You sure can. You could also grow tall ornamental grasses in large containers. I grow lots of Salix (Willows) in containers, and I cut them back like ornamental grasses, at the end of winter. They come back quickly with more rods which get to 7-8' tall by pool season. Then, after they lose their leaves in the fall, they have beautiful red, orange and yellow bark all winter.

Same deal with grasses. They grow quickly in zone 7, and provide beautiful colors all winter, until you cut them back.

If you start with 2' tall containers, another 4-8' of trees and grasses makes for a tall privacy screen.

thanks donn!

Plant Delights has a Eucalyptus neglecta (Omeo Gum) which is silvery-green (evergreen) and will grow to 6 feet in one season if planted early. It can be clipped as needed for width/height, or cut down completely in early spring to regrow each year, (and the clippings are useful for arrangements inside). Best thing is no dropping of leaves, flowers, etc.into pool. Mine are in 24" pots and aside from watering are easy care, no bugs or disease.

I agree with Don about ornamental grassses, even Bamboo in pots. Anything which is hardy to Zone 6 should do fine in containers overwinter in Zone 7. Just be sure that they get watered yearround, less in winter. And I'd be cautious about flowering plants that might attract biting/stinging insects or drop leaves, flowers excessively to clog pool system. Cannas with colorful leaves might make up for flowers...they also reach 4=5 feet in summer. josh