OT Privacy screen trees

[JMORC2003]

looking to plant some trees along the back edge of my property, goal is to have them grow into a privacy screen. What trees are the best to accomplish that?

I have leyland cypresses along the side of my property that are really nice, but haven't grown too dense (height wise they've taken off once they established), looking for something that will grow into a hedge, at least 5-6 ft tall. I always could have had them planter closer together but still wouldn't have been a tight screen. It's also only the third year I've had them so they could just need more time.

I always see deals on arborvitaes (something like 10 for $100), but I've also have seen those not really grow so big.

I'm in NJ, so whatever I get would have for this zone.

Thoughts?

 

[Caliknight]

I have ficus around both of my properties and it's great for privacy. They do suck up a lot of water. They have some pretty extensive roots too so if you have neighbors close by with concrete, it may become an issue in the distant future. For privacy though, they are great. Dense, green, fluffy wall basically.

 

[Scarlet16E]

Thuja Giants

 

[koleszar]

looking to plant some trees along the back edge of my property, goal is to have them grow into a privacy screen. What trees are the best to accomplish that?

I have leyland cypresses along the side of my property that are really nice, but haven't grown too dense (height wise they've taken off once they established), looking for something that will grow into a hedge, at least 5-6 ft tall. I always could have had them planter closer together but still wouldn't have been a tight screen. It's also only the third year I've had them so they could just need more time.

I always see deals on arborvitaes (something like 10 for $100), but I've also have seen those not really grow so big.

I'm in NJ, so whatever I get would have for this zone.

Thoughts?

Emerald green arborvitaes are nice but you might have a privacy screen by the year 2025. They grow real slow. Green Giant Arborvitaes(thuja) grow much faster and are nice as well so there is that option. If you have apple trees do not plant either of these they will cause apple cedar rust.(That's my problem, I have an entire orchard and need a privacy screen)

Leyland Cypress are the best for a quick screen as they grow over two feet a year. They will fill out into a barrel shape with pruning. If you planted them correctly using the rule of 4's(5' spacing/20' tree height) then they will grow to the height you want before becoming stressed and stopping height growth. Give them two more years and they'll fill out, right now they are trying to reach their maximum height. If not plant another row behind in between the trees planted. You made a wise choice your 1st go around just give it time.

 

[jmg75]

I would go with the Thuja as well. Not sure what is going on with your Leylands, as they typically grow 3 -4 feet a year. I actually removed three from my property as they grew too high too fast. And they grow strange as well: wider at the top than at the bottom. It was hailed as a hybrid that would grow into a privacy screen very quickly, but I now consider them just big, green weeds.

I have a number of Thuja, Emerald Green (the arborvitae most people are familiar with, and the deer find the most tasty) and Dark American on my property. The Emerald Green grow the slowest and are the most fragile in the face of bad weather. I think I like the Thuja the best, Dark American next. Thuja gows faster.

 

[bac2therac]

Arborvitaes are your best bet....get big ones to start and you will be fine

 

[IMARUFAN]

You might want to consider skip laurel bushes. Hardy, grows fast and thick green leaves stay on all winter.

 

[BigRnj]

Leland cypress ... but keep them trimmed as a hedge to encourage thicker/bushier growth. Don't use a hedge trimmer, instead cut back shoots to encourage more sprouts. I have some at about 18' as a privacy screen (that's as high as I can maintain with my ladder).

 

[JMORC2003]

Thanks, that makes sense about the arborvitaes being slow growing. I'll look into the green giants though.

Don't get me wrong, My leylands are doing great, and really took off last year (third summer that they were in the ground). They're just not filling out into a wall like I had hoped.

 

[koleszar]

Leland cypress ... but keep them trimmed as a hedge to encourage thicker/bushier growth. Don't use a hedge trimmer, instead cut back shoots to encourage more sprouts. I have some at about 18' as a privacy screen (that's as high as I can maintain with my ladder).

This is something a lot of people don't understand.(not saying those in this thread). Pruning a tree promotes growth and by pruning correctly you can make the tree grow how you want. In our fruit orchard every Feb. we prune back a third of the trees and anything growing inward. This makes for a faster growing healthier tree. I can also control direction of the branches by finding the proper bud and cutting 1/2" above it.

 

[JMORC2003]

Leland cypress ... but keep them trimmed as a hedge to encourage thicker/bushier growth. Don't use a hedge trimmer, instead cut back shoots to encourage more sprouts. I have some at about 18' as a privacy screen (that's as high as I can maintain with my ladder).

This is great. Exactly what I wasn't doing.

 

[SHUSource]

You might want to consider skip laurel bushes. Hardy, grows fast and thick green leaves stay on all winter.

Agreed. Schip laurels have worked very well for me.

 

[NJbound]

Stay away from arborvitae in NJ. Total deer candy. Look at houses that have all growth at the top (where deer can't reach) and are totally bare at the bottom.

 

[Knight Shift]

Leland cypress ... but keep them trimmed as a hedge to encourage thicker/bushier growth. Don't use a hedge trimmer, instead cut back shoots to encourage more sprouts. I have some at about 18' as a privacy screen (that's as high as I can maintain with my ladder).

This is something a lot of people don't understand.(not saying those in this thread). Pruning a tree promotes growth and by pruning correctly you can make the tree grow how you want. In our fruit orchard every Feb. we prune back a third of the trees and anything growing inward. This makes for a faster growing healthier tree. I can also control direction of the branches by finding the proper bud and cutting 1/2" above it.

Where were you guys when I needed you 4 years ago with my Leylands? LOL. I wish I had trimmed my Leylands to get them fuller at the top to block out a neighbor's unsightly garage.

And I should have followed the 5' spacing rule. Anyway, I got a decent barrier to block out the garage.
Here are a couple of nice examples of Leylands trimmed as hedges:

 

[Steveriknight]

How much sun does the location have? Leyland Cypress trees require at least 8 hrs of sun for a healthy growth habit... whereas Green Giant Arborvitaes only require 4-6 hours.

Both of those trees get very tall, I have both of them as a privacy screen in my back yard. You might also consider the Spring Grove Arborvitae. It's slightly shorter, still fast growing, and slightly more columnar than the Green Giant. Has a strong central leader and can withstand snow weight much better than the Emerald Greens.

 

[MorrisAsh]

Nothing evergreen grows faster than bamboo.

Talk to Little Acres Farms in NJ; owner is a Rutgers grad. We had him plant 3 feet tall fargesia robusta bamboo 5 feet apart. In 3 years it filled in and grew to about 10-12 feet. Very cold hardy.

 

[Knight Shift]

Nothing evergreen grows faster than bamboo.

Talk to Little Acres Farms in NJ; owner is a Rutgers grad. We had him plant 3 feet tall fargesia robusta bamboo 5 feet apart. In 3 years it filled in and grew to about 10-12 feet. Very cold hardy.

Only problem is that once bamboo spreads, you cannot stop it.

 

[koleszar]

Only problem is that once bamboo spreads, you cannot stop it.

That stuff is a nightmare. If he doesn't install steel plates 2' into the ground where he wants the bamboo to stop, his entire property will be covered in it. Then break out the backhoe to get those roots out they're a bitch.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Stay away from arborvitae in NJ. Total deer candy. Look at houses that have all growth at the top (where deer can't reach) and are totally bare at the bottom.

This is my issue. I need some privacy trees and my neighbors have arborvitae. They are completely bare on the bottom as the deer feast on them all winter. Will have to go with a evergreen with needles to prevent the deer from eating.

 

[bitnez]

Bamboo should be illegal. It's so invasive and it's roots extend well beyond the stalks.

 

[mildone]

Just saying. Have your privacy screen and smoke it too.

 

[RUsince52]

Bamboo should be illegal. It's so invasive and it's roots extend well beyond the stalks.

Could be expensive to maintain when you figure in the cost of Giant Pandas. Use something else.

 

[zubz]

Where were you guys when I needed you 4 years ago with my Leylands? LOL. I wish I had trimmed my Leylands to get them fuller at the top to block out a neighbor's unsightly garage.

And I should have followed the 5' spacing rule. Anyway, I got a decent barrier to block out the garage.
Here are a couple of nice examples of Leylands trimmed as hedges:

I am pretty sure those are not leylands

 

[zubz]

So I was looking for a privacy screen for a 250' length for the rear of my property. Former owner had some leylands and other bushes kind of randomly placed along a berm. I did extensive research. Leylands are inexpensive will grow very big very fast. Mine got wide so I bet yours will fill in if you gave it a few more years. They are not great trees though. Prone to damage under snow load. Prone to some diseases, etc. long story short I hired a very large grower of green giants to come out and they removed everything I had and placed 50 green giants in. About 6' tall to start. This spring will be my first full year and they are doing great. Green giants are deer resistant (though I am fenced in) and disease resistant. There is a reason nurseries can't keep them in stock. It will take a few years but I expect them to fill in and create a perfect screen. You need patience though whatever route you go. I can take a pic if you want and if you need a place to buy I can give you their name. They are in PA. One of the largest growers of green giants in the area.

 

[wheezer]

Arborvitaes are your best bet....get big ones to start and you will be fine

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I have arborvitaes in the back, picked out for me by a landscaper.... I did want a screen barrier and this fills the bill.... the only thing is that I wanted to
maintain a bit of space between them, to try to retain the look of them being
separate bushes.... thus they need a trim each year to keep that look....I also wanted to limit the height, which I trim back each year, at the risk of death

 

[Knight Shift]

I am pretty sure those are not leylands

I'm pretty sure they are.
Counterpoint?