Hi All,

I have a question which I am sure has been asked many times before
about screening plants (for zone 9). I have a picket fence approx. 4ft
(1.2m) high and 15ft (4.5m) in length which I would like to plant in
front of. I am not looking for a complete privacy screening hedge nor
something that is super tall.

Ideally I am looking for a medium coverage, approx. 10ft (3m) tall.

Suggestions so far have been pittosporums, bamboo or conifers, none of
which I am really interested in.

Any thoughts? I have tossed up ideas about weeping trees of some sort
like a weeping cherry that would grow higher than the pickets then
cascade over slightly.

Thanks Heaps

wrote:

Hi All,

I have a question which I am sure has been asked many times before
about screening plants (for zone 9). I have a picket fence approx. 4ft
(1.2m) high and 15ft (4.5m) in length which I would like to plant in
front of. I am not looking for a complete privacy screening hedge nor
something that is super tall.

Ideally I am looking for a medium coverage, approx. 10ft (3m) tall.

Suggestions so far have been pittosporums, bamboo or conifers, none of
which I am really interested in.

Any thoughts? I have tossed up ideas about weeping trees of some sort
like a weeping cherry that would grow higher than the pickets then
cascade over slightly.

Thanks Heaps

I live in USDA zone 9b myself and I don't know of anything other than
some hedges that will grow like you want them to. How about covering
your fence with erect blackberries and get some fruit and a good screen.
Don't know if they will reach ten feet though.

George

Thanks George,

It doesn't necessarily need to be ten feet exactly - anywhere between 6
- 12 feet is fine. I would prefer at least 6 foot to ensure that there
is a little bit extra height behind the picket.

wrote:
Hi All,

I have a question which I am sure has been asked many times before
about screening plants (for zone 9). I have a picket fence approx. 4ft
(1.2m) high and 15ft (4.5m) in length which I would like to plant in
front of. I am not looking for a complete privacy screening hedge nor
something that is super tall.

Ideally I am looking for a medium coverage, approx. 10ft (3m) tall.

Suggestions so far have been pittosporums, bamboo or conifers, none of
which I am really interested in.

Any thoughts? I have tossed up ideas about weeping trees of some sort
like a weeping cherry that would grow higher than the pickets then
cascade over slightly.

Thanks Heaps

I really like Viburnum tinus. It is blooming now and will have great
metallic blue berries
when it finishing blooming. It is evergreen.

Also good is weeping Bottlebrush, Callistemon citrinus, Bottlebrush
bright red
blossoms, loved by hummingbirds. Evergreen.

Osmanthus is also nice. Fragrant blooms in early winter. Holly like
foliage.
Evergreen.

All can be grown as a bushy shrub or pruned up in a multitrunked small
tree
form.

Emilie
NorCal

Joe wrote:

Thanks George,

It doesn't necessarily need to be ten feet exactly - anywhere between 6
- 12 feet is fine. I would prefer at least 6 foot to ensure that there
is a little bit extra height behind the picket.


I'm gonna suggest Crepe Myrtle. Nice blooms in several colors availble.
fast enough growing. can be pruned/trained to be as dense or 'loose' as
desired.

I dunno

Carl


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to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)

Thank you for your suggestions..

I am looking at crape myrtles at the moment and there are some
semi-dwarf varieties where the height is about right. Not sure on the
form though, but they are pretty when in flower.

I am still looking at options such as a weeping cherry (not sure on
height), hibiscus, plumbago etc. There is no restrictions such as
powerlines or depth issues (it is on the backyard side of the fence) so
if anyone has any other ideas I am more than open to suggestions. I am
looking to get them in the garden in the next month or so.

Joe wrote:

Thank you for your suggestions..

I am looking at crape myrtles at the moment and there are some
semi-dwarf varieties where the height is about right. Not sure on the
form though, but they are pretty when in flower.

I am still looking at options such as a weeping cherry (not sure on
height), hibiscus, plumbago etc. There is no restrictions such as
powerlines or depth issues (it is on the backyard side of the fence) so
if anyone has any other ideas I am more than open to suggestions. I am
looking to get them in the garden in the next month or so.

Hmm, I figured you could just keep the CMs trimmed to the height you
wanted - probably only need to do that once a year. I have some in my
neighborhood that have been allowed to grow to tree height. I have kept
mine at around eight feet for years.

good luck

Carl


--
to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)

I suggest you beg, borrow, or steal a copy of Dirr's Trees and
Shrubs for Warm Climates. You will find MANY shrubs listed to
fit your application.

Besides the zone, are you in a rainy or dry climate? That
will make a difference.

Most bamboo is highly invasive, and I would not recommend it.

If you get a fair amount of rain, you could consider some of
the viburnums, in particular, Viburnum suspensum, V. tinus, or
V. odoratissimum. They all grow in zone 9, are evergreen,
reach approimately the height you are requesting, and are
sturdy, attractive plants readily available at garden centers.
Of these, I would choose V. odoratissimum if you have sun,
V.tinus if you have shade or mostly shade, V. suspensum if you
have at least half sun and sandy soil.

M.


wrote:

Hi All,

I have a question which I am sure has been asked many times before
about screening plants (for zone 9). I have a picket fence approx. 4ft
(1.2m) high and 15ft (4.5m) in length which I would like to plant in
front of. I am not looking for a complete privacy screening hedge nor
something that is super tall.

Ideally I am looking for a medium coverage, approx. 10ft (3m) tall.

Suggestions so far have been pittosporums, bamboo or conifers, none of
which I am really interested in.

Any thoughts? I have tossed up ideas about weeping trees of some sort
like a weeping cherry that would grow higher than the pickets then
cascade over slightly.

Thanks Heaps

Mike
On the North Carolina coast - Zone 8a
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