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| Hello!
I hate being "that guy", but I'm going to post a question that's been posted on here a bunch of times before: what narrow shrubs make a good privacy screen? Before you start throwing stones, hear me out! I read thru the FAQ and dozens of threads on narrow shrubs, but still haven't found my answer. What I've found is a bunch of shrubs that _almost_ do what I'm looking for. So then, let me tell you what I am looking for. I have a narrow wedge shaped plot of land that runs between my driveway and my neighbor's fence. I would like to plant something there to give my yard a little privacy from my neighbors. Don't get me wrong - you couldn't ask for nicer people - I just want some privacy. The wedge shaped plot runs about 35 feet long, and tapers from 3' wide down to nothing. If only the whole thing were 3 feet wide there wouldn't be a problem, but with the wedge shape I don't know what to plant in the narrow section. And to the guy who's about to suggest a fence, I've already thought of that and zoning won't let me. Apparently they're pretty strict about it too. I have thought about Sky Pencil hollies, but the S-L-O-W growth rate has me turned off a bit. So then I thought about Sky Rocket juniper, but the height is a bit more than I want. Ideally I'd like something that tops out around 6-8 feet. Shrub will be in full sun from about lunchtime through dinner time. Any ideas? Thx
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Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by dave_in_nova VA zone 7a (My Page) on Wed, Jun 9, 10 at 8:29
| Would you be allowed to put in a trellis for vines? |
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| Hello Dave, I'm pretty sure that a trellis would be subject to the same 4' maximum height that a fence would be. Not much privacy there! Thanks for the reply, |
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| Hi edburger, what about arborvitae Degroot's Spire? It's pretty narrow and doesn't get too tall, plus arborvitae grow fast. How much of the 35 ft. can you plant till you get down to the point where you can't really plant a shrub and have to come up with something else? |
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| Hello Barbara, The planting area is a 35' long wedge. It's 3' wide at one end and tapers to a thin little sliver. So, halfway along the fence, the planting area is only 18" wide. I could probably plant about 2/3 of the way down the fence, as I am not bothered if the plants overhang the driveway... they just need enough dirt for the roots! Degroot's Spire looks like an excellent plant, but I am reading MANY different things about the size of the plant. Some sites say 6' tall, others 20'. Some sites say 1' wide, others 5' wide. Do have personal experience with the plant to say how tall and wide it would become? I've never had arborvitae before. Can they be pruned to size? Thanks, |
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| Ed, don't you just hate it when that happens.. I'm afraid I don't have personal experience with Degroot's Spire, and I'm not the person to ask about pruning. Keeping something small that wants to grow tall could get pretty old pretty fast, though, seems to me. Maybe one of the resident experts on this forum will weigh in, though. |
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- Posted by tsugajunkie 5a SE_WI (My Page) on Wed, Jun 9, 10 at 19:01
| Being a conifer the 'DeGroot's Spire' will never stop growing. Pruning can be done to slow it down (if the pruning is done carefully and green is left on every branch you want to live) but you won't be able to keep it at a given size. The largest I've seen in person was about 12-15 ft tall and 18 inches in diameter. Like many other plants, cultural conditions may produce variable sizes. And speaking of sizes, the ones you read on tags are generally 10 year estimates. Having said all that, I'd probably still use it for at least part of the screen. tj |
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| Another possibility. Could you have the 4 foot fence and plant small trees along it e.g. Sorbus aucuparia, vilmorinii, cashmeriana etc grown as standards so that the first 4 feet are trunk (ie narrow) and the top is allowed to bush out where there is no restriction on space? Or if you don't mind maintenancce how about pleaching? ie a hedge on legs? |
Here is a link that might be useful: Pleaching
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| Thanks everyone for your replies. Degroot's Spire is high on my list, but it seems too wide for the thin section of my garden bed. Concerning the "pleached" trees, I do not think I would keep up with those! I have been in contact with several local bamboo suppliers. I'm a little worried that the barriers they sell won't be able to contain the bamboo within the space. Otherwise the bamboo is just the ticket! |
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| And about Phyracanthas (fire thorn) ? It is not expensive, very adaptable, it can be trained as a hedge, pergola, arch or left as a very big shrub, grows fast and is evergreen!! I have and love it!! I just prune as a hedge once a year and nothing more. |
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- Posted by dan_staley 5b/S 2b AHS 6-7 (My Page) on Fri, Jun 11, 10 at 10:35
| IME over many years, butchering a plant to fit a space it is not evolved for rarely works. Slow grower but will fit the spot is Rhamnus 'Fine Line'. Dan |
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| Black bamboo won't get out of control; you can purchase italian cypress in various stages of growth so you get the height you want; at the narrow end, you can use a stake and wire and start a fragrant vine that covers the end triangle. |
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| Juniperus virginiana "Taylor' stays very narrow and grows fast. However, the only nursery I've ever found that carries it is in Oklahoma and the shipping is quite high. |
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| Maybe one of the clumping bamboos like Fargesia sp. 'Rufa' ? It gets to about 8 feet in a typical zone 6 climate. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Link
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- Posted by cearbhaill Zone 6b Eastern KY (My Page) on Sun, Jun 17, 12 at 8:26
| Without a photo I am having a difficult time understanding why privacy is needed at the front end of your driveway which presumably leads to the public street? One would think privacy activities take place in the back yard. That said it is your right to want it :) But eighteen inches of width and a desired height of eight feet that behaves and stays that size is a tall order- it would be my opinion that anything you do is going to require more maintenance than it is worth unless pruning is your favorite hobby. I don't think DeGroot's would be good for privacy as they are so narrow toward the top. I have three in a group and while they are one of the best looking arborvitaes I have their use is more architectural than screening. Again, without a photo it is difficult to say but I would plant something thick and screening down as far as was practical and then use decorative boulders in the narrowest section. Or surprise my wonderful neighbor with some plants that he could plant on his side of the fence. |
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