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Trees for privacy/what are these
Ajp45
Posts: 22
I am looking to get trees in my back garden just lined up around the perimeter. They need to be fairly small and unobtrusive, the garden isn't overly big.
i don't want bushes or hedges but I don't like the look of these even though they are probably a bush but like the fact they are tall, not sharp and fairly tidy
can anyone tell me what they are or suggest something better
0
Posts
They're a type of conifer - possibly one of the Thujas or Chamaecyparis (lawsoniana) that naturally grow in a conical shape. There are so many, it would be hard to say which one it is, although someone else here may know. They're very useful for a boundary as they don't need a lot of maintenance but they still need trimmed as they will keep growing.
I'd recommend Amelanchier lamarckii which is technically a shrub, but is often grown as a small tree. It has a nice light canopy, with small flowers in spring which become berries at this time of year, along with good foliage colour. Not evergreen though.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Very useful post by @Fairygirl.
Amelanchier lamarckii is a beautiful 'screen' tree.
Conifers make a great screen/hedge but certain species can cause problems if planted near to the house due to their ever-expanding expanding roots. Also, many types don't take kindly to being trimmed closely and may die.
Copper beech hedges (although you don't want a hedge) offer year-round privacy as they retain their dead leaves until mid to late spring when they shed their leaves as new ones grow, plus they are quite low-maintenance. It takes several years though for them to reach a sizeable height but they look stunning.
I'd agree with you re the conifers Mow. The conical or pyramidal ones are less 'bother' but they need to be trimmed correctly to keep them looking effective. Making the right choice is vital.
Another alternative is to use something like Viburnum. They don't all grow in a uniform shape though. Again, it's a question of choosing wisely.
Holly would be another - there are conical varieties, but they'll take a while to get to a reasonable size.
I didn't suggest Beech or Hornbeam (my favourite hedge) as the OP didn't want a hedge, but that's what I'd go for personally.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
look at Thuya occidentalis "smaragd"
I think that's what your looking at
Hosta - I think Smaragd is a chest of drawers I bought in Ikea once....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Vibernums are a good choice too and you're right about them not growing uniformly but when they flower, they're spectacular. Maybe an assortment of different types would look fantastic as some flower in the winter or spring.
Some vibernums are suscptible to vibernum beetle and one new customer's bush has been absolutely decimated by vibernum beetle larvae. After it's finished flowering next spring, I'm gonna prune away all the dead wood (as that'ts where the beetles hide in the winter). It's probably too late now, so it may not flower next year. But having said that, it can't look any worse than it does at present. Every leaf looks like it's been blasted with a shotgun!
Holly is a good suggestion too as it die-back isn't a problem when they have a trim.
It's nice to have some privacy which can also offer stunning flowers colours throughout the year.
Some other bushes that spring to mind are:
Ceanothus Autumnal Blue (flowers in Autum - evergreen)
Hypericum Hidcote (Flowers in summer and I've seen some over 2m tall - decidous)
Oleander (flowering from July to October - evergreen but can die in temperature blow -10 degees C)
Forsythia (late winter/early spring flowering - evergreen),
Vibernums (winter or spring flowering varieties - evergreen).
Camelias (Autumn to spring flowering varieties -evergreen).
Just some ideas.