I have very small back yard so I'm in big-time need of a privacy hedge. I'm
also interested in something that grows fast because I don't plan on being
here for more than another three years or so. I've seen some yards with
bamboo, which seems to provide for a nice, thick privacy screen. I've also
just started looking into Austree Hybrids, which can grow six to seven feet
in one season - http://austree.com/rma/trees/index.html.

Does anyone here have experience with either of these and care to comment or
advise?

--
John Tucker
Euless, TX (just east of Fort Worth)
32.826°N, 97.097°W
Zone 8

John Tucker wrote:
I have very small back yard so I'm in big-time need of a privacy
hedge. I'm also interested in something that grows fast because I
don't plan on being here for more than another three years or so.
I've seen some yards with bamboo, which seems to provide for a
nice, thick privacy screen. I've also just started looking into
Austree Hybrids, which can grow six to seven feet in one season -
http://austree.com/rma/trees/index.html.
Does anyone here have experience with either of these and care to
comment or advise?

You might also ask about bamboo in rec.gardens.bamboo.

I grow bamboo and it will not grow enough in three years to do what you
want. You could buy very big bamboo but it would be very expensive. I
know nothing about the trees you asked about. I have never seen them at
a retail outlet.

--

Travis in Shoreline (just North of Seattle) Washington
USDA Zone 8b
Sunset Zone 5

"John Tucker" wrote in message
om...
I have very small back yard so I'm in big-time need of a privacy hedge.
I'm
also interested in something that grows fast because I don't plan on being
here for more than another three years or so. I've seen some yards with
bamboo, which seems to provide for a nice, thick privacy screen. I've also
just started looking into Austree Hybrids, which can grow six to seven
feet
in one season - http://austree.com/rma/trees/index.html.

Does anyone here have experience with either of these and care to comment
or
advise?

--
John Tucker
Euless, TX (just east of Fort Worth)
32.826°N, 97.097°W
Zone 8



Here in Oz I would use Acacias in that situation. I don't know if you can
get them but there are 100s of species that suit a wide variety of
conditions, some at least will grow where you are. Many will grow 5ft a
year (or more) from 6in tube stock up to their full height. The downside is
that many only last 5-8 years (you don't care) and some people are allergic
to the pollen.

David

From: "John Tucker"
Organization: SBC http://yahoo.sbc.com
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 21:36:10 GMT
Subject: Bamboo and Austree Trees

I have very small back yard so I'm in big-time need of a privacy hedge. I'm
also interested in something that grows fast because I don't plan on being
here for more than another three years or so. I've seen some yards with
bamboo, which seems to provide for a nice, thick privacy screen. I've also
just started looking into Austree Hybrids, which can grow six to seven feet
in one season - http://austree.com/rma/trees/index.html.

Does anyone here have experience with either of these and care to comment or
advise?

I think the flaw in your logic here is that plants may grow quickly putting
on several feet in one year but that does not mean they will provide any
privacy due to the fact that most of that growth is from the main lead and
goes straight up. For a plant to fill out and become a screen, much more
than three years are needed. The first year, the plants will become
established; the second year you will see decent growth; the third year they
will start growing like crazy and the fourth year you will be moving. They
will only start providing some screening in the fourth or fifth year, at the
earliest no matter what you plant, and will only become a privacy screen
after six or seven years. There is no quick fix here except maybe to buy
mature italian cypress and to plant them very closely.

How about some sort of high fence with vines planted on it. Some vines
would only take one season to provide privacy and if you create some sort of
pergola or overhead trellis you may be able to get the privacy you want in
the time frame you need.

figaro wrote:
From: "John Tucker"
Organization: SBC http://yahoo.sbc.com
Newsgroups: rec.gardens
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 21:36:10 GMT
Subject: Bamboo and Austree Trees

I have very small back yard so I'm in big-time need of a privacy
hedge. I'm also interested in something that grows fast because I
don't plan on being here for more than another three years or so.
I've seen some yards with bamboo, which seems to provide for a nice,
thick privacy screen. I've also just started looking into Austree
Hybrids, which can grow six to seven feet in one season -
http://austree.com/rma/trees/index.html.

Does anyone here have experience with either of these and care to
comment or advise?

I think the flaw in your logic here is that plants may grow quickly
putting on several feet in one year but that does not mean they will
provide any privacy due to the fact that most of that growth is from
the main lead and goes straight up. For a plant to fill out and
become a screen, much more than three years are needed. The first
year, the plants will become established; the second year you will
see decent growth; the third year they will start growing like crazy
and the fourth year you will be moving. They will only start
providing some screening in the fourth or fifth year, at the earliest
no matter what you plant, and will only become a privacy screen after
six or seven years. There is no quick fix here except maybe to buy
mature italian cypress and to plant them very closely.

How about some sort of high fence with vines planted on it. Some
vines would only take one season to provide privacy and if you create
some sort of pergola or overhead trellis you may be able to get the
privacy you want in the time frame you need.

It's more like a lack of knowledge, which is why I'm here asking questions:
to learn. :-)

Thank you for the vines suggestion. I will consider it.

--
John Tucker
Euless, TX (just east of Fort Worth)
32.826°N, 97.097°W
Zone 8