I'm trying to decide which tree I should plant on the backside of my pool. I'm looking for a tree that will create a screen in front of our fence. Basically we have 3 foot brick footwall at the edge of our pool and then wooden fence past that. I'll plant the trees between the brick wall and the fence. I was inially leaning towards the Eagleston Holly but the plants at the nusery sorta looked like shite. The Japanese blackberry looked much better/healthier. I'm definitely an amateur when it come to plant care so I want something that will fill in nicely (not splotchy) and be uniform with the least amount of effort. Also, it'll be close proximity to my pool so something that won't drop too much is important. I read the Jap BBs can be messy. Anyway, appreciate any advice or pros/cons to the different trees.

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Posted by DomincDecoco

of no fixed abode

Member since Oct 2018

11484 posts

Posted on 9/30/22 at 7:02 pm to Tigers13

eagleston does not do well in zone 9 clay base...mine have struggled from day 1, need CONSTANT attention and feeding.

and they are VERY messy

go with Potocarpus, bulletproof

Savanah is nice, but try for males...females and youll be pulling berries out of your pool screens

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Posted by DickTater

Geismar

Member since Feb 2013

132 posts

Posted on 10/1/22 at 7:40 am to DomincDecoco

I have 3 eagelston all planted at the 100gal stage. They’ve done fantastic for me zone 9….I have only applied osmocote once since planting 3 years ago. They tolerate drought and wet fine, plus significantly less berries over a savannah.

I do like podocarpus - jap ew. Have those against a brick wall in my backyard, and they do very well as a privacy screen…many people let them just grow up until desired height, but I find they respond better to pruning often, helps encourage lateral growth as well as increase lower limb strength keeping the branches from shooting up and getting floppy. Both are good options, just no savannah !

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Posted by Tigers13

New Orleans

Member since Feb 2005

1780 posts

Posted on 10/1/22 at 7:55 am to DickTater

Thanks for the responses. Yea I’m really trying to decide between Eagleston and Jap BB but your comment about berries solidified that. I Have the Jap Yew on the other wall and they are doing really well.

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Posted by DomincDecoco

of no fixed abode

Member since Oct 2018

11484 posts

Posted on 10/1/22 at 1:49 pm to DickTater

quote:
I have 3 eagelston all planted at the 100gal stage. They’ve done fantastic for me zone 9….I have only applied osmocote once since planting 3 years ago. They tolerate drought and wet fine, plus significantly less berries over a savannah. I do like podocarpus - jap ew. Have those against a brick wall in my backyard, and they do very well as a privacy screen…many people let them just grow up until desired height, but I find they respond better to pruning often, helps encourage lateral growth as well as increase lower limb strength keeping the branches from shooting up and getting floppy. Both are good options, just no savannah !

Im the opposite with hollies...have savanahs that do great. Lol

Who knows!