Re: Planting for Privacy Screening

Summer Wind,
A few answers to a few questions:
>
> On one side of the yard in particular, fast growth is the most important
> consideration. My side yard slopes away from the house, so a taller fence
> is not an option at the bottom of the slope. An ultimate height of 30 feet
> or more would be ideal.
>

> Is 7 feet a reasonable height for Green Giant Arborvitae at most
> nurseries, and how expensive are they? Could they be planted now, or will
> I need to wait until after the danger of frost? I've read that they are
> relatively maintenance-free, and I find that appealing, as I won't have a
> lot of time to invest in pruning them.

Most Arborvitaes that I have handled in the past will typically be most
widely available as 8' shrubs. You can expect to pay between $100-130 a
plant.

If you can find a nursery still open this time of year, go ahead and plant.
Otherwise, wait till spring. In either case, watering properly will still
be an issue come summer.
Green Giante Arborvitae will reach a height of 40-60 ft with a spread of
12-18 feet

> I did a search on Dragon Lady holly and it looks like a possibility for
> other parts of the yard. How fast does it grow?

Dragon Lady will get about 12-15 feet tall and 8 feet across... It can grow
2-3 feet a year once established ( most shrubs take about 3 years to become
fully established).

Most common size available is a 15 gallon potsize at a height of about 5-6
feet and about $120 a plant.

>
> I don't know how much to budget because I don't have any experience in
> this area. I suppose the first step is to determine how many plants I'll
> need, and I'm still working on that.

Determining the number of plants for a privacy screen or hedge is simple.
Measure the length of the line to be screened then divide by HALF the
expected mature spread of the shrub.
Ex. say You go with the Giant Arbor with an average mature spread of 16
feet.. 24(length of line) / 8 (half of 16)= 3 plants planted on 8 ft centers
( trunk to trunk distance)

The reason you go 1/2 the spread is so that the screen will look like one
nice solid mass when mature and not like just a row of shrubs.

>
> Thanks for the information on moving the pear trees

You are much welcome SW

> Thanks,
> SW


Anthony B.


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Transplanting Virginia creeper? ? ?
    ... Eventually the vine reached two or three feet before the leaves fell off -- ... presumably seasonal shedding. ... Now I want to plant it in the yard beside a tree. ...
    (rec.gardens)
  • Re: These plants can help stop soil erosion
    ... ³We have a trouble spot in our back yard. ... Another option is to smooth the area out and plant some shade loving ... Creating more of a levee with the rocks by berming them will go ...
    (rec.gardens)
  • OT A planting weekend & things to be grateful for (long)
    ... my weekend was spent improving my yard. ... Wildflower Society's fall plant sale. ... flitting from the bush to the redbud tree and back. ... steps in the hole left from the removal of a fast growing bush. ...
    (rec.crafts.textiles.quilting)
  • Re: OT A planting weekend & things to be grateful for (long)
    ... I would love to see your yard, all full of native beautys and birds. ... Wildflower Society's fall plant sale. ... plants and I am trying to mostly plant Virginia natives in my yard ... The bushes are beauty berry and Strawberry bush. ...
    (rec.crafts.textiles.quilting)
  • Re: Tujunga, Ca.
    ... Crack house was only one block up my ... mid-school 1/2 block south was considering raising their 6 feet ... cornered in a neighbour's back yard across the street. ... kids playing in their front yards like other neighbourhoods. ...
    (rec.motorcycles)