I know I know...this thread could have gone many places but I just love the Texas Gardening best! Who better to help me then people in my own zone!!!! You've been so helpful in my other thread about Crepe Myrtals so I am hoping you'll have great ideas for me on this topic.
I live on a corner lot that has a teeny tiny front yard and generous back yard. The lot measures 60'x120'. In about a 20' span in the back that faces the street I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE some green privacy!!! At the end of this 20' on each side I have small red maples planted that will someday be huge (someday!). In the meantime or perhaps to compliment the red maples I'd like suggestions on tall plants or shrubs or cedars or something....that will fill in the space, but not go beyond about 5' into the yard (I still like my grass).
One plant I do like the looks of is this: http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/53332/
But in searching for them the box stores don't carry them, Milberger's has them but they are 20 bucks each at 3' tall. I think buying some and taking cuttings would take to long.
Don't know that it's to important to mention but I'm looking to be here about 5 years, so I'd like to be able to enjoy the privacy screen sometime before I go but not to have something another owner might cringe about having. Something attractive.
If you have plant ideas please pass them on...if you just have pics of what you've done, I'd LOVE to see it so I can ask more questions. =)
Thanks in advance.
Help!!!! Private Suburban Living Screen Needed...
Oleander always works pretty good...pretty flowers, variety of colors, and fragrance. Castor beans might be interesting, but I don't know how thick they get. I'm on my 1st yr of growing them and so far, they sure are pretty!
Dogmansis,
Does oleander require sun or shade, or part?
Rose of Sharon shrubs grow fast too. Orleandar can be sun or shade, grows really fast after the second year. Dont forget J/M's is a tree that requires shade and Boxwood takes a while to get going.
one note.. if you ever want to go native boxwood isn't allowed.
JM, is that Japanese Maple? I have the red maples which get much taller. I don't have any boxwoods in the backyard either? Not restricted to only natives though...just looking for a nice screen from the street.
these are the native trees or shrubs that are recommended for San Antonio
I love the mountain Laurel, olive tea is also a good one for fragrance
Agarita (Mahonia trifoliolata)
Cenizo or Purple sage (Leucophyllum frutescens)
Evergreen sumac (Rhus virens)
Texas mountain laurel ( Sophora secundiflora)
Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria)
Have you looked at Desert Willow? It's beautiful and you can control the growth. Pretty pink blooms all through summer, stalk does not get too big. You can plant anything that requires filtered sun around it. I have LOADS of seeds and a couple of transplants that I'm babying. They're not in any condition to ship off yet but when they're ready I'm happy to share. Drought tolerant, beautiful tree and you get the extra benefit of using the small branches to boil down as a root stimulator for your other plants.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/265/index.html
Have you thought of viburnums? Walter's is good one. Also, Compact Walter's & Luzon. Propinqum has flowers in spring & bluish-black berries in the fall. Just a thought.
knolan, I would love to grow some desert willows. Please keep me in mind when the seeds are ready! (please,please,please.......)
Thanks in advance! Debbie
Oleaners are very poisonous, bo be careful about where and how you use them. I love our Mountain Laurels and Texas Sages! And we have a Rose of Sharon also that is gorgeous.
I love all the ideas so far, thanks knolan for being so generous! I might take you up on the offer, but first need to narrow down a plan which will take me awhile to.
How tall do the Mtn Laurels get? I love their twisty almost black bark and you can't beat the scent!!!!
Is the rose of sharon a real rose bush? Thanks for the tip about Oleanders being poisonous! Don't need that in the yard with kids/pets.
Viburnums? Not sure what they look like. Do you have a favorite? I will keep researching these plants on Dave's.
My Mountain Laurels are about 15 feet high, I think. And my Rose of Sharon is a tree, not a bushy bush. It's probably 15 feet also. If I had sun and a place to grow more trees, I would look into Desert Willow, Bottlebrush and Sweet Olive. I already have Mtn Laurels, Texas Sage, Crapemyrtles, and Rose of Sharon (although that one is planted in a goofy spot).
you could mix several varities for a privacy hedge
Butter, I am wanting many of different things as you said.
Marylyn, I LOVE the sweet olive! I had one and its blooms were SOOO intoxicating (like the meyer lemon) but I think it must have needed full shade (?) and I did full sun and it died after a couple months.
What do you all think of having a few crepe mrytals (the shorter ones...like less than 15'), about 3 of them randomly planted along the side and then I have 2 crabapples? I hear they stay small and bloom most the year? I'd plant some mini and dwarf crepes underneath and then some other blooming flowers.....but the maples should not interfere with these I think?
What about Vitex (chaste tree) Has gorgeous blue blooms, gets big fast (can be pruned to a shrub shape) and repels mosquitoes!
If you want something super fast how about Texas Rangers?
They grow fast, you can hack them down to a nubbin in early spring and they'll grow right back, but not so fast that they take over. You can leave them natural or trim them into shapes. They're beautiful when they bloom. They bloom here twice a year.
Mine haven't had a hard trim for about 2 years. They were trimmed year before last but not back as far as I really wanted. They're approx 5 feet tall right now and wild.
They're out there in full Las Vegas sun and I don't water them at all.
Caraboof: LOVE the idea of something with BLUE flowers! Sounds great. I'll look it up on plantfiles.
Prickle: Well, welcome SOON to Texas!!!! Whereabouts are you settling? I like the idea of something somewhat fast growing but I think the wild look of the Texas Rangers is to much for me. I think in my space of 20'x5' out it might dominate and I'd like to try to get a mix of about 5 taller things, that would grow taller than the 6' privacy fence, then some short things.....thinking some Texas sages at the base might work. The blue sage would greatly compliment the idea of the Vitex, wouldn't it?
Let me know if the following links were NOT the plant you mentioned:
Rose of Sharon http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/788/
Vitex, Chaste Tree http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1188/
These were the only 2 crapapple trees that had pics posted. Has anyone any experience with them? They have blooms and are described as a wonderful scent.
Crabapple, Indian Magic http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/80687/
Crabapple, Donald Wyman http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/80681/
lol, those are really out of control and someone is coming soon with a whip and a chair to tame them down a bit. They can also be trimmed very tight and sculptural.
Thank you for the welcome! I'm moving to Porter, TX in the Houston Metro area. I can't wait. This has been over a year in the making and it's been postponed several times already (they're apparently trying to build our house between rain drops) but we're finally winding everything down and should be there by the end of August (hopefully sooner).
Prickle:
Hope you've been able to visit and view the progress on your new place! You'll like Texas I think, hot like NV but not as dry (I don't think!). I've heard of only a few of the suburbs of Houston. I'd like some of those Houston raindrops over here! We go on water restrictions tomorrow. =(
LOL on the Texas Rangers. Let me look them up here...hmmm...no pics listed on Dave's Plantfiles. Rats.
the things that have done well for me in my Austin yard
cassia
montrose blue vitex
bird of paradise, caesalpinia
and desert willow
Tir_Na_Nog, the Texas Sage is also called Texas Ranger.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/54689/index.html
Ohhhhhh!!! Thanks Sheila!!! I have seen that sage with the pretty purple flowers! I can totally see how you could trim it to perfection now.
Prickle: Good choice on the texas rangers!
I know that nobody gets excited about this plant, but Carolina Cherry Laurel, is a fast grower, has lovely white flowers in the Spring and berries in the Fall.
It is also inexpensive and easy to find, here is a picture of it screening my compost area.
The Cherry Laurel is the one to the left.
And a picture of the flowers.
Very pretty Frostweed! http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/57865/ And yet, you are right, you never see these! But it seems like it grows a tad tall (20') for where I could use it.
I think this is the red maple I have http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/58190
Someone on the True RED Crepe Mrytal thread mentioned mini and dwarf crepes. Does anyone know where to get these around SA and also....does anyone have a favorite variety of them? If I were to buy 1 of each, how long would it take to get a plant from a cutting of them?
You will be surprised at what can be accomplished with prunning shears.
=)
Frostweed.
Please please can you do me at least a couple of cutting of that? I LOVE that and I don't have any... but I have PLENTY of deer...
I killed the only red maple I tried to grow.. Put it in full sun in Texas don't ya know.... *giggle.. It just fried!!!!!!!!
nada
Yes Nada, I surely will bring you some.
Josephine.
Fried in Texas! I think full sun plant markers should read FULL SUN 'CEPT IN TEXAS! LOL!
Josephine I would like some of that Cherry Laurel if you can find any seedlings. Everything you give me grow so well. Have your Goldenrod started blooming yet? I am still waiting for mine to bloom.
Sheila if you can find a seedling from the Texas Sage, I would love one. I have always thought it too be so pretty. ...and you know how I love purple. :)
O.K. Sylvia I will get you some Cherry Laurel, the Goldenrod blooms in the fall.
Debbie,
Sorry I forgot to put this thread on my watch list. I have lot's of desert willo seeds and would be more than happy to share. Send your address on dmail and I'll get them out to you!
Kristi
P.S. Did I read correctly that you plan to only be there about 5 years? If so, the Mountain Laurel is a very SLOW grower. It's beautiful once it reaches it heights but grows extremely slow.
Krisiti,
Thanks for the tip on the Mtn Laurel. I figure more trees would be slow growing but as long as it was taller than the 6' fence once planted I'd make do. =)
How about a weeping pussy willow? I know these are hard to find and pricey when you do, but it shouldn't conflict with the height and span of the 2 maples on either side I am thinking?
JM's...how is there are so many kinds? Which one would you recommend?
Sylvia,
I don't have the Texas Sage, sorry. I was just pulling up that as a reference. I know where I can get some cuttings, but I don't know if they would root, I can try.
I have a Texas Sage, but I don't know how to root anything. Maybe Debbie can come by some time and work her magic on it. :-)