Fence/Hedge/Privacy Screen, Help!
randall17
8 years ago
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years agoken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Idea for fast privacy hedge/fence
Comments (14)Well, there is screening windows, and there is screening bathroom windows. And whether you already plan to use curtain/shade but just want some additional fuzzing-out of you and your neighbor's views of each other (from either direction).Depends also on window location and angles and whether you may spend time at night (lighted interior/dark outside) naked in front of the window! I wouldn't rely on some plants for that kind of privacy that close to another house. That's when you might need glass block or other translucent material as noted above. Also whether the window otherwise has a good view, located so you can leave window uncovered much of the time, provides key light for an adjacent room, and so on, that would lead you to preserve clear glass at all costs. So it's a balance between being able to go in and out of your BR without fear, and preserving windows when you can....See MoreEvergreen privacy screen/hedge
Comments (10)OK, lots of questions. Here are answers: -The big tree is a silver maple. We actually have more of a problem with too much water, as we're the low point on the block and the soil drainage isn't great. Minor standing water after heavy rains at times. It's not what I would have planted, but we both really like having a mature tree back there, so we're not interested in removing it. -The property ends in the back right before there's a faint line of shrub trunks. I can't remember what they are, but it's like Photinia or something else uninteresting that's planted by the neighbors. The white thing is the mini-skating rink they're setting up (if we ever actually get any winter). -The yard runs east to west. In this photo you're looking almost exactly east. There are medium sized trees on the south size, so this part of the yard varies from full shade to part shade. -We like both conifers and broadleaf shrubs. There are a fair number of deciduous shrubs back there--lilac, ninebark, burning bush, weigela, etc--so we're looking for suggestions that would keep their leaves in the winter and mix in with those. We both prefer a more natural look, so we won't be forcing right angles on boxwoods or anything like that. -We're not really considering cost at the moment, just getting ideas. We'll deal with the budget once we get a better grasp on what we want to do, although we won't just pour money into relatively unimportant parts of the yard. -Yes, there are power lines on the left (north), so we need to be cautious about what goes there. -The logs are from another silver maple that the previous owners cut down last year. It was just a bit further to the left from the perspective in this photo. -We are definitely planning some kind of a pergola on the patio (behind the garage to the right--you can't really see it), but we don't want to block it off from the rest of the yard. I'd like to be able to enjoy the view of the rest of the yard while sitting there. There's also a (currently non-functioning) pond/fountain you can't see that we're planning to fix at some point, too, and we'll eventually be replacing the brick with better pavers, but these are other conversations for a different day. The point that you make about putting stuff in the middle seems like a great one. That's exactly the sort of ideas we were hoping to generate by posting here, so keep 'em coming! Thanks!...See MoreNeed suggestions for privacy hedge/screen
Comments (5)To jkom51: We are in the Central Valley where it is hot and dry. I'm not sure the sub-zone? I am concerned about shading the privet too much, as I still want to encourage them to grow up, up, up. Also, the soil is some clay/loam mixed with some amendments over the years. Not the worst I've experienced with pretty good drainage considering some clay in there. The line of plants are on drip irrigation. I don't mind litter from evergreens, as I think it can be charming in a well-planted neighborhood like ours. Plus, it's better than a ton of deciduous plants which would grow up to give a great block of the neighbor's ginormous Suburban guzzler, but then would leave it exposed once again come winter! Arrrrrrrrggghhhhh........ To "hosenemesis": Thanks for your nice compliment and suggestion. I have recently planted some escallonia in other parts of the front yard and was even considering filling in the ends with them. I've seen my neighbors mix up the plants in a hedge with success. I just don't know what to mix with privet. I'm unsure of the rules of how to mix plants in a bordering bed?? The nursery people suggested more privet but in shapes like cones or spheres, however, that gets pretty formal looking for my taste....See MoreWhat plants are good for narrow privacy hedges/screens?
Comments (0)Thuja occidentalis What plant to use to screen a view that grows fast, tall and very narrow is one of the most commonly asked questions. If the space is VERY narrow, the best solution is to put up a trellis and cover it with a well behaved evergreen vine like Trachelospermum jasminoides, Solanum jasminoides or Hardenbergia violacea. Another option is to espalier plants that have a habit of growing flat to begin with.Grewia, Xylosma, Podocarpus gracilior, and Cocculus being good choices.The other possibility is bamboo, but be SURE that you plant a clumping bamboo, rather than a running species, or you and your neighbor will live to regret it. Good clumping bamboos for screening are varieties of Bambusa multiplex. They have foliage nearly to the ground, are very dense clumps, and are from 6' to 15' tall. They can even be sheared. If there is a bit more space, a fastigiate shrub or small tree may be the answer. These are plants that have mutated from the normal growth habit, and grow much narrower than usual. Italian Cypress is the most commonly seen fastigiate plant, but there are many others that are potentially useful. Possibilities are Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket', Deodara 'Gold Cone,' Juniperus communis 'Gold Cone', Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald', Buxus sempervirens 'Graham Blandy', Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil', Ilex vomitoria 'Will Fleming', and Euonymus japonicus 'Chollipo' and 'Beni Komachi'. There ARE a few plants that naturally grow tall and narrow, Nandina, Mahonia japonica and Podocarpus macrophyllus are the easiest to find. If you are trying to extend the height of a fence, you could plant a large shrub or small tree alongside the fence, then prune up the lower branches to provide room to walk (and even plant) underneath. Photinias, Pittosporums , Oleanders, Arbutus unedo and Prunus caroliniana 'Brite n tite' and 'compacta' are good candidates for this treatment. The last (and most labor intensive) option is to plant a row of evergreen shrubs and keep it sheared to the width desired. Keep in mind frequency of shearing will depend on the growth rate of the plant. I have an evergreen privet hedge (one of the fastest growers) that needs to be sheared twice a year to keep it under control, and could use a third if I was a perfectionist and less lazy. I highly recommend purchasing and using electric shears to make the job more bearable. However, if you go this route, DO NOT plant a broadleaf plant like English laurel (electric shears result in mangled and shredded leaves that look awful). Highly recommended species for a sheared hedge are Pittosporum tenuifolium, Myrtus communis and Eugenia. You also need to think of what is on either side of the planting area. If it's an asphalt driveway or your neighbor's foundation, you don't want the heartbreak of having to remove your hedge (tree) 10-15 years down the road when it's looking perfect but starting to cause underground structural damage....See Morerandall17
8 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
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