What to plant for privacy above fence

[Anonymous]

I just moved and have a very small fenced in backyard and a deck. I need to plant something that will provide some privacy above the fence, guessing 15-20 feet. Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Stevens Holly

[Anonymous]

You could get a screened in porch.

[Anonymous]

Can you tell us more about the growing conditions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stevens Holly

I've planted every nature of screening tree (have a long border) and this is a very good choice. Durable, relatively fast-growing, and pretty. They took a beating from deer during the snowstorms this winter but have already recovered well.

[Anonymous]

Privet? We have it at our beach house, and it's fantastic for privacy. I'm not sure it gets that tall, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just moved and have a very small fenced in backyard and a deck. I need to plant something that will provide some privacy above the fence, guessing 15-20 feet. Any suggestions?

Shrubs that grow taller than they do wide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you tell us more about the growing conditions?

Full sun, and would be planted in a border between the fence and patio that about 2 feet wide. I want limited width at the base, but a canopy of 15-20 ft, if that makes sense.

Thanks for the suggestions. I was thinking of a crepe Myrtle, wax Myrtle, service berry tree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you tell us more about the growing conditions?

Full sun, and would be planted in a border between the fence and patio that about 2 feet wide. I want limited width at the base, but a canopy of 15-20 ft, if that makes sense.

Thanks for the suggestions. I was thinking of a crepe Myrtle, wax Myrtle, service berry tree

Crepe myrtles can spread out quite a bit and 2 ft is a very small space. They will encroach into the neighboring yard. You also won’t have any cover when the leaves drop.

[Anonymous]

Unless you want to spend years waiting on something to grow, then put up trellises and some fast growing ivy or bamboo.

Put metal borders into the ground to prevent spreading though. Any that escapes the border should get some RoundUp post haste.

[Anonymous]

Bamboo.

My parents' yard had a clumping variety of bamboo. In 40 years, it sent a few random shoots into the neighbors yards but barely. Well behaved, slow growing, not super tall (maybe 12'). I'm sure a horticulturist could help you zero in on a good variety for your needs.

As PP stated above, metal panels driven into the soil will avoid the random shoots into the neighbors' yards. People tend to be terrified of bamboo because of the running variety notoriety, but they're not all wildly spreading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bamboo.

My parents' yard had a clumping variety of bamboo. In 40 years, it sent a few random shoots into the neighbors yards but barely. Well behaved, slow growing, not super tall (maybe 12'). I'm sure a horticulturist could help you zero in on a good variety for your needs.

As PP stated above, metal panels driven into the soil will avoid the random shoots into the neighbors' yards. People tend to be terrified of bamboo because of the running variety notoriety, but they're not all wildly spreading.

Hope your neighbors don't have kids who like to run with barefeet in the summer. Step on a bamboo shoot coming up through their grass.

Bamboo is hated for a reason

[Anonymous]

Some of these suggestions must be a joke.

Privet? Good God, no! It is highly invasive.

Ivy? No! It is also invasive and harbors ticks and rats.

Bamboo? For God's sake, no! Even the clumping variety is a nightmare. It isn't as bad as the running variety, but it is difficult to deal with and can cause people and dogs great pain if they step on a shoot.

[Anonymous]

2 feet is not enough. Our Stevens Holly is now 20 feet high and 8 feet wide at the base.
You need a columnar evergreen like Sky Pencil holly or Stonehenge Yew. Google and ask at a good garden store what works where you live.
But trellises are quicker and more controlled

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bamboo.

My parents' yard had a clumping variety of bamboo. In 40 years, it sent a few random shoots into the neighbors yards but barely. Well behaved, slow growing, not super tall (maybe 12'). I'm sure a horticulturist could help you zero in on a good variety for your needs.

As PP stated above, metal panels driven into the soil will avoid the random shoots into the neighbors' yards. People tend to be terrified of bamboo because of the running variety notoriety, but they're not all wildly spreading.

Hope your neighbors don't have kids who like to run with barefeet in the summer. Step on a bamboo shoot coming up through their grass.

Bamboo is hated for a reason

Heh, can picture that scenario. But kids shouldn't be running around without shoes for a variety of reasons, including parasites also. Too many cats roaming around these days.