24-04-2005, 06:15 AM
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Registered User
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Nov 2004
Location: Maryland zone 7
Posts: 239
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Vox Humana
"Spitz Mcgee" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have a 4 to 5 foot high x 100' long "mound of dirt". It helps to block the view of a busy rural highway. I want to start a evergreen privacy hedge on the top of the mound. I would like it grow this hedge as tall a prudent but keep the hedge fairly narrow. I am worried about pests, diseases, and maintance. Also I would like to start the hedge this year and have very little money. I hope have some good privacy in five to seven years when I hope to sell the house. Any advice would help.
Beyond buying a lottery ticket and hoping for the best, we don't know where you live, so it is hard to give specific advice.
In my area, (zone 6) one of the most common plants for a tall privacy hedges is arborvitae. You can often get 4-5 foot high plants for around 20 each. Planted four to six feet apart, you would have a reasonably dense, narrow
hedge in about 5 years. Costco has them in stock now for a good price. However, at one every six feet, you would need about 17 at a cost of over $350.
Another fast grower would be Leyland Cyprus. However, these can grow very tall and put your property into deep shade.
Although it is a matter of taste, I find such hedges rather ugly. They sort of scream "spite fence" or "KEEP OUT." The other problem is that often one or two plants will die after several years. At that point you have a choice of putting in another 5 foot plant for $20 or pay upwards of $100 for a matching-size plant. Now your uniform hedge looks bad - like it has a missing tooth, unless you can locate and pay for the larger plant. The other problem with a single species hedge is that if there is a disease or
insect problem, you can lose your entire screen. This has happen in our region. Many commercial properties and apartment complexes have berms with white pines on them. Now all the pines are dead or dying and it looks like hell. The cost to remove 100 feet of mature pines and replant would be substantial.
I would recommend that you drive around your area, looking at commercial properties, up-scale subdivisions, golf courses, and parks. See what they have used for screening. Unfortunately, nothing is going to be very
inexpensive. If it were me, I would consider using a mix of plants that included evergreens, shrubs, and trees with an underplanting of sturdy perennials. |
Ditto what Vox said! Much more pleasing to the eye and will definately add to your property value. Maybe a grouping of Arborvitae with three ornamental flowering trees in front of them and some flowering shrubs to pick up the bloom after that. Then some evergreen hollies with early spring blooming shrubs in front and summer daylilies that rebloom. Some plants and some of the shrubs can be gotten as cuttings or trades at plant swaps (I can tell you where and how if you're interested), for SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope) at some forums, cuttings from friends and relatives and the evergreens and trees can be gotten at: http://www.arborday.org/
You can join for about $15.00 and get 10 free trees. Also see this site for postage only that others have been pleased with.
http://www.freetreesandplants.com
Newt
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When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
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