Quick Growing Tree's for Privacy Around Garden?

[maillme]

Hi there,

Im moving into a new house soon and am looking at what breed of tree woudl be good to get maximum growth in the shortes period of time.

I don't mind maintenance after they have reached the height i woudl like.

Someone has suggested Italian Cypress Tree - but i'm keen to hear from the experts (and also where to buy if possible - uk).

many thanks,
Neil

[tamsin]

How tall and how wide? There are fast growing trees, but they might not necessarily stop at the height you want and some trees will also be quite wide. There is also density to consider - do you want to block light out totally? What about winter when most trees shed their leaves? Conifers are quick and evergreen but will get 40' very swiftly if you don't prune at least yearly.

[maillme]

Hi Tamsin,


thanks for your reply.

Its a terraced house and the gardens are all alongside each other - so im looking to get trees around the perimitter. The sund is directly above the garden (i know that sounds obvious) but what i mean is that shoudl there be 10ft tress around the garden it wont block the sun.

[Flummery]

Trees, even fast growing ones, will take a few years to get to 10ft. You'd be better with a fence?

[rustylady]

I'm with Flum, trees will also take all the water and nutrients out of your garden. And as for the sun, it can't possibly be directly overhead all the time, so you will get some shade. What does the house have for boundaries at the moment?

[jackyspratty]

Also think you need to consider neighbour relations aswell. There can be a thin line between maintaining privacy and annoying neighbours by blocking light and as said hungry roots removing nutriants from soil. How a bout a fence with some trellis and some lovely climbers?

[BigShot]

Have you considered bamboo? It's very fast growing and if you pick a fairly tame species not all that problematic.

It's quite stylish looking, doesn't take up as much space as a tree would for any given height and should give all the privacy you're likely to want. Some species are stunning too, some with deep black stems and others that go a quite ghostly grey colour with age.

I do wonder what's wrong with seeing and talking to your neighbours... but then, there seems to be a trend of privacy in the garden these days and I find a lot of current trends really rather odd anyway.

Another suggestion: Forest flame gives a stunning display of colours and can certainly grow high enough to provide privacy, though it wouldn't be as instant as bamboo.

[vicky]

Lavatera is a fast growing shrub and will get to 8-10ft in a couple of years but it is pretty short lived too.
Photinias and laurels can be kept at that height with pruning and you can buy them at 6ft if you have the cash!

[Flummery]

Lavatera is a fast growing shrub and will get to 8-10ft in a couple of years but it is pretty short lived too.
Photinias and laurels can be kept at that height with pruning and you can buy them at 6ft if you have the cash!

Lavatera's also deciduous. For half the year you'll have a bunch of sticks! You get better flowering on them if you prune hard in spring, like with a buddleia.

Pruning photinias and laurels is a pain because you have to do it with seccateurs not with hedge trimmers, or you cut the leaves and it looks really rough.