A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Shrubs and Trees need advice

okay, here's the dilemma...

we live in an area where there is NO privacy except for along the back fence where there were trees shading us from the neighbors in the back. prob. is, there is a creek running along the same line as the trees that belongs to the city. well,the city says the drainage is gettin' blocked by the limbs falling off of the tall trees, so yesterday, you guessed it............................................the trees came down!!


POOF!!!!!!! there goes all the privacy! @%#* it!!!

what could I plant along MY back fence that grows fast????? I can't live comfortably feeling like ANOTHER neighbor is oogling. (I don't even feel comfortable in my own garden anymore.........) HELP,PLEASE!!

PS the arbor day foundation says I am in zone 10

I really don't think there is anywhere in Oregon that is zone 10. I'm in S. Cal and I'm zone 9 here. Only parts of San Diego are 10. but there are a lot of shrubs that can screen your view. Or your neighbor's view.

I was looking at something tall like a birch tree? we live in a 2 story townhouse,so I really don't want someone peering over at my kids' windows.

I'm paranoid like that :wink:

I don't know much a birch trees or their cost. The least expensive thing I can think of for very quick cover is some type of poplar. Most will grow easily from a branch just stuck into the ground and kept moist. They are very fast as far as trees go. Just keep them far away from any septic/sewer systems.

We had Hawthorn bushes that grew pretty fast and large. They also had big spikes to keep people away :-)

Sharon

Western Arborvitae? there are three cultivars that grow the height you want and have a mature width of 10-12 feet. Cultivar color varies a little. Consider a berm wide enough to plant two staggered rows. Resist the urge to initially space these to close together. Eventually they will provide a living wall with some depth if rows are staggered. This variety is deer resistance and keeps a good green color. Loves moisture so you have the right spot.

You might run this variety by city officials and your county extension or conservation office. More and more cities have banned plant lists. Arbs are pretty clean so clogging shouldn't be a concern. Congratulations on considering a tree.

I did some research several years ago on shade trees, a place that helped me choose one was this, scroll down to the tree type and it'll show you pros of each type in zones 6, 7, 8. I'm in zone 8 here in SE Portland so it fit for me.

I have an Avacado tree...three to five years old....grown from a Florida Avacado seed...it's about seven /eight feet tall.....when can I expect to see fruit grow ?

Marianna714

Thanks everyone for the advice. I love the idea of the hawthorn, NicksGram, because I just started taking it for my heart(on the advice of an herbalist)... maybe if I grew it, I wouldn't have to buy it at $8.00 a bottle...............

lombardy poplar

lilac is fairly fast and makes a good screen. I have a hedge started with suckers from this one in my backyard:

Try this website www.naturehills.com I have been getting some good info for my new house here.