Privacy hedge

[lakota]

Anyone have a suggestion on what to use as a good fast growing privacy hedge? I had to have some sewer work done and they destroyed the hedge that was there.

[Graybeard]

In my experience nothing that is claimed to be "fast growing" for that purpose really is.

I have found that around here cedar is about as fast growing as anything and that is still several years to do the job right.

Privet hedge is quite fast growing and might do the job but to look decent needs regular pruning and with pruning they generally get pretty thin especially down low.

I'm working on a privacy screen on about 650'-700' on one side of my land. About the only thing that is currently at a stage to do that is some of the Leyland cypress I planted almost ten years ago I believe it was. Down at my pond I have a combination of Leyland cypress and cedar spanning perhaps 300'-350' and I suspect by the end of this year they will be up there tall enough to do the job. All along my orchard on that side I have a combination of Leyland cypress, cedar, arborvitaie and perhaps a few others I'm forgetting. Most are closing in on five years in the ground and are definitely not where I want them yet.

I've got some bamboo ordered to use down along the pond also and hope to use some as fishing poles when they get to the right height plus it serving as a privacy screen.

[keith44]

Forsythia is about the fastest hedge type plant that grows well here.

[charles p]

Oleander works in the SE.  There was a thorny rose that farmers once used to contain cattle.  Quail sure liked it for hiding.  Russian Olive is another plant that grows fast.  Not sure about Autumn Olive, but turkey like the fruit of it.

[reliquary]

Stay away from bamboo; after that stuff takes off, napalm won't kill it...literally.
 
Privet hedge is good, cheap (dig some roots out of an existing hedge), and fast-growing.  Lugustrum is prettier & more manageable, but quite expensive unless you get cuttings and root them yourself...kinda late for that this year?  Both are very attractive for bees.  I have a small lugustrum in the garden for that purpose.  Privet can be invasive.
 
The rugosa varieties of rose will grow quickly to about 4'-5' and spread nicely--look around old houseplaces for them.  In the right area, mulberry or Osage Orange will grow quickly and can be groundrooted to spread into a hedgerow...they were used as borders in the early homesteads in the Midwest and plains. 

[blind ear]

Old fencerows in Europe and here were planted fairley close in plants per running foot. When the trees got up several feet tall the tops were pulled over into an ark and tied to a tree down the line. The new growth would grow up and the trunks would get thicker. The resulting "fence" would hold any livestock even goats if made properly.
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 Mock orange and osage orange were often used. They used trees or shrubs that had some thorns. Plant blackberries or other fruiting bushes on either side and wildlife was served as well as having a living fence.
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That is the type of hedgerow that the US military encountered in Europe in WWII and they had to build special attachments for the tanks to cut holes through them. They were very old hedgerows though. ear

[Graybeard]

I think most are not considering the first word in his subject line PRIVACY.

That is what my plantings are for and that is a different issue than just having a row of most of the things suggested at least for me. I want the view totally blocked not something to delineate a property line. That's what the wire fence is for.

[keith44]

I think most are not considering the first word in his subject line PRIVACY.

That is what my plantings are for and that is a different issue than just having a row of most of the things suggested at least for me. I want the view totally blocked not something to delineate a property line. That's what the wire fence is for.

around here the forsythia does just that, 4 - 6 feet tall and thick growth that screens the view in winter and totally blocks it in summer, but for a ever green type, that blocks the view year 'round you are correct.

[Bugflipper]

I would suggest you go here and order a catalog. http://www.eburgess.com/index.asp
They have cheap prices on hedges. Then usually have them on their 1 cent sale as well. You buy what ever amount they list and double the order for a penny. Ordered some of their evergreen canadian hemlock. It took 5 years to get over head high. Not to bad for an evergreen though.


On the fence I put some honeysuckle about every 25 foot hoping it would fill in over time. It's been about 7 years and you can't see the rusted old livestock fence anymore. I would guess the hemlock planted at the same time is about 19-20 foot tall. Using it for a wind break on the North side of the house. Both were fertilized lightly every spring.

[reliquary]

Plant something that grows fast...several suggestions here...to mark the line...along with stuff that grows higher and sturdier for permanence.  I once "posted" my mom's vacant lot by planting Pampas grass rootings about 2' apart.

[scratcherky]

Plant an Osage hedge and when mature even hogs can not penetrate it. They were used for years by pioneer settlers instead of fences to keep livestock in.

[mechanic]

Cane.  In one season you can have a tall privacy barrier.
 
Downside, it's forever.  If you don't like it, too bad, you can't kill it.
 
Plus side, it's useful for many other things.
 
Downside, it will spread quickly if you don't keep it mowed over and thinned out.
 
I had it when I moved here, so I deal with it.  No shortage of tomato stake, bean poles or fishing poles!
 
Ben

[Graybeard]

Ben is your cane the kind that used to grow along the banks of rivers and creeks or commercial bamboo?

[mechanic]

Ben is your cane the kind that used to grow along the banks of rivers and creeks or commercial bamboo?

It's the kind you find locally around creeks and such.
 
Ben

[Graybeard]

What's the chance I could talk you into getting me a few rootings where the fresh new canes are coming up and packing them in a wet paper towel in a baggie. I'd like to get a start of them near my pond so I can use them for fishing poles. A cane pole is all ya need on my pond due to the layout but I can't find one anywhere.

[mechanic]

Just pm me the address you want them sent to.  I can send you small canes with roots attached, and I believe my wife has some of the little plastic bottles you seal the roots in.
 
Ben

[keith44]

careful, cane is on the noxious weed list in many states, and importing can mean trouble if found out.

[Graybeard]

Never thought of that since it is afterall native to the state. I did check the state list tho and it is not on it. I can't imagine anything native to the state would be.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/noxious?rptType=State&statefips=01

[Cornbelt]

 For a seasonal hedge, you could plant some variety of sorghum. Grows fast and would give you some temporary privacy while the other stuff gets established.
  Just curious, what was it originally?

[lakota]

It was an invasive species I think it was russian olive. It was here when I moved in. It was starting to thin and die off as it was and the excavator dealt it the death blow. I was hoping it might come back but its been almost 2 months and there is no signs of life. I dont mean to sound unneighborly but the folks that live on that side are extremely nosey. I cant hardly practice archery in the backyard anymore.
 
I have always liked the looks of bloomig forsythia in the spring so that is an option for sure. I had no idea it could be used as a hedge. It seems that most folks around here just plant one as a specimen plant.