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jclyle

fast growing shrub info needed

20 years ago

Hey-

I've read all the topics about fast growing trees, but havent seen much discussiuon on fast growing shrubs. What I am planning on doing in the fall is planting some fast growing trees or shrubs to provide some privacy in my backyard. I have a corner lot & my deck is exposed to anyone waling down the street. We currently have a 6x9 lattice in a frame that provides some privacy & I could do some vines to thicken it up, but I want to remove it from my deck for a better view. What are some good suggestions of some things I could consider planting? I do have some things to keep in mind..

- no evergreen, or anything that resembles a Xmas tree

- I'd like something that could be kept at about 8 ' tall, I dont mind pruning etc. & need sunlight to get in the yard for my lawn.

- The ground is rock hard & needs some TLC. I am going to start tilling it up in a week or so & add in some grass clippings from time to time to enrich the soil.

- I get lots of sun in the area where I would like to plant the shrubs/trees. The ground is mostly flat where I will be planting.

- Anything plants that are easily found at a big nursery or Lowes are preferred.

Thanks for your time!

Carter

Comments (8)

  • 20 years ago

    Most of the buddleas (butterfly bush) are fast growers. Get a couple-gallon size and it will shoot out 6ft or more length branches by the middle of summer - particularly once established. And you can cut them back to a stump each year and get the same type of growth each year. And I've seen them big box stores all over.

    Also climbing roses can grow pretty quickly, throwing out multi-foot long canes in a season. Give them a support and tie the canes to it and begin to train the canes with some pruning, to create a screen.

    Other possibilities include bridal wreath spirea (eg., Spirea prunifolia cultivars and not Spirea japonica which is slower growing and shorter) and even forsythia, which can throw those long canes out too.

    I was just thinking - with the above combo, you could have March/April (forsythia), May (bridal wreath), June (roses), and July - frost (butterfly bush & roses) blooms! LOL Meanwhile, you could always plant the slower growers and once established, shift your shrub focus.

  • 20 years ago

    Please be aware though that Butterfly bush (Buddleia) is listed in "Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas". The authors define mid-Atlantic as "Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia".

    Here is a link that might be useful: PLant invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas

  • 20 years ago

    When you say "no evergreen", do you mean no evergreen plants with needles (like junipers)? Or do you truly not want even evergreen broadleaf plants like hollies, boxwood, wax myrtles, etc.?

  • 20 years ago

    Good point Terry! Some native alternatives that might do well might be sambucsus, the various Cornus spp., serviceberry, & ninebark. These seem to grow a bit faster than viburnums.

  • 20 years ago

    Royal Purple Smokebush also grows fast.

    You'll have to prune it yearly to keep it at 6'

    Check out other varieties of Smokebush (I think there's one that flowers/smokes pink) ... for other color options.

  • 20 years ago

    For me Diablo ninebark is a fast grower and I love the color. Right now the are getting ready to flower. I'm not sure how tall they will eventually be, though. Mine are 2 years old and about 6ft now.

  • 20 years ago

    Thanks for all the responses, I did get any emails saying I had any responses & just checked the forum today....

    I think I am going to go with some forsythia along the fence, and some coral embers mixed in with it for some winter colors.

    When I say no evergreen, I mean anything with needles or slightly resembles an Xmas tree. I am considering a burford holly or the like for a splash of green when the forsythia is bare.

    I have thought about some spirea, but I am looking for something that will grow very fast in height during the 1st year.

  • 20 years ago

    jclyle - the bridal wreath spirea is not the same type as the spirea commonly sold with pink flowers. They have different growth habits. You want to look for Spirea prunifolia and whenever I've seen it sold, it's usually as 5ft - 6ft tall bundles. It looks like this when in bloom:

    {{gwi:255466}}

    Good luck with your garden!