Help on Shrub Selection Please!

9 years ago

Hi all.
I am new to this forum and need some help selecting a shrub for a problem area in my yard. I am attaching a photo of the location. Below are some requirements / objectives for the shrub. The future location is between the dogwood, patio, and ac unit. I am located outside of Philadelphia. Azaleas, Rhodos, & laurels do well....size does matter though. Rhodos get giant here.

1) needs to help hide/screen the ac
2) needs to help screen & give a little bit more privacy from he neighbor's
3) I am digging a French drain from side of patio which will run out to side year. The shrub's roots should not be aggressive & disrupt the PVC pipe.
4) roots should also not be aggressive to disrupt patio
5) would like it to be an evergreen
6) flowering would be nice, but not necessary

Only a few requirements, huh? Ha. Thank you in advance. I am a relatively new gardener, but this area has really been annoying me and I'm anxious to fix it this fall!
- Catherine

Comments (3)

viburnumvalley
9 years ago
Viburnum x pragense - will solve every problem you listed.

It reaches 10' x 10' in size.
laceyvail 6A, WV
9 years ago
And, BTW, there are many small rhododendrons. Check out the offerings from Rare Find Nursery.
Related Professionals
Harvey Landscape Contractors · Louisville Landscape Contractors · Porterville Landscape Contractors · Shoreview Landscape Contractors · Bear Driveway Installation & Maintenance · Dearborn Driveway Installation & Maintenance · Libertyville Driveway Installation & Maintenance · Clemmons Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Honolulu Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Issaquah Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Medford Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Miami Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Myrtle Beach Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Reading Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Woodland Hills Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
properly laid.. and glued PVC is impervious to roots .. its a non issue .. the issue would be what it devolves to.. when it becomes a drain ... and where ....

a 10 by 10 foot shrub... should be planted 5 to 8 feet from the patio.. and will most likely be 20 by 20 in 20 years..; as most size ESTIMATEs are at 10 years ... and no plant really stops growing.. at some magical height.. unless properly pruned and maintained .... and that can be a lot of work ....

you dont mention where the lot line is ... and your LONG TERM solution is PROBABLY out in the lawn somewhere ...

and you need air circulation around the a/c .. and with the space given.. and shrub vigorous enough to hide it... will probably interfere with its proper functioning ...

your SHORT TERM solution ... is trellising .. and vines ... while you grow a larger shrub.. out near the property line ...

finally.. large transplants.. are hard to deal with .. and expensive ... if you go with such.. new post about how to plant and water such ...

you could probably also put up.. one section of wooden fence.. to create the patio screen ... maybe two sections.. one straight out form the house to block a/c noise.. and one at 90 degrees to block the neighbor ... and perhaps.. increase the size of your patio ... get the barbie off the patio... and a place for the wood pile ... etc ....

is the wood pile.. what is left.. of what previously blocked the neighbors house????? ... what was it????

a large shrub close to the patio ... will also be a place for mosquitoes in summer.. to wait for you to come out for the nightly feeding ....

i suspect you are trying to solve all your issues with one shrub ... i am thinking you should take a longer approach at multiple solutions ... to solve the variety of issues you have ...

good luck

ken