Privacy hedge

[Anonymous]

Candidates are:
Privet
Poplar
Boxwood
Azalea
Pine trees

What is best and how long will each take to grow into a hedge?

[Anonymous]

How tall?

[Anonymous]

Pine trees? Won’t they just shed their lower branches as they grow? I have seen some
really nice privet and arborvitae hedges but I don’t know how long they took to grow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pine trees? Won’t they just shed their lower branches as they grow? I have seen some
really nice privet and arborvitae hedges but I don’t know how long they took to grow.

I think people use them because pine and spruce are fast-growing trees. The ones I see a bushy-bottomed like Christmas trees, presumably a spruce variety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How tall?

Ideally 4-6 feet

[Anonymous]

Why not use skip laurels or Virginia Hollies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not use skip laurels or Virginia Hollies?

Those are nice ideas too.

I’d appreciate answers to the original question too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not use skip laurels or Virginia Hollies?

Those are nice ideas too.

I’d appreciate answers to the original question too.

Boxwoods grow slowly, you’d have to buy very large ones. The plants you mentioned are all very different so it’s hard to comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How tall?

Ideally 4-6 feet

Azaleas will get that big after about 50 years! I would not consider them privacy hedges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How tall?

Ideally 4-6 feet

Azaleas will get that big after about 50 years! I would not consider them privacy hedges.

Okay if the things I listed what will? And how long will it take?

[Anonymous]

Privet’s probably the best bet for fast growth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pine trees? Won’t they just shed their lower branches as they grow? I have seen some
really nice privet and arborvitae hedges but I don’t know how long they took to grow.

I think people use them because pine and spruce are fast-growing trees. The ones I see a bushy-bottomed like Christmas trees, presumably a spruce variety.

I think she may be thinking of arborvitae? A true pine tree is an odd choice for a privacy screen.

OP its hard to give you advice without understanding where these will be going, how much privacy you need (evergreen all year?), how much water the area gets, etc. How did you come up with your list?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pine trees? Won’t they just shed their lower branches as they grow? I have seen some
really nice privet and arborvitae hedges but I don’t know how long they took to grow.

I think people use them because pine and spruce are fast-growing trees. The ones I see a bushy-bottomed like Christmas trees, presumably a spruce variety.

I think she may be thinking of arborvitae? A true pine tree is an odd choice for a privacy screen.

OP its hard to give you advice without understanding where these will be going, how much privacy you need (evergreen all year?), how much water the area gets, etc. How did you come up with your list?

The hedge will be along the property perimeter in front of an existing estate fence. House fronts onto a busy road. Property gets plenty of rain but drains well. I’d like it to completely block the view of the road. Evergreen is better than deciduous but full growth speed is more important than evergreen.

For example a mature boxwood hedge would look great but my understanding is they grow quite slowly and are see through in winter.

Thanks for insights.

[Anonymous]

It would be best to do a staggered hedge that is a mix of species. That way you get coverage, interest, and you don’t end up with an unfillable hole if something dies.
You need someone knowledgeable to look at the site and assess the soil, light, and drainage.

[Anonymous]

From your list I think poplar and azalea don’t meet your criteria - they won’t fully block the road after they drop their leaves in the fall. Even the evergreen azaleas aren’t really what I’d call evergreen. Boxwood grows slowly. Privet is fine if you like it, but it does smell like cat pee. That leaves the usual screening for this area - arborvitae is probably what you mean by pine.

If the front area is large enough I would do what a PP suggested - a mixed hedge. You can have spruce, arborvitae, but also flowering things like camellia and azalea and redbud and it will look lovely AND screen the road quickly.