I am trying to plan a natural screen to run along parts of our property that are near a neighbor’s privacy fence, both to block the view peering over the fence and in one place from a second story window. It’s a complicated geometry; we actually have a large property and most of it is pretty private, but there are small (~1 acre) lots with homes on our street that were carved out from farm properties in the 50s.
I would prefer that it max out around 12 feet or so or can be kept that height, and I need something I can obtain in bulk as we are talking approximately 300 feet in total. I would not mind fast growing and can run irrigation to establish if needed. If it’s dense enough, evergreen is not necessary. I have looked at arborvitaes, but am reading that some get quite ugly and ragged in winters, some are deer candy (we’ve got a lot), and others are so narrow I would need an absurd amount to create hedging - any experience with specific cultivars is appreciated. Any screening plant suggestions are appreciated. I do not mind planting a combination of things. I try to avoid invasive plants as much as possible.
6a, Northeast Ohio. I’m not sure if Lil Gem will make it here…it might, until we get a bad winter. Good idea, though, I did not think of magnolia grandiflora. There might be cultivars that would survive.
You know, we have some areas of perennial ornamental grasses that I absolutely hate, but I had not considered it in a different location (i.e., not the middle of places I’d like to grow food). Good idea.
Rivercane Bamboo (arundinaria gigantea) was once native as far north as Ohio. That would make a nice screen, but it can be a little aggressive…although not as aggressive as the invasive phyllostachys types.
You could go with cold hardy clumping types that don’t spread via long rhizomes either. They would probably stay evergreen through your winters as well.
@weatherandtrees Intriguing - I had no idea a type of bamboo was native to Ohio. I will definitely investigate that and the clumping bamboos. Thank you.
@somerset It’s interesting that you say that; the one area is mostly a somewhat newly planted apple orchard in fairly traditional rows. I had not considered simply using a different method to create a screen (and fit more apple varieties). Thank you.
I used Cornus mas the dogwood cherry. Grows to about 12 feet tall. I spaced them I think 3 feet apart. Slow growing though. It took about six years to fill out.
I love it. Bulk seedlings can be purchased but might be hard to find.
I decided on the dogwoods because they tend to keep low wood and with pruning it remains dense from top to bottom. It is now ten years old. I use the berries to make syrup.
There are some holly varieties that make good privacy screens… evergreen.
Oakland holly Growing Zones 6, 7, 8, 9 Mature Height: 15 to 20 feet Mature Width: 10 to 15 feet
The Oakland Holly is quite unique and has leaves that look like small oak leaves. This Holly is similar to the American Holly in shape and size, but it has soft textured leaves that won’t prick you. This Oakleaf Holly Tree makes a nice hedge or accent shrub
