Tree Selection Assistance Needed

Stugotz

Hello all, I am in need of assistance for the proper selection of 4 to 6 trees.

Background:
Recently I purchased my first home (Zone 8-9) and the backyard was incomplete. Concrete and lawn just fine, yet the back 90ft x 8-10ft strip/flowerbed left barren. Soil has been amended and have had six 9ft x 2ft holes spaced evenly and drilled along the back fence to break through hardpan (located approx. 3-4ft down in my area). House faces north (corner lot) and southern & western exterior walls get cooked by sun. Behind lot is a large two story house that just peers into my backyard.




Question:
What type of trees can I plant along the 8-10ft wide strip along my back fence that will grow tall to block view from two story house, yet not grow too wide as to eventually knock down my back fence?

Thoughts:
Evergreens such as the Aptos Blue have been suggested, yet I fear that the trunks will eventually grow wider that 8-10ft. I would like something to keep afternoon sun and neighbor's family from staring from their 2nd story window into my backyard.

Thank you in advance!

Knotahippie

It'll take a long time to get 8'.

Italian cypress, pittosporum, prunus caroliniana can be good evergreen screens.

I like the aptos blue suggestion for a good, fast growing screen.

very little pruning in the long run, very little after care for redwoods.

newguy18

red cedar,makes a good hedge around here anyway.

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dannyboysfc

A good resource would be a book titled Street Trees of Southern California.

I agree that the Aptos Blue redwoods would be a decent choice as long at they arent too close to foundations, sidewalds, concrete patios or sewage lines. You will never see them even close to 8' diameter in your lifetime.

Stugotz

thank you all for your responses!

The trees will be along the south fence (per diagram above) so no lines or foundations to worry about.

I am in Fresno, CA so I forgot to mention we get +100 degree summers here. Does that change any recommendations?

Are there any column or vase shaped deciduous large leaf trees that any of you are fond of or think I should consider?

Sean Freeman

This might help very informative document esp section 3 for your requirements "General guidelines for siting and selecting trees"

cufr_48.pdf

Stugotz

I really like the info!

Anything specific to my area (Fresno, Ca) which has +100 degree summers and extremely low winters?

I am no where near the coast/ocean or Southern California (4-5 hours north).

I am also inland a few hours in the central San Joaquin Valley. Probably more zone 9 than 8.

P.S. your dog is awesome!

Knotahippie

Heat may be a problem if not in a protected area...

Is there other redwoods in the neighborhood?

Atlas/Diador Cedars are a nice evergreen screen.

Some others:

Chinese Hackberry

Tulip Tree

Ginko

Sweet Gum (root invasive, need root barriers)

London Plane

Oaks

Chinese/Siberian Elm

Sean Freeman

Sorry Stugotz, my US geography is well sketchy!
Try this one...tricky spot to nail down Fresno, also I recognise that these docs are less about specific species selection than the criteria you should apply, hope they are helpful nonetheless.

cufr_38.pdf

dannyboysfc

Reading over that info I saw Dawn Redwood on that list, its an awesome tree although it is deciduous and Im not sure how fast they grow. One of my favorites though.