I'm afraid anything 'fast growing' won't conveniently stop 'fast growing' when you want it, so you'll have to be prepared to maintain it. It will still take several years for an average shrub to get to about 6 feet for instance.
There are evergreen shrubs like Laurel which grow relatively quickly once established, but they become monstrous if not pruned appropriately. The same goes for many conifers. They're also pretty dull on their own. A hedge might be a better option, or something that we often recommend here, which is to plant something smaller half way down a garden, which provides a screen without waiting for something on a boundary to grow to an adequate height.
Can you give us an idea of the area/distance you're talking about, and things like distance from house, aspect, soil etc. and what else you have growing. That will help with suggestions.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you for the reply. South facing against a 4ft fence. well drained soil. 10 metres from the house & follows the boundary for for about 10 metres. Currently have rose bushes growing In that area only.
Are you able to put some trellising along the top of the fence or directly in front of (if you don't own the fence? Climbers might do the job you are looking for.
As a stop gap for the summer several buddleia will grow fairly quickly which would give you time to get some evergreens to grow between for the long term. Something like different hollies and pyracanthas.
If the fence is yours, you can attach trellis as Angie suggests - or just more fencing. If they pull it down - that's criminal damage.
If the fence belongs to both of you, another alternative is to put some posts in on your side and attach trellis (or wires) and grow climbers. It's certainly a quicker way of creating a screen.
Or get some bareroot hedging in the autumn to plant inside the fence. It will still take a while to grow and establish. Privet might be the best solution, as it's virtually evergreen, and you could grow more ornamentals in front of itif the ground's nicely prepared. I'd opt for beech or hornbeam as it's easier to keep tidy, and also retains it's foliage over winter. Again, you could have a nice border inside that.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Shrubs in my garden that have grown to over 8 feet (un-pruned) within 2 years are Photinia 'Red Robin' and Pyracantha. Both are evergreen but the Pyracantha has vicious thorns which might not suit if you have young children. Also, just remembered I've got a Forsythia that grows like mad. for any of these shrubs you would need to buy large plants if you want them to get big enough in a reasonably short time.
A short-term solution, could you fix wall baskets to the fence, towards the top and plant with annuals etc that grow above the top of the fence ? Might look unusual, depends how desperate you are and how high you want the fence. (Just noticed the fence is only 4ft high, this idea wouldn't really work).
my Mum had a similar problem years ago and I fixed up some of that bamboo screening you can get in garden centres. It wasn't long term (18 months or so then it got a bit shabby) but it was a stop gap until the plants in front of it grew tall enough to do the job.
Another thought - could you make wigwams with bamboo canes and grow runner beans up them. They grow quickly and if you planted a row of wigwams they would soon provide a reasonable screen.
Have you ruled out putting up a new fence with 6 foot panels ?
Sorry if some of these ideas are a bit whacky, I'm just having a brainstorm !! Let us know what you decide in the end.
Posts
I'm afraid anything 'fast growing' won't conveniently stop 'fast growing' when you want it, so you'll have to be prepared to maintain it. It will still take several years for an average shrub to get to about 6 feet for instance.
There are evergreen shrubs like Laurel which grow relatively quickly once established, but they become monstrous if not pruned appropriately. The same goes for many conifers. They're also pretty dull on their own. A hedge might be a better option, or something that we often recommend here, which is to plant something smaller half way down a garden, which provides a screen without waiting for something on a boundary to grow to an adequate height.
Can you give us an idea of the area/distance you're talking about, and things like distance from house, aspect, soil etc. and what else you have growing. That will help with suggestions.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you for the reply. South facing against a 4ft fence. well drained soil. 10 metres from the house & follows the boundary for for about 10 metres. Currently have rose bushes growing In that area only.
Are you able to put some trellising along the top of the fence or directly in front of (if you don't own the fence? Climbers might do the job you are looking for.
No. Neighbours would pull them down. Thanks for the reply & suggestion.
As a stop gap for the summer several buddleia will grow fairly quickly which would give you time to get some evergreens to grow between for the long term. Something like different hollies and pyracanthas.
If the fence is yours, you can attach trellis as Angie suggests - or just more fencing. If they pull it down - that's criminal damage.
If the fence belongs to both of you, another alternative is to put some posts in on your side and attach trellis (or wires) and grow climbers. It's certainly a quicker way of creating a screen.
Or get some bareroot hedging in the autumn to plant inside the fence. It will still take a while to grow and establish. Privet might be the best solution, as it's virtually evergreen, and you could grow more ornamentals in front of itif the ground's nicely prepared. I'd opt for beech or hornbeam as it's easier to keep tidy, and also retains it's foliage over winter. Again, you could have a nice border inside that.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you all for your replies & helps. Much appreciated & had helped me as a complete beginner.
Shrubs in my garden that have grown to over 8 feet (un-pruned) within 2 years are Photinia 'Red Robin' and Pyracantha. Both are evergreen but the Pyracantha has vicious thorns which might not suit if you have young children. Also, just remembered I've got a Forsythia that grows like mad. for any of these shrubs you would need to buy large plants if you want them to get big enough in a reasonably short time.
A short-term solution, could you fix wall baskets to the fence, towards the top and plant with annuals etc that grow above the top of the fence ? Might look unusual, depends how desperate you are and how high you want the fence. (Just noticed the fence is only 4ft high, this idea wouldn't really work).
my Mum had a similar problem years ago and I fixed up some of that bamboo screening you can get in garden centres. It wasn't long term (18 months or so then it got a bit shabby) but it was a stop gap until the plants in front of it grew tall enough to do the job.
Another thought - could you make wigwams with bamboo canes and grow runner beans up them. They grow quickly and if you planted a row of wigwams they would soon provide a reasonable screen.
Have you ruled out putting up a new fence with 6 foot panels ?
Sorry if some of these ideas are a bit whacky, I'm just having a brainstorm !! Let us know what you decide in the end.