Replacing a 125' long hedge of mature Lonicera tatarica L.

I've been dreaming about replacing a mature 9' tall (overgrown--leggy and scraggly) Lonicera tatarica hedge that screens our city backyard. There is a public sidewalk along the hedge that is traveled heavily by moms with strollers, dogs on leashes and kids on bikes. The hedge in (zone 5b) receives southern sun and I would like it to provide a solid screen during our growing season.

Should I be thinking about evergreens? Neighbors seem to prefer hemlock and arbor vite and other evergreens but our heavy snows make these choices problematic. I will need to keep the hedge trimmed so it doesn't invade the sidewalk--currently a time consuming task with the honeysuckle. A fast growing and flowering solution would be a plus.

I am looking for practical solutions for an alternative to this hedge that would allow me install an effective screen, it should be low maintenance (it's me at 52 years old usually on a Saturday in late June with hedge trimmers on a step ladder) but with shrubs that are more interesting than what's there now. Please don't suggest a brick wall--I've ruled out stockyard fencing too--I want a green solution.

Several years ago I spent my weekends removing the dead trunks and rotten stumps in the honeysuckle hedge--lopped it back to about 4ft high and it has since grown back and filled in pretty well--but it's now out of control again--and if I don't come up with a new solution it this spring, I'll need to do it again--and I think I'd prefer to start over with something better.

Oh, and there is the issue of not wanting to entirely deplete the college fund to accomplish this dream--small detail.

thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Barb

I have quickly and beautifully screened off areas with a fence and placing hops vines below. There are several colors and I have mixed the chartreuse and green types. Each spring they take off and cover running 30' per summer with fragrant vines that cover my wire fence. In the winter you can leave the old vines up and they continue to screen the view from the outside. Next years hops grows right over the old ones. Then you can plant any other plants that might grow slower and not be so anxious with the hops. You must know that with american beers today you need hops to flavor the beers we won't mention.

This message was edited Mar 10, 2007 7:00 PM

A very simple answer is to recreate your hedge with another shrub that is low-care but multi-season in interest .

Viburnum dentatum (arrowwood) comes to mind. Effective, inexpensive, readily available in several flavors, and provides great foliage, flowers, fruit, and fall color.

Many named clones have been selected from your area as well. Take a tour around PlantFiles, and see what you may like. If pressed, I'd suggest Crimson Tide™, Indian Summer™, and Red Feather™.

Wouldn't Viburnum prunifolum also work?

Hey, Eguy, how come you aren't out amongst all those pesky spring AL blooms?

Blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) could make an excellent hedge. It is just another size larger than the projected 9'+/- suggested as the target above. Blackhaw wants to be in the 15-20' range, whereas arrowwood will be pretty happily managed in the 8-12' category.

Now, if we can coax the spry young Barb up on the ladder more often to do the nip/tuck pruning...

Redbuds are in full bloom here, but the azaleas are being a little sluggish.

What about Northern Bayberry (Myrica pennsylvanica)? Oikos sells them and list them at 6-9ft, although their southern cousin gets larger. They are very good plants for birds without being messy and can take pruning very well.

Hi there--many thanks for the suggestions. I was hoping to find a solution that included viburnum. I'll spend some time researching the options, wait for the ground to thaw, and sharpen my saw and shovel for the big dig out weekend.

And good call on the elimination of Lonicera tatarica, a truly awful weed with really bad invasive tendencies.

I like the Viburnum suggestions a lot. V. dentatum grows so thickly that even without being evergreen or semi-evergreen it will serve as a great all-year screen.

I don't know about the Myrica suggestion. I've had a little trouble growing it. Admittedly, I have always planted it in impossible places, but that's what all the literature says you can do. I can't. About ten years ago there was a mini-Beatlemania about the plant and a lot of it got sold. I seldom see it growing anywhere though, so I'm wondering if others have had difficulty too, or if everyone else, like me, planted it in horrible sites. I'd really like to hear other's experiences in growing this plant, as it would seem in all other ways a really good choice. I would be prompted to take another crack at it with a bit of encouragement.

Scott

I have plenty of the southern version of Myrica, which we call wax myrtle. It seems to grow in all conditions here, sun/shade and wet/dry. I'm not sure how the northern version would differ.

Remember that L. tatarica is the only member of its genus containing a compound in its wood similar to the active principle in catnip! Slices of branch, or lengths of branches with the bark stripped make great cat toys. Not every cat is sensitive -- just as not all are to catnip -- but most are, and you might as well get some use out of the wood. Maybe the local Humane Society or such can take some and raise funds selling it. Slices of thick branches, cut at an angle to increase surface are also attractive to look at -- prominent rings.

Mark., my cat's finally lost interest after several years -- need a fresh slice...

wow- i didn't know about the cat business! here's a very common solution in this part of the world- in fact, in old hedgerows, the honeysuckle is right mixed in.. lilacs...(ducking,i really do also like viburnums, folks) Do they grow as well there as in New England? I have had that privilege enough times in my life already...taking out tartarian honeysuckle. Luckily, the roots aren't as bad as some....

How much width do you have to work with? Can you steal more yard for a wider hedge? Is there a height restriction? Maybe a good mix of shrubs/small trees would do the trick.