Fast Growing Trees for Privacy Hedge
By Elliott • June 10, 2009 11:01 PM
... But what if fences are not allowed by local zoning ordinances or HOA restrictions? In this case a hedge of privacy bushes could work as a very nice substitute. Planting bushes and shrubs will provide a natural look to your yard and can grow high enough for privacy in areas that have two story houses. So what type of border should you use? A good choice would be what’s known as a “loose border”, consisting of different kinds of evergreens and deciduous plants. This type of layout requires less overall maintenance because the shape is allowed to follow a more natural growth path. All that’s needed is weeding and general shaping to keep things looking good. In planning for a loose border, select shrubs that will attain the desired height and width. The plants also need a fast growth rate as well as dense coverage. Make sure you leave enough setback from your property lines so the plants can grow without crossing over into your neighbor’s property. It you set them too close, you’ll have to spend a lot of time with pruning shears and that would defeat one of the main advantages of this type of layout. When planting loose borders for privacy, put your tallest plant selections in the back row and shortest in the front. Keep spacing to the minimum required for the type of plants you use. Don’t crowd them, and also don’t leave too much space between each plant. Be mindful of the amount of sun exposure. Sunlight requirements for flowering bushes can be hard to meet if you have a lot of shade. Most flowering bushes require about 6 hours of sun per day. Blackhaw Viburnum is a deciduous shrub that yields white flowers in May that turns to edible fruit ...
