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saabturbo99

Ideas for trees/shrubs for privacy along sides of yard...PICS included

7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some ideas for some trees/shrubs for several areas of my property...with the goal in each case to gain privacy and to complement the home/surroundings nicely.

We are located in Zone 7. The front of the home faces north.

On one side of my home we have a really nasty retired neighbor who harasses us, leaf blows daily from sept to feb, and just hates our guts for some reason. Our driveways are very close. In the front yard, I erected a split rail fence. I have about 12-13 feet between the fence and my driveway. I'd like privacy when out in our driveway. Actually, we NEED privacy there...my wife feels uncomfortable in our driveway each day...and we have 3 small children. But. I'd still like to see the fence in places...yet enough screening to put the nasty neighbor out of our awareness. I was thinking perhaps some Foster's Hollies mixed in with some Fastigiate Hornbeams. (Want to avoid a single row of the same plants up front.) Any opinions on how this would work? Also, of course, any other suggestions would be great.

Next, on the same side by the nasty neighbor, we have a black chain link fence separating us...it eventually disappears into some brush as the properties get wooded in the back. I would like some privacy in the exposed side yard you see pictured...and privacy when we are in our den (those are the windows you can see). I would remove the bushes along the house. We have about 12 feet between the house and the fence. I want to still be able to walk through along the house. I know Emerald Green Arborvitae would work...but I'm worried about snow load damage. I was looking at other species...Hetz Wintergreen, North Pole, etc. What do you think?

And lastly, on the other side of the house, we have good neighbors...but we still want some privacy there...doesn't have to be a literal wall. Again, we like our split rail fence. But, we want to block out some of their driveway which is really close to the property line, and gain some privacy when we are out on our porch, etc. I was thinking maybe more Foster's Hollies here...spaced enough to not be a total wall (can still peek and say hello) but still give some feeling of privacy.

Thanks for any tips!!!! :)

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