Need an idea for a privacy tree
Kelvin Young
8 years ago
Hi! I have a backyard that neighbors an apartment complex and am looking to plant a tree to the right to block out a view of a telephone pole and driveway – hopefully it will also help give everybody some privacy as well. Some of the main challenges include that there's a deck that only only gives about 3ft of planting space, but I'd also be open to clearing out part of the deck too. Ideally the tree would be an evergreen tree too. Welcome to any ideas...thanks!
View of the entire backyard from downstairs. Considering taking out the high portion of the deck and putting in some raised planter beds.
View from where the tree would ideally be. Note: There used to be a privet tree here and there's a stump in the ground.
View from the other corner.
From the upstairs bedroom.
Stepping out onto the balcony. You can see the telephone pole and the driveway.
Looking down to the left.
Looking down to the right. A better view of the telephone pole, driveway, and tree stump.
Thanks!
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Comments (9)
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years agoKelvin Young
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Need tree ideas for backyard privacy
Comments (9)I have a great leatherleaf viburnum that retains its leaves most of the winter, has spring flowers, and provides a good screen between my neighbor's yard and mine. It's about 12' tall and I don't think it will get much taller, at least not in my lifetime. Even a large shrub that loses its leaves in fall will give you great privacy when you need it, in summmer, and will obscure the view quite well in winter. Can you spare enough space to make a mixed border with several tall shrubs along that edge of your yard? It's hard to tell from your photo how wide the area is between the wall and the edge of the yard to the right, but I'd suggest rototillingg a swath along that side of the yard and planting whatever you like. The privacy will be taken care of without your having a wall or an oddly placed "specimen tree". Parts of the wooded border across the field look like they really contribute to your view, so leaving some gaps in height, as well as a partly obscured path (towards the right side) through the proposed border might work well for you. >... say "That is lovely landscaping... I really love that grouping of ... I agree with this completely, and I think the best way to get that is with a mixed bed. A single conifer in place of the red cartoon Christmas tree will look a little better than the cartoon, but an actual grouping of plants will look a whole lot better than that....See MoreNeed tree ideas for deck privacy screen
Comments (6)Not sure how much height you really need, how fast. One thing to consider is that when you plant to the south, you may not get as much shade as you expect during the actual hot months, when the sun is to the north; and you may get more than you want in early spring and late fall, when the sun is to the south and you want your patio to warm up. Trees to the west-northwest are probably best for shading a patio in most of New England. Take a look at heptacodium - it's quite narrow and in fact is adaptable as far as the number of main trunks. A lovely and unusual tree, and because it flowers late, and has long-lasting, colorful calyxes, it looks good for a long time after the flowers fall. The exfoliating bark is interesting, and a well-grown specimen can look good even when the leaves are gone. It can be found relatively inexpensively because it's not especially hard to propagate and grows fairly fast when it's young. If you don't want messy flower fall, I'd stay away from cherry. Of all the cherries, I'd maybe recommend prunus mume, but it's not reliably hardy in your zone as far as I know. Stewartia is a lovely smaller tree, but prefers some shade. In your zone, it might be fine in sun - I have some in full sun that do well, but it's cooler here on the cape in summer, so you might want to check with your arborist or a local nursery. It can be quite pricey for larger specimens, in my opinion, but it's a great tree. S. pseudocamellia is the most common (and, most people think, the most beautiful) but some other varieties are narrower and might be better in your situation. There are some smaller varieties of katsura (cercidiphyllum) - one of the trees on my "must have" list. One, Heronswood Globe, only reaches 15' - not sure if that's tall enough for you. That's one of the most beautiful trees - no flowers, but really great foliage, lovely color and shape....See MoreHelp- Need Tree ideas for privacy on Deck (potted)
Comments (1)If you are in NY, you get freezing winters and will not be able to keep a tropical plant like ficus outdoors over the winter. all trees get taller than 6ft. It is tough to keep any tree in a pot over the winter and to keep the pot from shattering from frost. You will need a large fiberglass, not ceramic or plastic pot, a plant that is hardy to at least 2 zones colder than your zone and will need to pile straw or other protection around the pot over the winter. If you only need 6ft of privacy, have you considered a small 6ft wooden privacy fence or screen around your deck? Maintanence free and works all seasons....See Moreneed privacy hedges/trees for area shaded by pine trees
Comments (6)Immediate full coverage is going to be difficult to achieve......sorry. The landscaper was correct - few conifers will establish in heavy shade and with that much root competition, especially ones with any size on them to begin with. Aucuba japonica, Japanese laurel, is a very shade tolerant broadleaf evergreen shrub. It will grow in almost total shade and is relatively drought tolerant. But it is probable that the largest you could find to plant will only be about 3-4' to begin with and you will have to be patient while they grow. Getting them enough water to begin with will help establishment and encourage more rapid growth. But it will be a few years until they reach a height to provide much screening. They can get 10-12' eventually. Another option is bamboo. Don't freak out! I am referring to a cold hardy clumping bamboo, like one of the Fargesia species. Clumping bamboos are very well behaved - they do not spread aggressively like a running bamboo, but remain in a controlled clump like a very large ornamental grass. Fargesia is very shade tolerant and will take temps down to 0F. Again, you will need to provide adequate water while it is establishing, perhaps for the first couple of growing seasons. The advantage of a bamboo is that it will already have some serious height to it - you will likely find plants available that are already 6-8' tall - and it puts on height rapidly. Once established, new canes emerging will grow rapidly to the full mature height. Depending on the species, Fargesia will grow 8-20' tall....See MoreKelvin Young
8 years agoKelvin Young
8 years ago
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
8 years agojosephene_gw
8 years ago
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