Most folks who have used the stuff will steer you away from any sort of weed barrier. They really do not work to any degree of efficiency and they tend to hamper the necessary gas exchange, water and nutrient penetration into the soil. If you want to skip the cardboard, then my suggestion is to remove the soil, then apply the mulch but skip any sort of weed mat/barrier. As to the termite issue......if your hedge is not close to the house (greater than 10'), then the cardboard is not going to create a problem. It won't attract termites but it could offer a satisfactory rest stop if they were present in the area. As will most wood based mulches. And the cardboard is a temporary measure anyway - it is used to smother the grass and weeds and should decompose in a single season with adequate rainfall or normal irrigation. If termites are an issue in your area, then you want to be on a program of regular inspection to make sure your home and any other wooden structures are clean. But using the cardboard or wood mulch in an area not directly abutting the house is perfectly safe. And far more desirable than using weed cloth!

Hi Francine, I would look at cheap, fast growing, dense shrubs common to your local area. If you can find a local wholesaler who also sells retail (because of the bad economy, many will nowadays--ask!) you can get great deals. Also try looking at your local Craigslist. Sometimes you can find people who want to get rid of some shrubs, if you are willing to dig them up you can get them for FREE. If you post a request to Craigslist you may be able to find some. Another angle to try is local garden clubs. Dedicated gardeners are often pulling stuff out and replacing it--you could ask around there for discards. Recommendations would depend on what climate you are in, which you don't say. Roses are not evergreen, so you would have a period of time when they provide no screening. In a colder climate they need more care than you may be willing to provide, unless Rugosa roses are appropriate for your climate. But they would probably be more expensive than common green shrubs. Also I'm assuming you have permission from your landlord to plant stuff. Good luck with your project!

Ditto

I sometimes propagate a few E. regnans and may have some next spring or summer. The tree pictured froze dead in December 2009 after reaching almost 70' tall so I can't really recommend it for most normal Northwest gardeners who don't like giant dead trees. I might have a couple pots of variegated Algerian ivy kicking around; I'll have to check. This plant and Podocarpus salignus did not sustain any damage last winter, so that is nice. Here's a preliminary report of how the eucalyptus fared last winter - I'll be producing a more complete report soon. Eucalyptus acaciiformis [Chiltern Seeds] dead to the ground Eucalyptus acaciiformis [Chiltern Seeds] dead Eucalyptus aggregata [Milligan Seeds] small one dead, big one dead to ground, resprouting Eucalyptus aggregata [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus amygdalina [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus apiculata [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus archeri [Burnt Ridge] heavy leaf burn, but no dieback, also major resprouting Eucalyptus archeri [Celyn Vale?] no damage Eucalyptus archeri x nitens [Milligan Seeds] mostly dead, resprouting at 4' Eucalyptus badjensis [Milligan Seeds] both dead Eucalyptus badjensis [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground Eucalyptus baeuerlenii [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus barberi [Wildseed] frozen to ground, resprouted Eucalyptus bicostata [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus bicostata [Milligan Seeds] still dead Eucalyptus bicostata [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus bridgesiana dead Eucalyptus bridgesiana [Frank] dead Eucalyptus brookeriana [Milligans] still dead Eucalyptus brookeriana [Milligans] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus brookeriana [Milligans] top dead, resprouting to about 8' up Eucalyptus camphora [Milligan Seeds] defoliated, but releafing throughout Eucalyptus camphora [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus chapmaniana [Milligan Seeds] defoliated, resprouting from about 1' up Eucalyptus cinerea dead Eucalyptus cinerea [California] dead Eucalyptus coccifera [Celyn Vale] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus coccifera [Celyn Vale] dead Eucalyptus coccifera [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground Eucalyptus cordata [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus cordata [Chiltern Seeds] dead, resprouting from base Eucalyptus cordata [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus crenulata [Milligan Seeds] about 70% burn, trunk severely split, but no real dieback, looks like it will be fine? Eucalyptus crenulata hybrid [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus crenulata x nitens [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Burnt Ridge] dead to the ground Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Milligan Seeds] slight tip damage, 20-30% defoliated, resprouting Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Milligan Seeds] slight tip damage, 20-30% defoliated, resprouting Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus dalrympleana [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus delegatensis [Colvos Creek] 50% burn but branches still alive, ought to make it Eucalyptus delegatensis [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus dendromorpha [Milligan Seeds] still dead Eucalyptus dives [Milligan Seeds] heavy leaf burn, resprouted at 2' Eucalyptus dunnii [Nindethana] really dead Eucalyptus elliptica [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus elliptica x nitens [Milligan Seeds] (little one) dead to ground, resprouting Eucalyptus elliptica x nitens [Milligan Seeds] (huge one) about 70% dieback, some branches alive? Eucalyptus elliptica x pulverulenta [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus fastigiata [Milligan Seeds] 50% leaf burn. impressed that it's even alive Eucalyptus fastigiata [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus glaucescens [Celyn Vale] trunk split, no other damage Eucalyptus glaucescens [Celyn Vale] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus glaucescens [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus glaucescens [Chiltern Seeds] top dead. Resprouting @ about 8' up Eucalyptus glaucescens? Hybrid [Celyn Vale] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus globulus dead to the ground Eucalyptus goniocalyx? still dead Eucalyptus gregsoniana [Chiltern Seeds] 20% defoliated, trunk split, but ought to be fine Eucalyptus gunnii [no special provenance] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus gunnii [Silverdrop] no damage Eucalyptus gunnii [Silverdrop] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus gunnii var divaricata no damage Eucalyptus hybrid (nicholii x ???) defoliated, resprouting all along trunk to top! Eucalyptus hybrid [parvula x ?] (near gate) dead Eucalyptus johnstonii (hybrid?) [Celyn Vale] 10% leaf burn Eucalyptus johnstonii [Milligans] top dead, resprouting to about 10' up Eucalyptus kartzoffiana [Frank] still dead Eucalyptus kartzoffiana [Frank] still dead Eucalyptus kitsoniana [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus kitsoniana [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus kybeanensis [Celyn Vale] lower lvs/brs dead, but mostly fine Eucalyptus lacrimans [Celyn Vale] died back to trunk, resprouting from 5' up Eucalyptus lacrimans [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus ligustrina [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus macarthurii [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, has resprouted vigorously Eucalyptus macarthurii [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus mannifera dead Eucalyptus mannifera praecox (E. praecox) [Milligan] about 20% leaf burn Eucalyptus mitchelliana [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus mitchelliana [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus moorei [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground Eucalyptus moorei nana dead, resprouting from base Eucalyptus morrisbyi [Wildseed Tasmania] all dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus neglecta [Milligan Seeds] 10% leaf burn Eucalyptus neglecta [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus nicholii [Celyn Vale] was cut down before winter, did not resprout Eucalyptus nitens (Chilean landrace) [GIT] dead Eucalyptus nitens [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus nitens [Victoria BC] dead Eucalyptus nitens [Victoria BC] dead, resprouting from base Eucalyptus nitida [Celyn Vale?] dead Eucalyptus nova-anglica [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus obliqua [Milligan Seeds] still dead Eucalyptus ovata? Yarraensis? [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus paliformis [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus parvula [Celyn Vale] about 30% burn to lower lvs Eucalyptus parvula [Chiltern Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus parvula x nitens [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus parvula x pulverulenta [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus pauciflora [Mt. Buffalo] no damage Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp pauciflora [Milligan Seeds] dead to ground, resprouting Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. debeuzevillei [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. debeuzevillei [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. debeuzevillei [Milligans] some damage to trunk/bark, top still growing fine Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. pauciflora [Chiltern Seeds] 70% leaf burn, trunk cracked, but top keeps growing Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. pauciflora [Milligan Seeds] one undamaged. The other dead to ground, resprouting Eucalyptus perriniana (mainland form) [Milligan Seeds] 60% burn Eucalyptus perriniana (Tasmania) [Burnt Ridge] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus perriniana [Celyn Vale] no damage Eucalyptus perriniana Tas. Form [Milligan Seeds] 30-40% leaf burn, ought to be fine Eucalyptus pulverulenta [Celyn Vale] defoliated, resprouted to 9' up trunk Eucalyptus quadrangulata dead Eucalyptus radiata [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus radiata [Milligan Seeds] still dead Eucalyptus regnans [Milligan Seeds] dead Eucalyptus regnans [Milligan Seeds] still dead Eucalyptus retinens [Frank] still dead Eucalyptus rodwayi linear juv lvs [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus rodwayi round juv lvs [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus rubida [Celyn Vale] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus rubida [Chiltern Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus rubida [Frank] dead, resprouting from base Eucalyptus rubida [Milligan Seeds] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus rubida x nitens [Celyn Vale] dead Eucalyptus rubida x viminalis [Celyn Vale] dead Eucalyptus scoparia [Forestfarm] dead Eucalyptus sp. aff lacrimans [Celyn Vale] 20% leaf burn Eucalyptus sp. was supposed to be saxatilis [Milligans] dead to the ground, resprouting Eucalyptus stellulata [Chiltern Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus subcrenulata [Celyn Vale] dead Eucalyptus subcrenulata [Milligan Seeds] 60% leaf burn, regrowing throughout Eucalyptus subcrenulata [Milligan Seeds] no damage Eucalyptus urnigera (Mt. Field, Tas) [Frank] mixed: some dead, resprouting; some fine Eucalyptus urnigera [Luke Isham] 90% burn, top half is dead, ought to recover Eucalyptus urnigera [Milligan Seeds? Not sure] dead Eucalyptus urnigera x dalrympleana [Celyn Vale] minor leaf burn, no real damage Eucalyptus urnigera x nitens [Milligan Seeds] 50% defoliation, top regrowing, and resprouting at base Eucalyptus v.was supposed to be vernicosa but too big no damage Eucalyptus v.was supposed to be vernicosa but too big no damage Eucalyptus viminalis [Celyn Vale] dead Eucalyptus viminalis [Chiltern] dead to the ground Eucalyptus volcanica [Frank] dead, resprouting from base Eucalyptus williamsiana still dead Eucalyptus youmanii [Milligan Seeds] both dead now, one resprouting from base