Hi,
This is my first post to this group, and I have appreciated reading all of
the helpful advice available here. Now I would like to ask the knowledgable
and helpful folks here for some ideas to improve the privacy of my backyard.

I would like to plant a few evergreen trees and several plants along a fence
(approx 60 ft long) where I have a varying width of 5 to 8 ft of soil
available. Ideally, I would like everything to stay less than about 25ft
tall (without trimming), and not be excessively messy, attract swarms of
bees, or have excessively pervasive roots. I currently have a small
magnolia tree (currently approx 15 ft tall) which is along the same line as
what I would like. I have enough room for 3 trees. In between these trees,
I would like to plant tall evergreen plants to help fill in the open space
between the trees. My idea is to plant items that are often used for hedges
such as photinia and privit, but I would let them grow without any shaping.

I have been working the soil over the summer and I have brought in several
yards of humus planting mix, working it into the existing clay and hardpan,
and I believe that the soil will now drain well. My location is SF bay
area; hot summers and mild winters with an occasional hard freeze.

Any ideas and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Thanks, Mike from Santa Rosa

Arborvitae or Cedar?

Scientific Name: Platycladus orientalis (formerly Thuja orientalis)
Other Common Names: n/a

Summary
Foliage: Needled Evergreen
Height: 18-25 feet
Spread: 10-12 feet
Shape: Pyramidal
Growth Characteristics: Slow-growing

Oriental arborvitae grows as either a large shrub or a small tree. Starting
off rather dense and compact, the canopy opens up with age. The needles are
scale-like and bright green. It is an excellent choice for hedges as it
often only needs trimming at the top. Cultivars include 'Bakeri', 'Blue
Cone', and 'Elegantissima'.

"M.Paul" wrote in message
...
Hi,
This is my first post to this group, and I have appreciated reading all of
the helpful advice available here. Now I would like to ask the
knowledgable
and helpful folks here for some ideas to improve the privacy of my
backyard.

I would like to plant a few evergreen trees and several plants along a
fence
(approx 60 ft long) where I have a varying width of 5 to 8 ft of soil
available. Ideally, I would like everything to stay less than about 25ft
tall (without trimming), and not be excessively messy, attract swarms of
bees, or have excessively pervasive roots. I currently have a small
magnolia tree (currently approx 15 ft tall) which is along the same line
as
what I would like. I have enough room for 3 trees. In between these
trees,
I would like to plant tall evergreen plants to help fill in the open space
between the trees. My idea is to plant items that are often used for
hedges
such as photinia and privit, but I would let them grow without any
shaping.

I have been working the soil over the summer and I have brought in several
yards of humus planting mix, working it into the existing clay and
hardpan,
and I believe that the soil will now drain well. My location is SF bay
area; hot summers and mild winters with an occasional hard freeze.

Any ideas and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Thanks, Mike from Santa Rosa

In article , "M.Paul"
writes:

I would like to plant a few evergreen trees and several plants along a fence
(approx 60 ft long) where I have a varying width of 5 to 8 ft of soil
available. Ideally, I would like everything to stay less than about 25ft
tall (without trimming), and not be excessively messy, attract swarms of
bees, or have excessively pervasive roots. I currently have a small
magnolia tree (currently approx 15 ft tall) which is along the same line as
what I would like. I have enough room for 3 trees. In between these trees,
I would like to plant tall evergreen plants to help fill in the open space
between the trees. My idea is to plant items that are often used for hedges
such as photinia and privit, but I would let them grow without any shaping.


Podocarpus is a good possibility
P. gracilior gets tall, but is slow growing
P. macrophyllus is smaller, and P. macrophyllus maki,
shrubby yew pine is smallest about 8-15 feet tall by 2-4 ft. wide, evergreen

Emilie NorCal zone 8

Thank you for your suggestions! I ended up getting 3 English Laurels - I
hope they don't get too tall. In between I planted pittosporum and
photinia. The folks at the local tree farm talked me out of planting any
common privits due to their tendancy to be messy. I got everything planted
over the weekend. Thanks again.
Mike

"M.Paul" wrote in message
...
Hi,
This is my first post to this group, and I have appreciated reading all of
the helpful advice available here. Now I would like to ask the
knowledgable
and helpful folks here for some ideas to improve the privacy of my
backyard.

I would like to plant a few evergreen trees and several plants along a
fence
(approx 60 ft long) where I have a varying width of 5 to 8 ft of soil
available. Ideally, I would like everything to stay less than about 25ft
tall (without trimming), and not be excessively messy, attract swarms of
bees, or have excessively pervasive roots. I currently have a small
magnolia tree (currently approx 15 ft tall) which is along the same line
as
what I would like. I have enough room for 3 trees. In between these
trees,
I would like to plant tall evergreen plants to help fill in the open space
between the trees. My idea is to plant items that are often used for
hedges
such as photinia and privit, but I would let them grow without any
shaping.

I have been working the soil over the summer and I have brought in several
yards of humus planting mix, working it into the existing clay and
hardpan,
and I believe that the soil will now drain well. My location is SF bay
area; hot summers and mild winters with an occasional hard freeze.

Any ideas and suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
Thanks, Mike from Santa Rosa