"AndyS" wrote in message
oups.com...

Dean wrote:
On Mar 13, 10:26 pm, Gus wrote:
What can anyone recommend for a screen along one side of our property?
I need about 250 ft of coverage.
I thought about native cedars, that would not need any maintenance at
all. The only thing is that it would take maybe 15 years for them to
grow to the ten feet or so needed, I think.
Dean

[snip]

250' all of one species is going to be boring, especially if you have all of
the plants lined up in a row. If you only use a single species, you are
vulnerable to losing everything at once (e.g., disease, or too much
cold/heat/water/drought for the one species you plant). If you have several
species not only will the screened area be more attractive, but you're not
likely to lose everything at the same time. The right plant is going to
depend upon where you're located, but you might consider clumps of birch,
maple, crape myrtle, evergreens, flowering fruit trees, magnolias, etc.
Also, consider planting them in a clump of three or five plants rather than
in a single line, to give the landscape some depth and also better
screening. In my area (central Florida), I would use three Bauhinia
blakeana (Hong Kong Orchid), a couple of large citrus (pomelo, grapefruit,
etc.), a clump of crape myrtle (even tho they'll be bare part of the year),
a Royal Poinciana as a specimen tree, with one corner filled with Buddha
Belly and/or Giant Timber bamboo or other clumping bamboo types. Any other
open areas would have either red maple of live oak, with suitable understory
plants (azaleas, osmanthus fragrans, day lilies, etc.)

In the south, consider including some clumping bamboos, which will provide
an excellent screen without becoming invasive. Regards --