Keep an eye on it and make sure you keep it in bounds (maybe even destroying it if you are moving out/away from your current domicile).

We use it to screen our back patio. We don't use the patio until summer (for evening meals and such). Before then it is pretty much too cold to sit outside in the early evenings. By the time the weather has heated up and we are sitting there the hops have grown up and created our summer screen. Works great.

We enjoy the look of the hops (fruit of the plant) that grows and ripens in the fall. We don't use them to brew beer, but just enjoy how they look, and when they are dry they can be crushed between your fingers to give off a lovely fragrance. I bet they would be a nice addition to a potpourri.
digit
14 years ago
Would a tall shrub be suitable, Renogal?

Serviceberry (Amelanchier) seems to be an up-and-coming landscape plant altho' the wild variety grows throughout our area. With multiple stems, it can provide quite a thicket for a screen.

A Hicksii yew would be an evergreen screen.

If you are simply trying to screen a single window or two, there are lots of small trees that would provide that without you planting a hedge close to the house. Maybe you should give some thought to just how many feet of the house you are interested in screening.

Steve
RutabagaRachel
14 years ago
Virginia Creeper
austinnhanasmom
14 years ago
I have to second the virginia creeper...

I have a split rail fence - 4'. I planted the VC 7 years ago, to add privacy on the fence, and it has quickly covered the fence - twice. I cut it back to re-stain the fence and it is back with a vengeance. Once established, I think there's no way to kill it, as I sort of tried:))

I put up the wire mesh from Home Depot, to retain the dogs, and the VC loves it as support.

I have since planted clematis amongst VC and will drop some Morning Glory and 4 O'Clock seeds next spring.

Each year, someone asks what the vine is. These people are also looking for HOA approved privacy. They all think it'll be "perfect" for their needs.

I get irritated by the "creepers" that consistently grow 3' in either direction of the fence. If they would just grab the fence and behave in an orderly manner, I might enjoy the vine more. Every month or sooner, I clip the unruly growth so kids can ride bikes down my sidewalk without being impeded.

It did take the VC a few years to really take off. Better soil prep and regular watering may help it get going quicker then it did in my yard. Since planting the clematis, I've installed drip line and VC seems happier.

Are there any quick growing plants for privacy?

Comments (6)

Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)

treebarb Z5 Denver

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