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Garden Clinic Landscape Design

Narrow screening tree for full sun that is not arborvitae

last month

Hi everyone,

I am located in PNW 8b. I just realized that my neighbor’s new office upstairs overlooks our patio and sitting spot in the garden. I can see that hem looking at us and I sure it is vice versa. A single well placed evergreen could restore privacy again. I had originally planned a fruit tree for that location but now I think I need a evergreen as I enjoy my garden mostly in early and mid spring.

I don’t want any more arborvitae or relatives. Do I have any options at all? Something that can be controlled and can stand by the fence would be great.

Featured Answer

Sheila Rowan

26 days ago

How about a clumping bamboo?

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Comments (8)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last month
You could try one of the narrow columnar junipers but they do not thrive here in the PNW climate. Fastigiate yew is a possibility but grows too slow to be very effective for screening purposes for several decades. 😪 It's not evergreen but columnar European hornbeam, Carpinus betulus 'Frans Fontaine', is my tree of choice for addressing this issue. I use it often in my designs. It grows fairly rapidly and you can purchase at a decent height as well, stays quite narrow and the upward growing branch structure is sufficiently dense to be able to provide a good visual screen even when out of leaf.

And, it is a Great Plant Pick, so highly recommended for PNW gardens.
Dorian W thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
Dorian W
Original Author
28 days ago
Thank you soooo much @gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) The hornbeam seems to be perfect solution!!
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It sounds like your options are pretty limited. Fast growing trees are going to get really big. Most fast growing trees also end up being weak-wooded and short lived. 'Green Giant' thujas grow quickly and have far few problems than Leyland cypresses (which I would definitely NOT recommend), but the Green Giants are going to get pretty large eventually (and very possibly much larger than you'd want). You may want to consider a vine-covered fence or even a hardy type of bamboo with a root barrier.
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Dorian W
Original Author
24 days ago
@sheila, this might be perfect for another spot along the same fence. It might be a bit shady. Do you know if clumping bamboo is shade tolerant?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
24 days ago
Pretty much ANY bamboo is shade tolerant.....some more than others.
jemacaslan
24 days ago
You might also look at Italian Cypress or Junior/Green Giant Thuja, depending on your size needs. I can't speak to how they would do in your climate, so more research would be required.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
24 days ago
Italian Cypress are also not great in this climate. And Green Giant thujas are just a form of arborvitae, which the OP stated he did not want.
jemacaslan
24 days ago
ah my mistake. sorry about that.

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