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tall, fast growing, privacy plantings
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Posted by mwalasct CT (My Page) on Wed, Nov 11, 09 at 22:18
| I plan on doing some plantings in the Spring to give our new backyard some privacy. I want something that is easy to take care of, uniform,
I was just planning on doing some 5-6' arborvitaes in a tight line, but I am concerned about their diameter eating-up too much of my already narrow lot.
Is there a better idea that would provide similar privacy that would take up less space? Something tall, thick, narrow? |
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RE: tall, fast growing, privacy plantings
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- Posted by kimcoco Zone 5, Wisconsin (My Page) on
Thu, Nov 12, 09 at 1:52
| I'm probably going to get slammed for this since there are those who despise privet hedges, but they are a great privacy screen. We have the Cheyenne privets. Some don't like them because they are known to be invasive (check your municipality), depending on your zone and the variety you choose. When they flower (inconspicuous), they emit a strong odor, some like it, some hate it. They can cause allergies to those who suffer from hayfever. On the flipside, they have grown well for me. We staggered them and planted maybe 18 inches apart, they stood maybe 2 feet high. The first year they were tiny twigs. We are now on the second year, they've almost reached the top of my 4 1/2 foot fence, and they're nice and full. For every 12 inches they grow, you cut them back six to form the hedge shape, and to prevent leggy growth at the bottom. Within 3 years, they will maintain their hedge shape. They grow anywhere from 6 feet to ???? in height, easy to trim as a hedge. I maintain a 3 foot width (depth), we live on 1/8 acre lots, so I have these lining our fence between our patio as a screen from our neighbors. I've also come across articles about Siberian Elm - resistant to Dutch Elm disease, makes a great hedge, faster growing than the Privets, though admittedly I don't know enough about the pros and cons of this tree (it's not a shrub, but a tree that can be trimmed into a hedge). We had a row of Techy arborvitae, everyone raves about these, but they looked horrible after a bad winter, the leaders were arched and height-wise they grew slow, though they did fill out nicely width-wise within a couple years. We've since removed them. I did like the fact that they were evergreen. The privets and siberian elm are deciduous. Good luck. |
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