This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Fast growing tree recommendation for shielding
Treemendous
Posts: 6
in Plants
Hello.
My husband and I are keen to plant a fast growing tree(s) next to our fence and within 3 feet of our home to act as a shield from the terrible eyesore that is our neighbour's very messy garden.
The tree will need to be at least 4.5 meters tall and 5 meters wide but due to the close proximity with our house/foundations, we are obviously keen to avoid planting a tree which is likely to cause any structural damage.
I have done some research and was going to purchase a potted 6 feet tall Cherry Laurel due to its fast growth, density and hardiness (our soil is partially clay) but I saw on one of the forum threads on here that it's unwise to purchase a Cherry Laurel more than 3 feet tall because it will likely need to be cut back to 3 feet to encourage good growth. I am therefore now uncertain as to what would be the best tree to plant to provide us with sufficient shielding in as little time as possible, and would be very grateful for any recommendations.
As you can probably tell from the wording of my message, I am an amateur gardener to say the least, so please forgive my ignorance and poor terminology!
Many thanks
My husband and I are keen to plant a fast growing tree(s) next to our fence and within 3 feet of our home to act as a shield from the terrible eyesore that is our neighbour's very messy garden.
The tree will need to be at least 4.5 meters tall and 5 meters wide but due to the close proximity with our house/foundations, we are obviously keen to avoid planting a tree which is likely to cause any structural damage.
I have done some research and was going to purchase a potted 6 feet tall Cherry Laurel due to its fast growth, density and hardiness (our soil is partially clay) but I saw on one of the forum threads on here that it's unwise to purchase a Cherry Laurel more than 3 feet tall because it will likely need to be cut back to 3 feet to encourage good growth. I am therefore now uncertain as to what would be the best tree to plant to provide us with sufficient shielding in as little time as possible, and would be very grateful for any recommendations.
As you can probably tell from the wording of my message, I am an amateur gardener to say the least, so please forgive my ignorance and poor terminology!
Many thanks
0
Posts
The problem arises when people think it's far better to buy something bigger, without realising that they need a huge amount of care to get established, and they never perform as well because they've been restricted in the pots for so long.
A smaller one will establish more quickly, and once settled will grow to a good size. It will then need minimal care to keep it in bounds - just removing branches and stems where necessary. Anything you buy will need a lot of watering for the next few months though, and the ground should be well prepped first.
However, you should realise that they can become huge in the right conditions, and they can't be kept 'narrow'. They will grow in every direction, and have substantial branches when mature, which means they can look bare once pruned back. They're difficult to keep tighter than about four feet, so as long as you have enough room to play with,they might be ok.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Any kind of tree is roughly as big below ground as it is above, to keep it from toppling over in high winds, and because the bigger it is, the further afield the roots have to spread to get enough water and nutrients to supply the upper growth. So you couldn't grow a tree as big as you propose, and as close to the house, without endangering your foundations. Depending on the direction of the sun, you would also be casting a shade over either your garden or your back windows, is this a price you'd be happy to pay?
I have heard, and this is only anecdotal, that a Monkey Puzzle Tree, Araucaria araucara, is safer than most in this situation because it has a tap root, like a carrot, that goes deep rather than sideways.
Could you erect a trellis and grow an evergreen climber over it?
Is your neighbour's garden a mess because they can't be a****d, or because they are too ill, old, or busy to look after it? Could you offer them some help to keep it tidy? They might move away before your tree reaches its intended size. I'm afraid the tree that grows huge in a year then stops growing doesn't exist.
Saying that, as long as your not on heavy clay, have modern foundations and choose the right tree, structural damage is very unlikely : https://www.localsurveyorsdirect.co.uk/does-it-really-matter-if-theres-a-tree-near-a-building
I'd think of something else. Perhaps a tree in a large pot.
I've realised how to change my username, hence the change!
@josusa47, here's a photo of our view from one of the upstairs bedroom windows. As you can see, shade caused by a tree is far more appealing than what we currently have to look at!
I don't think trellis is an option due to the height we need and the fact there's a public footpath between our and the neighbour's fence.
As you can probably tell from the photo, the neighbour's garden is a mess because they can't be bothered to keep it tidy so offering to help them isn't really an option.
I guess we could plant the tree(s) slightly further away from the house toward the rear of our garden as long as it's wide enough to shield the eyesore but space between the fence and the side of our house is extremely limited.
Does anyone know if Elder is a good option?