So these would go where we see arborvitae in the pictures? What state are you in, by the way?

How about some viburnums? There are some great native ones: American cranberrybush (Viburnum trilobum), Viburnum cassinoides, Viburnum lentago, and several others depending on where you are.

Well, granted, privet grows very quickly and very tall, but if ever I've felt a personal hatred toward a plant it's privet. They are ubiquitous around here, privet hedging, and mostly look terrible because they're so ridiculously high maintenance that people often can't/don't keep up with it and you end up with horrid, ragged, overgrown, ugly monstrosities. I've got the stupid things as a property line between us and our neighbor, and I feel like no sooner am I done trimming it than it needs doing again. I also had privet around most of the rest of my corner lot when I moved in, but I'm gradualy replacing it with better plants in a mixed border.

Otoh it certainly provides a good constant source of branches to feed through my chipper and use as mulch.... the one redeeming feature.

Brandon - which types are the most invasive and/or destructive? And, by destructive, do you mean simply that they will take over IF you let them, or is this something that can be maintained with (sounds like constant) trimming? I don't mind the "boring" aspect of the privet (I do not mind formal landscaping as it matches the era of our house) - I can easily dress up my yard with other perennials as needed. I think our main concern is really just privacy (and something quick) at this point. I will sacrifice the rest if I have to.

Now, if you were to tell me that they are so invasive that I won't be able to grow anything else around them, then I might reconsider.

Esh Ga - we are in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Viburnums don't look like a shrub that you can grow into a hedge. We are looking for something that is going to give us privacy in the shortest amount of time to get there. We would plant all along the perimeter of the fenceline. Emerald greens are coming out this year as they didn't survive this terrible winter - they will be replaced.

If I had a larger lot I might reconsider due to the invasiveness of the shrub, but honestly, just something to give us privacy at this point would be nice. We have a really, really nosey neighbor (like staring at us nosey, and telling people at my wedding that he's disappointed that we got blinds because he can no longer see in our house!!! - eeekk!).

Eeek! Sounds scary, that's for sure. Privet might be just the thing then. The chinese one (ligustrum sinense) is invasive in the southeast in two ways ... birds carry the berries and it also suckers (but over time, not over night). The japanese one is invasive via berries. I guess Ligustrum vulgare (the European one) is the one of concern in the more northern areas like Wisconsin.

I can see why you would want to block HIS view, at the least!!

While I can understand that you might like the formality of having one variety of shrub around the perimeter of your yard, I do think that you may get tired of it, and want a little variety, esp. if you can get flowers, fruit or foliage in the mix. Toward your nosey neighbor, you DEFINITELY want evergreens. There are a number of Juniperus cultivars that might work - most are hrdy to z3 or 4 - the species range from Eastern to Rocky Mountain to Chinese, and you would have to select for the height and growth patterns you want, as well as what was available locally. Some of the hollies are hardy to z5 - they may not be the fastest growing, but as part of a screen, they could be attractive. The 2 drawbacks to most hollies would be the need for a male to get berries, and the persistence of the spines/leaves, which are not so good if you want to go barefoot in the summer. There are various Thujas/arborvitas that will work if individual, single-trunk specimens are chosen with care, despite your bad experience with the Emerald Green.

Along the other sides of the yard, I might mix in deciduous shrubs with the evergreens, to give more interest. And a few taller but still small, flowering trees might be interesting - I can think of redbud, serviceberry, dogwoods, crabapples to mention a few. If that seems good to you, more suggestions can be forthcoming!

You might list your Emerald Green Thujas on Craigslist - someone might want them for the labor of taking them out?

According to the link below, Ligustrum vulgare is considered invasive in WI. I think kimcoco is missing the point on what the word invasive means.

Please don't tell all those viburnums on my side yard that they won't grow up to become a hedge âº

Here is a link that might be useful: WI DNR

Like dibbit suggests, look into junipers, perhaps Juniperis scopulorum 'Blue Haven' (sometimes listed as 'Blue Heaven') or other narrow varieties. I would also mix up the planting with maybe a Picea glauca 'Pendula' or, again, like dibbit says, don't give up on thujas. Oh, and yes, viburnums (the right kind that is) do grow into a hedge, but, alas, not much winter screening. For them to be tall enough they might be too wide for that area anyway. Check out Minor's on N 76th this Spring. You will get plenty of ideas. As for pines, here's a recent post on the conifer forum showing narrow pines.

tj

Here is a link that might be useful: Narrow Pines

I am "missing the point" on what invasive means?

Actually, Terryr, I'm not interested in the viburnum. Is that ok with you, or do you need to run to your therapist now?

Enjoy your viburnums.

kkimcoco said;
I've heard they are (or can be) invasive, and I'm wondering about the pros vs. cons.

and

Now, if you were to tell me that they are so invasive that I won't be able to grow anything else around them, then I might reconsider.

I said;
I think kimcoco is missing the point on what the word invasive means.

kimcoco then said;
I am "missing the point" on what invasive means?

Yes. If you believe invasive means you can't grow anything else around them, then you're missing the point on what the word invasive means. If you think there are pros and cons regarding invasive plants, you're missing the point. And this sentence; If I had a larger lot I might reconsider due to the invasiveness of the shrub, but honestly, just something to give us privacy at this point would be nice.. You don't have a large lot, and you know what invasive means, but you'll plant them anyway? Just trying to understand the logic behind planting a known invasive species in an area where it's a known invasive species.

Did you miss the smile up there regarding my viburnums? I never suggested you use viburnums as a hedge. I said I had them as a hedge.

Privet (ligustrum) will make a dense hedge, but you'll be pruning 24/7 for the entire growing season. Not sure what variety I had, but it definitely did throw out suckers and would shoot out wayward branches four and five feet long. Within days of pruning there'd already be new growth starts. And if things couldn't get worse, beneath each shiny, waxy, hard to pick up out of the grass leaf there would be a million white flies that swirled up in clouds when disturbed. I only tolerated this "builder's special" because it had interesting contorted low branches. I'd prune it up at least twice a season to showcase the branching - wearing gloves and a face & nose mask.

I can definitely understand your need for a screen - and fast. The major problem is as shrubs grow high, they also grow wide and giving up space becomes an issue. Upright evergreens would seem to be the ideal, though.

Are you sure your Green Giants are goners? A pair of old pantyhose cut down the legs on the bias in a continuous rope does a fabulous job of tying up multiple leaders or a drooping snow bent branch. And browning can regenerate if the damage hasn't gone into the "dead zone" in the interior of the plant. Winter browning can be expected with most species and cultivars of Thuja. Some of the Taxus (yews) or junipers might come with higher recommendatons.

Wow, I was going to weigh in, but when a poster replies to advice the way kimcoco did, it certainly does not seem worth a response. Pity.

Kimcoco, what the other posters are trying to say (not as clearly as may be, but invasiveness has been much discussed in recent months, so the topic is not a new one), and which you may not be familiar with, is that invasive trees/shrubs/species are not immediately nor obviously seen as invasive in your neighborhood, but that the repercussions are seen in the larger area surrounding your neighborhood, sometimes several miles and several years from the initial tree. The true impact of an invasive species is not seen at once, and not seen from a single planting as a general rule, but is a cumulative effect, stemming from many plantings and many "escapes" via seeds and fruits - plants are spread by wind, water and wildlife carrying seeds out of one's yard. Many of the posters here care a great deal about the natural ecology of the woods and fields around them, and are not accepting of any species that is classified as invasive. Sometimes, they get tired of re-inventing the wheel, one more time, and don't want to take the time to explain matters to someone who doesn't seem to "get it". This may not be the best way to educate, but we are, unfortunately, all human, and can be tired and not want to take the time.

I hope I haven't taken too much time, and that I have made matters a little more clear, instead of more confused.

I have a line of privet hedges planted in my back yard along my fence. I both love and hate them. I live in southern OK. PROS: Evergreen all winter, grows fast, excellent screen. When white flowers bloom on mine, they smell really good. Can take a hard pruning when needed which I do every couple of years to keep hedge thick. CONS: Needs regular trimming. Grass will not grow underneath, if want grass. They get BIG, fast. And if you decide to kill them or dig them up? Well good luck on that. One thing, if you get heavy snows where you are, it might be good to trim them where the top is skinner than the bottom. Kinda of like a triangle with a flat top. That keeps the biggest weight of snow off, so the branches don't break.

Who needs a therapist?

I love my Privets! They provide plenty of privacy, as well as food for the Bees and Birds.
I trimmed mine the first couple of years to make them more thicker. Now I just let them go wild!! They look absolutely wonderful, and help provide that Tropical look.
I have had Privet for over 6 years without any problems although I wish they would keep on growing. I think they look fine not being trimmed.
The wonderful scent in the spring is awesome!!!! These tiny flowers on the Privet provide an awesome scent.
Formal or Informal, you cant go wrong with these.