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Best screening shrubs/trees
Little Jan
Posts: 43
in Plants
Hi I am after some suggestions for the best shrubs/trees to screen an unsightly fence and neighbours house. The garden is large so I was looking at evergreen options that grow up to about 6m or so. I want it to be fairly fast growing but this is out forever home so can wait a bit 
. I was thinking about a mix of magnolia grandiflora/ strawberry tree and eucalyptus. I have a large acer already and a silver birch and a young sorbus so was looking for a mixture of form and shape. I have planted a young yew hedge but wanted to create some height also.
Any guidance would be great and very welcomed.
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Posts
Prunus lusitanicus, Portugal laurel, is another good one.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Avoid Eucalyptus, they have little screening effect, greedy surface roots and most grow too big [E.niphophila is an exception in size]. Magnolia grandiflora is slow growing and in most of the UK is best grown against a south facing wall. If you are in a mild area then Griselinia is a fast growing evergreen as is Pittosporum tenuifolium. Otherwise I twould agree with nutcutlet on Portuguese laurel.
I would also suggest Photinia,and some Pittosporum.
Some Pittosporum varieties aren't fully hardy so take that into consideration when choosing. Likwise Photinia - it doesn't always fulfill expectation. I'd echo Eleagnus and the laurel too - both are straightforward if the garden's large and you have a lot of other priorities.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Nice boundary Tet.
Is there much maintenance with that mix? I have about 250 feet to fill and too much else to do to be trimming every five minutes. (also lazy!!!)
I can also recommend Cotoneaster lacteus and Viburnum rhytidophyllum. Both evergreen and willing workers
In the sticks near Peterborough