Recommendations for privacy shrubs/small trees
RTHawk
4 years ago
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suggestions needed for small yard privacy tree/shrub
Comments (12)I really like the wax myrtle, and think I'll try one just to the left of the pines. That area is in full sun for 8 hours or more a day. I love wildlife in the garden and do not mind berries. Also thinking of two Arborvitae Smaragd in the spaces between the three pine trees. I'll research the suggestions for more shade tolerant trees and shrubs. As far as the roots go, guess what we did all Sunday! We had good rain the day before and the ground was soaked. My husband used an axe and I used a saw. Severed thick roots as close to the trunk as we could and then pulled away from the trunk and snipped with loppers as we went. Most came up easily enough, but it was still backbreaking work. The stump grinder came yesterday and ground the stump and about a foot of root clumps right next to the stump. Saved us a lot of money by removing most roots ourselves....See MoreSTAT: Need ideas for privacy shrub/tree/vine
Comments (9)How much sun does the fence get, and from which side? Yoiu do not want to create a planting that will totally shade out your neighbor's acuba, because that will compound your problem. A neighbor moved behind our house and immediately installed a chain link fence. It is on a bank which used to have attractive shrubs, but he has made it clear he doesn't want anything "touching" his precious fence. Maybe your neighbor believes you are the same way, and is trying to accommodate you by trimming his acuba. Additionally, he may want privacy as much as you do. I would sugest consulting with him, but that does not appear to be an option. The larger ferns, augmented with enormous hostas and such things as ornamenal rhubarb, might be a good way to go. If your neighbor eliminates the acuba, you might want to check into the viburnums. There is a small version of doublefile viburnum which grows fairly rapidly and is an excellent screen, especially in summer. If you want something that is equally effective in winter, you will need to use evergreens such as the rhododendrons suggested above--make certain to obtain a larger variety, as there is tremendous variation. In the meantime, you could plant honeysuckle vines all along the fence to cover it, or vary that with the hops suggested above. Honeysuckle smell nice, if you obtain the right varieties, and I read somewhere that young hop sprouts are considered edible! Of course, there's always bamboo.... (There are clump forming kinds, but I am really joking....)...See MoreNeed tree / shrub for privacy in corner of a small backyard in SF
Comments (0)Hi- We have a small backyard and a camellia "tree" in the back corner that provides privacy and a sense of enclosure (we have two-story neighbors directly behind us to each side, with fencing all around). I've determined it probably has some kind of dieback / root rot and will need to be removed, so I'm thinking about possible replacements. Given our location, yard and needs, the specs on what might work are pretty limiting - so turning to this group for some creative ideas. Here's what we need: - Overall objective is privacy, so needs to grow to ~8-10 feet, but can be maintained at max 12 ft height without too much difficulty, as there are overhead power lines. The camellia we had seemed to naturally top out right around 10 ft. - Would like a perennial so that we have privacy year-round - Space isn't huge, so ideally would be something that can be shaped to be narrower at the bottom and branch out at the top (the camellia had been trained into a sort of canopy that was perfect) - Would like to avoid a conifer - wouldn't fit particularly well with the other plants in our yard (FYI: pink jasmine, lavendar, cistus, coleonema, tibouchina, the ubiquitous and invasive calla lilies). So something with evergreen foliage would be better. - Fast-growing - Soil is quite sandy and drains well, but this is still a reasonably damp part of the yard, so we need to avoid something that is really susceptible to rot / can't take regular watering (which the neighboring plants require) - Ideally produces flowers / has some color - We're in San Francisco, which I've seen described as USDA Zone 8 or 10 online, and Sunset Zone 17. But it never freezes, never gets above 85 degrees, days often start and end overcast but are blue sky from 10am-4pm, and we have a chilly fog that blows through our backyard every night during the summer months. Recently very limited rainfall (~15-16"/year). Tree/shrub would be in borderline full sun / partial sun. I'd appreciate any suggestions that you have! Thanks in advance Becky...See MoreShrub / small tree recommendation for privacy in SF yard?
Comments (4)You could go native and put in a flannelbush (Fremontodendron californicum). Drought tolerant, beautiful flowers, about 10' tall, dense evergreen foliage... I've seen some growing on the east side of the city (potrero). I don't know how one would do in the fog belt but it could be okay. Other thoughts, how about a loquat? They grow well in the city, have nice dense foliage, and can be kept at about that height with a little maintenance. I also have seen a nice hibiscus in the city that might fit your needs....See Moreprairiemoon2 z6b MA
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