Privacy trees & landscaping

[Anonymous]

I have a medium sized yard ~30 ft wide with a chainlink fence.

Planning to try my hand at landscaping. I’ve spent several hours today studying what to plant in my zone 7 yard.

GOALS: natural fence, no pollinating plants I need to avoid bees, layered interesting landscaping, and max height 12ft.
Inspiration:





Here’s what I can up with. Thoughts? Too much variety?

[img]https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0059/8835/2052/products/Emeral_Green_Arborvitae_1_FGT_e5727f25-b39d-4190-a459-7a83560b1dd1_1024x1024.jpg?v=1573566572[img]

[/img]https://pots-n-plants.com/_ccLib/image/plantstock/WEB-049695.jpg[img]

[/img]https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0207/5750/products/cypress_gold_mop_3_1024x1024.jpg?v=1557427453[


[/img]https://www.mckaynursery.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/b/l/blue-star-juniper-tree-form-mckay-nursery-company-evergreen-conifer.jpg[img]

[/img]https://www.naturehills.com/media/catalog/product/cache/35c1080e597d6a74b42d0d88ced836c1/d/w/dwarf-english-boxwood-6-600x600.jpg[img]

[Anonymous]

I tried to make the links clickable instead


https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0059/8835/2052/products/Emeral_Green_Arborvitae_1_FGT_e5727f25-b39d-4190-a459-7a83560b1dd1_1024x1024.jpg?v=1573566572

https://pots-n-plants.com/_ccLib/image/plantstock/WEB-049695.jpg

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0207/5750/products/cypress_gold_mop_3_1024x1024.jpg?v=1557427453

https://www.mckaynursery.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/b/l/blue-star-juniper-tree-form-mckay-nursery-company-evergreen-conifer.jpg

https://www.naturehills.com/media/catalog/product/cache/35c1080e597d6a74b42d0d88ced836c1/d/w/dwarf-english-boxwood-6-600x600.jpg

[Anonymous]

I like that list!

You might add in:

Cryptomeria Radicans (can be trimmed)
Ligustrum "sunshine"
Sterile varieties of nandina (limelight, firepower)

[Anonymous]

I had a lot of recommendations until you said no pollinators. Those giant Thuja plicata that are in the picture go to 60 ft. It's very hard to find smaller conifers that are not dwarf but my absolute favorite is the Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce. It's gorgeous in real life, slowly growing up to 10 or 15 ft, but it's so $$$$. Monrovia grows it so it's at Lowe's. I'd add some native evergreen honeysuckle for color and birds - make sure it's only Lonicera sempervirens, the others are horribly invasive. Please don't plant Ligustrum or nandina, they are invasive and ugly as hell. Ligustrum smells nasty too. Go for native, they are low maintenance, don't need a lot of water or babying.

[Anonymous]

Op,

I think you need to consider scale. Your backyard sounds too small for so many plantings. Are you trying to gain privacy on three sides?

I am thinking of your backyard as a rectangle or square. For the side opposite your back door, I suggest planting something with more year round visual interest. Like Japanese maples and plant something like boxwoods in front of it. Or preferably inkberry, hearty, evergreen easy to grow shrub. It does have tiny flowers. It’s been growing 20 years in my yard and never seen a bee on it.

Another shrub you should look for foundation planting at is ilex winterberry. It will look great in front of an evergreen screen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a lot of recommendations until you said no pollinators. Those giant Thuja plicata that are in the picture go to 60 ft. It's very hard to find smaller conifers that are not dwarf but my absolute favorite is the Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce. It's gorgeous in real life, slowly growing up to 10 or 15 ft, but it's so $$$$. Monrovia grows it so it's at Lowe's. I'd add some native evergreen honeysuckle for color and birds - make sure it's only Lonicera sempervirens, the others are horribly invasive. Please don't plant Ligustrum or nandina, they are invasive and ugly as hell. Ligustrum smells nasty too. Go for native, they are low maintenance, don't need a lot of water or babying.

I agree with this. Instead of arborvitae. I recommend American holly. They can be easily pruned back if necessary and deer don’t like them.

One thing I often see with arborvitaes planted in a row, is one or more will inevitably get rust and it just looks bad.

The other thing you should be aware of is some people hate the smell of boxwoods. I love them, but for some people they smell like cat pee. I think it’s like cilantro—some people love it and for some it tastes like soap.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't think too much about the bees. I understand you have a health issue but bees are everywhere and most shrubs and trees will only attract them for a short period when blooming. I don't think having them in your yard is going to increase your risk of being stung. I get not planting flowers if it's an issue for you but I don't think the shrubs will be a big deal. For example, a cherry laurel is a great screening plant and it will only attract bees for a few weeks tops while it is blooming.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like that list!

You might add in:

Cryptomeria Radicans (can be trimmed)
Ligustrum "sunshine"
Sterile varieties of nandina (limelight, firepower)

Thanks. The first suggestion is too large for my yard but the last two are perfect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a lot of recommendations until you said no pollinators. Those giant Thuja plicata that are in the picture go to 60 ft. It's very hard to find smaller conifers that are not dwarf but my absolute favorite is the Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce. It's gorgeous in real life, slowly growing up to 10 or 15 ft, but it's so $$$$. Monrovia grows it so it's at Lowe's. I'd add some native evergreen honeysuckle for color and birds - make sure it's only Lonicera sempervirens, the others are horribly invasive. Please don't plant Ligustrum or nandina, they are invasive and ugly as hell. Ligustrum smells nasty too. Go for native, they are low maintenance, don't need a lot of water or babying.

The Fat Albert spruce is beautiful almost brings back memories of the holidays...But too late for me because I purchased Emerald Green arborvitae first the fence line. The native honeysuckle is something to consider as I would love to incorporate native species. I recall honeysuckle from my youth and I remember they were beautiful with a lovely aroma so the bees loved them - I had to stay away. I will put this on my list to investigate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op,

I think you need to consider scale. Your backyard sounds too small for so many plantings. Are you trying to gain privacy on three sides?

I am thinking of your backyard as a rectangle or square. For the side opposite your back door, I suggest planting something with more year round visual interest. Like Japanese maples and plant something like boxwoods in front of it. Or preferably inkberry, hearty, evergreen easy to grow shrub. It does have tiny flowers. It’s been growing 20 years in my yard and never seen a bee on it.

Another shrub you should look for foundation planting at is ilex winterberry. It will look great in front of an evergreen screen.

Great suggestions. You’re right I do need to consider scale. My yard is ~24x40 with a six foot slope. The first 10 of 24 feet are useable entertainment space but it’s all down hill from there. I figured I could include a variety of plantings for visual interest.

Primary goal is to have privacy on the side opposite the back door. I’ve already purchased the Emerald Green arborvitae because of it’s size - max 12 to 15ft. I considered the Japanese Maple because it is gorgeous by I thought it was too big. I just noticed I can purchased dwarf size so thanks!