Tree Privacy Screen

1mattuhde

I am unsure of the best tree to use as a privacy screen. I would like it to grow fast. My dilemma is, the area I need the screen is about 14' wide and I have a in ground swimming pool to one side and a privacy fence to the other. We live on a hill and there are some areas that can be seen from the street even with the privacy fence. I need about a 15-20' screen. I am worried about roots also with a pool close.

Eric Frei

Pictures please

When you say the screen has to be 14' wide, is that deep or along? Like does the tree have to grow 14' diameter or something?

__________________

treeseer

maybe a trellis with evergreen vines?

treevet

That is a good idea. I have used; Cherry Laurel, Bracken Brown Beauty Magnolia, Pragense viburnum, Leyland cypress, to name a few evergreen. Carpinus as a deciduous plant if it is just for summer and you get some screen dormant.

treeseer

Yes some carpinus are fastigiate and would fit the narrow place but would give little eyelevel screen.

Espaliering a spreading tree such as a redbud or amelanchier might work too. but the vines are a good way to go, if you can build a fan trellis (not hard)/

treevet

Here is a screen of Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' with 2 seasons growth that has completely obscured my nbor's house from our deck except for 1 that was hit hard by cicada when just planted. It is improving. They would be lower and less porous but were just pruned to make room for perennials underneath.

I again like the idea of trellis except for poss decay of wood structure and cost of metal.

Attached Thumbnails

 

treevet

Ps this plant holds leaves until mid Jan that are a golden brown color in the sun.

treeseer

Nice plants, nice planting!

How much did they cost?

treevet

They were about $150. for 1 1/2' caliper (6' above ground msrmt.) B&B. About 8 to 10 feet tall above the ball.

From a wholesaler I deal with. Other places may be cheaper but this place is well stocked and it is less than 5 miles from me. They have prob gone up about 30% since I bought them.

treevet

Also you might notice from picture, my nbor is always climbing around on his steep pitched roof. He had a heart attack last winter. It is worse than witnessing a scary movie!

He has a huge 90% dead sugar maple in front that he thinks might come back (not) (verticillium wilt) and that roof he is always fussing with is soon to be slammed.

treeseer

6", 15 cm, right?

are those low-litter enough to go by the pool?

treevet

Absolutely! The only neg, I've found so far is cicadas love to rut into them and lay eggs. Don't know if you get them down there? 7 years btwn. assaults makes you forget about them but it is worth netting the whole tree if you get them.