How much should I expect to spend and what is best source? Don’t have a specific tree in mind. We live in the southeast. Thanks.
We’ve done trees–Austree Willows–and bushes–Cheyenne Privet. Both did well. Cost is really going to depend on how long a line you’re talking, and how fast you want it to get rid of the neighbors.
Bought the privet at a local nursery and the willows off…geez, it was Craigslist, I think. Maybe eBay.
Recently bought some hollys from https://www.fast-growing-trees.com and was happy with the experience, that might be another place to check out.
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Have purchase bulk tree seedlings through the local conservation district sales. They are, of course, rather small and do take a few years to become a screen. If you are not a huge hurry, the cost is VERY reasonable. Their offerings are typically well-suited to the local area climate and soils.
Planted ours maybe 10 years ago and they certainly have formed a screen in that time. We are even talking of taking some out as they are getting a bit crowded.They are mainly spruce, so the screen is dense and year around.
The secret to getting strong early growth is making sure they are watered well and often. After the first year, we also dressed around the base with composted manure. they sure liked that.
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The bamboo that doesn’t run is supposed to grow really tall and pretty quick.
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I have to purchase already grown or semi grown due to a town ordinance I didn’t know about regarding housing livestock.
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Are you limited by city ordinances as to what you can plant? Instead of trees what about some kind of hedge? Trees unless very bushy all the way up the trunk don’t offer that much privacy, they need to be spaced appropriately to thrive best and deter disease (finding this out the hard way on our new property where the previous owners planted way too many pine trees that became diseased, a very expensive thing to fix), a hedge row can is more dense from the ground up so you get a true privacy screen.
Has to be trees. Without getting into too many specifics, I understand the reasoning behind that so just would love some great ideas on sources and pricing.
I’m not a bamboo expert by any means, but if there’s a tall, rapidly growing, thick-enough-to-be-a-screen bamboo that is NOT a running bamboo, I’ve not heard of it. If anybody has specific species/variety/source information that says otherwise, though, I’d love to know.
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If you need to get “grown or semi-grown”, that pretty much limits you to local sources. Get recommendations from neighbors, Angie’s list, etc. for a local arborist and they should be able to give the best advice regarding options and sources for your particular site. Nobody is going to be able to give very accurate guesstimates regarding price, but grown or semi-grown trees and shrubs are pretty expensive, minimum 100 bucks per tree most places I’ve been, for common varieties where the term “grown” is applied very loosely to mean “taller than an average adult”.
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I am certain there are suppliers closer to your home, but this will give you a place to start your search. We have used this supplier and were thrilled with both product, and professional advice. Google Pineneedle Farms, Pontypool On. They ship throughout North America, and the current exchange rate is to your advantage.
Around 10 years ago, we purchased 400 Norway Spruce. Cost was around a dollar a tree (2-3 ft tall). Planting was easy, shovel into earth, wiggle, stick bare root in, step on to close earth. Presently, we have a dense windbreak about 25 ft tall.
Consider planting in 2 rows. One temporary, very rapid growth (possibly a hybrid poplar that will shock you with the speed of growth) to be removed when desired species is of sufficient height.
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No suggestions, but following because we are in the process of knocking down a pretty big swath of trees to make a fourth paddock and/or riding ring, haven’t decided which yet… but doing so takes a bit of our privacy away and I was wondering about this question myself…
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We did the same back in 2004; a row of native plums, a row of jack pines and a row of junipers…now, no more neighbors! All was done through the Conservation district–they found some one to plow, plant, and install a drip line. Took awhile for the plants to all catch, but now that the roots have hit the waterline, they’ve all exploded with growth.
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Google around for wholesale nurseries in your area. That may be the most economical way to go for big trees/screening. One of the arborvitae might be suitable?
Google nurseries near you. This will be a locally sourced solution.
For recommendations on trees suitable for your area and purpose, I suggest contacting the local branch of your state extension service. Your tax dollars support them; you may as well get their input.
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Please avoid invasive exotics like privet (I know, not a tree, just an example). Most states have a native plant society where you can find lists & pictures of native species by type. This will reduce damage to native systems, but will also give you hardier plants already adapted to your area that will require less care.
I’m transplanting young evergreens from around my farm (they love to appear in fencelines) to my top fenceline to block my neighbors terrible arena lights (I like my neighbor, but I hate light pollution & have weird sensitive eyes so it blinds me when I’m doing my farm stuff in the dark). It will take them a few years to grow, alas, but at least it’s not costing me anything.
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you should consult with the town as to what do they recommend …if they have this requirement then then have a list of approved trees
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Yes, get a list. We had to do this for a small professional office which shared a residential property line. The township was extremely prescriptive about species and size.
My neighbor in the back planted a row of Leyland Cypress trees, and they grew into a very nice screen very quickly.
This site has a lot of info on trees. https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/index.cfm
