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Started By
Message
Best tree for privacy screen
Posted on 2/26/25 at 8:29 pm
Posted on 2/26/25 at 8:29 pm
I have a fence but want to soften with a green privacy screen in front. Was thinking about Spartan Juniper or Thuja arbor vitae (green giant). Anyone had experience with either of these?
12
Posted on 2/26/25 at 8:40 pm to LSUFootballLover
Double post
This post was edited on 2/26/25 at 8:42 pm
Posted on 2/26/25 at 8:41 pm to LSUFootballLover
No but my uncle planted sweet viburnum two springs ago and they have made quite the hedge. They are prolific growers.
Posted on 2/26/25 at 9:19 pm to LSUFootballLover
Copied from NeilSperry.com:
Question: What are the best tall screening shrubs I can use for privacy?
Answer: Your nurseryman will need to answer that for your specific needs and conditions, but some of the best include tall hollies such as Nellie R. Stevens, burford, willowleaf (needlepoint), Mary Nell, Foster’s, Wilson’s, Savannah and yaupon, also ligustrums, cherry laurel, oleanders, standard abelias, elaeagnus and viburnums. Redtip photinias might be included in the list were it not for their disease and insect problems.
Question: What are the best tall screening shrubs I can use for privacy?
Answer: Your nurseryman will need to answer that for your specific needs and conditions, but some of the best include tall hollies such as Nellie R. Stevens, burford, willowleaf (needlepoint), Mary Nell, Foster’s, Wilson’s, Savannah and yaupon, also ligustrums, cherry laurel, oleanders, standard abelias, elaeagnus and viburnums. Redtip photinias might be included in the list were it not for their disease and insect problems.
Posted on 2/26/25 at 10:03 pm to LSUFootballLover
Green Giants don't do well in South Louisiana, too hot.
I planted about 40 in 2008 at my last house, and there's only 2 or 3 left alive.
I planted about 40 in 2008 at my last house, and there's only 2 or 3 left alive.
Posted on 2/26/25 at 11:19 pm to sledgehammer
quote:
No but my uncle planted sweet viburnum two springs ago and they have made quite the hedge. They are prolific growers.
My parents planted a row of these for a privacy screen... did an awesome job
Posted on 2/27/25 at 4:35 am to LSUFootballLover
Carolina Sapphire
Posted on 2/27/25 at 7:23 am to LSUFootballLover
Went through this same scenario a year or two ago at my house. Wanted something for privacy along my back wooden fence and for sound purposes. Everyone suggested sweet viburnums so I went with that and they were doing great until they got 13" of snow on them and broke a bunch of the branches except the horizontal ones down low. I still think this is the correct answer and they should rebound.
Also not sure how much sun the spot gets but the more sun they get the faster they will grow. My buddy planted some around the same time as me and his have grown much faster than mine due to more sun. Mine are shaded alot by a live oak.
Also not sure how much sun the spot gets but the more sun they get the faster they will grow. My buddy planted some around the same time as me and his have grown much faster than mine due to more sun. Mine are shaded alot by a live oak.
This post was edited on 2/27/25 at 7:24 am
Posted on 2/27/25 at 7:42 am to LSUDbrous90
I like a mixed border instead of single species. Wet vs dry and sun vs shade should help with your selections. We planted on a very wet full sun ditch recently and so far have cypress, overcup oak, willow oak, Dahoon holly, was mrytle, pines, and southern magnolia (further away from ditch -doesn’t like wet feet). We are filling it in with water loving prairie plants and shrubs. Button bush, Virginia sweetspire, native sunflowers, ironweed, Louisiana iris, native hibiscus, Texas coneflower, etc. Depends on how orderly or wild and natural you want it and how much room you have. I’m a fan of a more wild and natural looking landscape though. Canopy trees - shrub line - herbaceous plants for me.
Posted on 2/27/25 at 10:23 am to LSUFootballLover
Clumping bamboo, that shite grows so fast, gets thick, and your neighbors won’t hate you for it growing into their yard
Posted on 2/27/25 at 11:10 am to LSUFootballLover
I have a good bit of research into 10-20 foot options.
Say no to yaupon holly because they die back hard if their roots are too wet. Nothing worse than seeing five years of work go down the toilet and then try to nurse the thing another five years without success.
Yes to wax myrtle.
Yes to red tip photonia, the leaf spot thing is real but it doesn’t kill them or keep them from making a screen.
Bamboo is great if contained reasonably.
My favorite is Chinese privit or ligustrum sinese but I’m not sure if it is legal in Louisiana. It’s frowned upon in the industry because it’s so good.
All other ligustrum is good too. Lucidium is probably the biggest and fastest.
All that needle stuff is fine but that’s way too much work to control on a lot my size.
Say no to yaupon holly because they die back hard if their roots are too wet. Nothing worse than seeing five years of work go down the toilet and then try to nurse the thing another five years without success.
Yes to wax myrtle.
Yes to red tip photonia, the leaf spot thing is real but it doesn’t kill them or keep them from making a screen.
Bamboo is great if contained reasonably.
My favorite is Chinese privit or ligustrum sinese but I’m not sure if it is legal in Louisiana. It’s frowned upon in the industry because it’s so good.
All other ligustrum is good too. Lucidium is probably the biggest and fastest.
All that needle stuff is fine but that’s way too much work to control on a lot my size.
Posted on 2/27/25 at 11:46 am to LSUFootballLover
Lots of good responses. After 40 years in same BTR yard some observations are...
1. Eight lovely viburnums 15' tall died within a 3 year period due to a fungus.
2. Wax myrtle starts falling apart in 15 years but keep resprouting. I started with 5, 0 now.
3. Golden rain trees last 25 years but become a nuisance weed quickly.
4. Weeds that became trees are: black cherry, savanna holly, and something that looks like cherry laural are all coming along nicely.
5. I'm about to try sweet bay. It's native, semi-evergreen, is OK with wet ground and relatively inexpensive.
1. Eight lovely viburnums 15' tall died within a 3 year period due to a fungus.
2. Wax myrtle starts falling apart in 15 years but keep resprouting. I started with 5, 0 now.
3. Golden rain trees last 25 years but become a nuisance weed quickly.
4. Weeds that became trees are: black cherry, savanna holly, and something that looks like cherry laural are all coming along nicely.
5. I'm about to try sweet bay. It's native, semi-evergreen, is OK with wet ground and relatively inexpensive.
Posted on 2/27/25 at 11:53 am to Dallaswho
Ligustrum should be illegal. The surrounding bayou bottomland hardwood forest is completely invested with both Chinese privet and glossy ligustrum. It wrecks native ecosystems.
Posted on 2/27/25 at 12:09 pm to AyyyBaw
quote:
Ligustrum should be illegal. The surrounding bayou bottomland hardwood forest is completely invested with both Chinese privet and glossy ligustrum. It wrecks native ecosystems.
True but that ship has sailed. Plants that are maintained every spring never produce fruit and are not part of the problem.
Posted on 2/27/25 at 2:05 pm to LSUFootballLover
Hollies & Viburnums are your best best classic evergreen screeners imo. Lorapetalum, podocarpus, and pittosporum are some other fast growing favorites of mine.
If you're up for something different, I'm using a bunch of native Maypop vines to screen for 2-3 years while the larger screening shrubs fill in. They grow super fast and add some good color. You could do something similar depending on the type of fence you have.
If you're up for something different, I'm using a bunch of native Maypop vines to screen for 2-3 years while the larger screening shrubs fill in. They grow super fast and add some good color. You could do something similar depending on the type of fence you have.
This post was edited on 2/27/25 at 2:11 pm
Posted on 2/27/25 at 2:07 pm to LSUFootballLover
I love my savannah hollies
Posted on 2/27/25 at 9:25 pm to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
You can't mention bamboo in this place or you may get strung up.
Posted on 2/28/25 at 1:03 am to LSUFootballLover
Russian olive or Elaeagnus. Makes a great shrub boundary.
Posted on 2/28/25 at 9:18 am to LeGrosChat
quote:
Russian olive or Elaeagnus. Makes a great shrub boundary
I have that new “olive martini” or whatever hybrid in the corner of my side yard and it hasn’t grown an inch in three years. It isn’t dying either. It gets too much shade from the fence but still a good 4+ hours of sun. I haven’t given up on it just yet.
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