Please help me figure out the best trees to plant?

[Anonymous]

We will soon be selecting 4-5 new trees to create, over time, a sort of border of our side yard from the street. We were hoping for trees that maintain their leaves all year round and that are deer-proof. Cost is not a factor due to issues not pertinent here (but we will have the trees paid for and planted).

If anyone can provide some suggestions for such a type of tree it would be appreciated as I know so little about such things. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Hollys are a good option. Be sure to space them appropriately because they will grow wider as well as taller.

Firs are another option, but I have seen a lot of infected fir trees in metro DC. I'm not sure the exact biological name of the cause, but the common name is "rust". Green fir leaves become reddish brown and then the tree dies. So I do not recommend fir trees right now.

[Anonymous]

Holly trees! Or another I think it’s called skip laurel.

[Anonymous]

Do arbor vitae grow well here? The make the best privacy shields.

[Anonymous]

Casey Trees has a tree guide for trees that thrive in this area:

https://caseytrees.org/trees/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hollys are a good option. Be sure to space them appropriately because they will grow wider as well as taller.

Firs are another option, but I have seen a lot of infected fir trees in metro DC. I'm not sure the exact biological name of the cause, but the common name is "rust". Green fir leaves become reddish brown and then the tree dies. So I do not recommend fir trees right now.

Are you sure you aren't seeing the normal life cycle of the dawn redwood? Some trees with fir-style needles are actually deciduous, not evergreen. The green needles of a dawn redwood turn rust colored in fall and drop, then get new needles in Spring. https://greenwoodgardens.org/fossils/

Cedar rust disease on a cedar or juniper looks like bright orange alien slimes and brown galls. If it kills the tree, the needles turn gray or brown.

Other evergreen diseases: https://www.burkholderphc.com/symptoms-causes-of-evergreen-tree-diseases/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do arbor vitae grow well here? The make the best privacy shields.

They do well but I think deer eat them.

Hollies are my recommendation.

[Anonymous]

I’d do a variegated hedge, with a mix of sweetbay magnolia (smaller varieties such as northern belle), American holly, and large shrubs such as viburnum, chokeberry, oakleaf hydrangea etc. Skip laurels and arbor vitae are not native and quite boring to look at all the time. Honestly this kind of query is perfect for ChatGPT, which can consider your needs, soil/light, and recommend a grouping of plants that will provide you with privacy while also staggering bloom time.

[Anonymous]

Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a good choice. It is a hardy, native evergreen ( a juniper) that handles pollution, drought, and poor soil well. They grow to around 30 ft and are excellent for blocking road noise.

I also like a mixed border, so I would include sweet bay magnolia, leatherleaf viburnum, and depending on the site maybe even sheltered camelias. And for color variation maybe some Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Gold Mop' or similar false cypress.

[Anonymous]

Step 1 is to look at your zone for your area as determined by the USAD. Experts recommend native trees, so that is a good place to start. Sounds like you want evergreen trees if you want year-round foliage and privacy.

Some experts can be found at your state university agriculture, horticulture and landscape departments, your county master gardeners. Reddit and gardening forums are good sources if you want experience from gardeners, plus you can post specific questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hollys are a good option. Be sure to space them appropriately because they will grow wider as well as taller.

Firs are another option, but I have seen a lot of infected fir trees in metro DC. I'm not sure the exact biological name of the cause, but the common name is "rust". Green fir leaves become reddish brown and then the tree dies. So I do not recommend fir trees right now.

Are you sure you aren't seeing the normal life cycle of the dawn redwood? Some trees with fir-style needles are actually deciduous, not evergreen. The green needles of a dawn redwood turn rust colored in fall and drop, then get new needles in Spring. https://greenwoodgardens.org/fossils/

Cedar rust disease on a cedar or juniper looks like bright orange alien slimes and brown galls. If it kills the tree, the needles turn gray or brown.

Other evergreen diseases: https://www.burkholderphc.com/symptoms-causes-of-evergreen-tree-diseases/

Yes. Certain it is not natural.

I keep seeing dead fir trees which have a "rust" disease get cut down in summer. The needles do change color as it dies.