ONce last thing ot add.

My parents, about 6 years ago, put in a tiny tree on their property. It looks like a pine or type of pine though I am not sure(she says it drops cones) . Are they recommended? Hers really got big, almost 2 stories high now and very wide.

where are you located?
Post a photo of the site?
Did a soil test indicate fertilizer was necessary or was it a door-to-door lawn sprayer co?

Z 7 I think, Long Island

I'll try to get a photo upthis weekend.

Soil was sandy clay loam, (if I recall correctly.) Going by memory here. Was done by a door to door but I only had it done once and maybe once again this year.

Those Leylands should grow so fast, massive and spread so wide, that I cannot immagine any tree cultivars you could plant on the other side of the fence which will not be dominated by the Leylands.

Of course those Leylands seem tame and an asset right now, but if they avoid suffering from their more common disease and pest problems, they certainly will grow into extremely formidable sized trees. I mean their spread and the size of those spreading branches that will grow to terribly large and overpowering sizes. At least I have seen a couple photo's of Leylands which have displayed such massive spread and growth.

Even if other tree are planted near them to compete with them, It still will not take long for the Leylands to grow to the point where they become the dominant tree.

Back in 2005, it is sad that someone did not suggest you plant, instead, the Thuja 'Steeplechase' sport of the thuja 'Green Giant' cultivar. Then again, in the northern us states, the thuja 'Green Giant' cultivar trees were still fairly hard to find in 2005. Even in Oklahoma I only found mine from a local nursery who only found some and had them shipped from a grower in Florida.

The thuja 'Steeplechase' cultivar is an even more recent sport of the Thuja 'Green Giants,' and probably has only been available since 2006 or later.

OK so I've attached a photo for reference. The trees with the little vertical lines below were planted in July 2005. 3 were replaced within a year of that. And there was one deep root fert. done sometime after that. The one horizontal line shows how high the trees were when they were planted. So they are growing well. knocks wood.

The large plant I believe is a yew. It's huge and if it were to die or be taken down, you'd have a full view of the street behind....so I was looking to maybe plant a few trees behind that, behind the fence line. once they take, I might remove the yew and put more trees across the back, but that is entirely debatable.

Behind that fence line are a few large trees but they drop their foliage in the fall and the view you see is of a street and a building.

Thoughts?

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:367835}}

"the Thuja 'Steeplechase' sport of the thuja 'Green Giant' cultivar." Is this a type of Leyland?

Based on the photo I provided, does anyone have any other opinions on what to do?

Thuja is not a type of Leyland.

Rather than continue with more evergreens, perhaps some thick deciduous trees that provide more variety, some benefit to wildlife like berries or nuts. Yes, they would lose their leaves in the winter, but you get so many more choices and the whole effect can be more natural.

Or if you must stay with evergreens, perhaps some broadleaf ones like hollies, magnolia grandiflora (hardy for you?) and laurels (Prunus caroliniana).

Here is a link that might be useful: Thuja 'Steeplechase'

You could go with one of the columnar hornbeams. They have such dense branching that even without leaves they will give you some privacy and winter interest. High quality foliage, so-so fall color and very adaptable to conditions.

There are lots of holly varieties that would do well there. Some of the better American Holly cultivars, or Nellie Stevens, or even Fosters. They're evergreen. They don't grow REAL fast, but you do get the red berries, which some birds love (mockingbirds, even wintering-over robins, etc.). You could also do Magnolia grandiflora, or Mag. virginiana var. 'australis', which is supposed to hang on to more leaves. Can you tell I like broadleaf evergreens?

As far as I know, the Steeplechase is not a form of leyland

But from your photo, it looks like you have enough room for no matter how large your leylands get. I do not know for sure, but by your planting of those leylands so close together and so near all the larger trees behind the fence, there might be enough competition from the mature trees to keep the leylands from out growing the area and eventually looking overgrown.

Also, normally leyland's potential growth patterns would eventually damge the privacy fence behind. In your situation, though, the competition that the other mature trees present for the leylands may prevent the fence damage from occuring before the fence would normally need to be replaced.

I like the yew. Yours looks nicely shaped and healthy and these guys can live to a grand old age. It would be unfortunate to cut down the only mature plant out there.

If it were my garden, I'd plant in front of the Leylands. Way out in front - like right out into the middle of the lawn. I think I'd plant a styrax obassia or maybe a carolina silverbell, a cornus controversa 'Variegata' and a nice, disease-resistant flowering crab for the birds and the spring bloom.

I'm not a holly fan for two reasons: the leaves remain spiky and painful to hands and feet for years after they fall off and the trees are serious light and view blockers in summer. I know blocking the view is part of what you'd like to achieve, but a dense, dark wall of a tree will make your garden feel a lot smaller, I think.

Techny Arborvitae are a great hedge screen. You can let them grow as is, or you can trim them into a hedge. Depending on how you plant them, they will grow together to form one long hedge.

Don't cut down that yew! They are slow-growing and wonderful trees. That yew is giving you nice privacy.

Yes, line your fence with evergreens (leylands do tend to suddenly get really big so not so close together) of different varieties, then quite a bit in front of those, a mixture of interesting deciduous and broadleaf evergreen trees. Your yard will be a haven of peace and color in a few years.

Oaks are always a good choice.