what zone??? i would guess 6 or 7 ...

how about a pic from the other direction?

what is the budget .... in other words.. are we starting with one gal one foot plants.. or do we have some doe .. lol .. for some stuff of size??? you dont have to give a number ... just want you to think about it ... some of our recommendations are only available in small sizes.. so if you want something other than a green fast expensive wall tomorrow.. you will have to consider small stuff ... and frankly ... in 5 or 10 years.. it will pay off ...

sept might NOT be prime planting season ... lean toward october ...

i would suggest de groots spire for the filter et al ... see link ... IF ZONE APPROPRIATE

whats in the ditch???? can you plant there??? is the ditch all your property???? can we plant on the other side of it??? where is the property line... snap a pic that way too ....

the slope doesnt mean anything to me.. we can work around that ....

any color preferences besides all green .... would you like some yellows and variegation??? i am thinking Thuja occidentalis ... and Chamaecyparis thyoides variations ...

why do you want to see out there??? .... i understand you want to see the stone work ... after all each on cost you an arm ... but do you really want to see the street and the mC mansion across the street .... EXACTLY what do you want ...

how about a few more pix.. from different angles...

hop to it... lol

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

Hi Ken,
Thanks for the reply - here are some answers and more pics:
what zone??? 6
what is the budget 8-$10,000 installed
Are we starting with one gal one foot plants.. Don't mind starting with some smaller plants around patio area and inside fence or near pool, or interspersing some smaller plants for variety - but would like to get a bit of privacy with some 5-6 ft trees to reduce the view of the "McMansion" in the first photo I posted.

I like your suggestion for around the pool equipment - full sun in zone 6 should work for that?

The ditch is all our property. Where you see the treeline / ditch that is actaully drainage easement that runs underneath the roadway where the wooden fence is. Our property goes to the diagonal street sign in the left of the picture - ie we own most of the ditch/tree backdrop. We can we plant on the other side of the fence - there is about 15 ft of fairly level ground and then it slopes down from there. The ditch is about the size of a tennis court and is more level at the bottom.

any color preferences besides all green .... would you like some yellows and variegation??? Greens, blues, yellow, burgundy- love variation in color! Need deer resistance on the outside of the fence-

why do you want to see out there??? Want some unusual, unique, maybe dwarf, nice smelling flowering plants on the inside of the fence. We are not just pool people - really want to enjoy the outdoors in the fall, spring etc. Don't want anything too enormous or overbearing on the inside of the fence. Would like to be able to see some of the trees we plant on the outside of the fence from the patio. (ie trees of med stature inside the fence, larger ones outside the fence). Want some "wow" factor trees / plants here and there all over - I will pay for it and willing to start smaller with them as long as I can work in some larger screening trees as well.

Hope photos below I had handy will help - I can take a few more or tell you how much space there is if that helps :

boy ... i just cant even begin to help online...

the first money you spend.. should be on a landscape architect ... have them develop a site plan ...

start with a foundation of large stock .... and perhaps consider a long term plan ... where you can add smaller stuff down the line ....

think depth of focus .... your fence out to be stunning... and should be a focal point.. not hidden by a long boring line or wall of green conifers ...

you should consider decidous trees.. way out in or beyond the ditch ....

consider a large specimen conifer in the middle of every two fence posts... out 10 or 12 feet from a straight line between them ... and smaller offsetting colors to each side.. creating a triangle with depth ...

though you want privacy yesterday.. consider that bigger stock... transplants harder .... takes longer to re-establish .. and costs an arm and a leg .... hence the suggestion of one 6 foot plant in the middle ... some semblance of added privacy .. and the two offsetting plants at 3 feet tall ....

you dont mention if you want to be a collector.. and add things yourself over the years.. or if you want a carefree .. all done landscape ....

all the little beds between the house and the patio/pool would be spectacular areas for collecting MINI conifers .... but you will have to invest the time in finding and mail ordering them.. and planting them .... most of such are not plants you are going to find locally ....

i am not sure if you have irrigation ....

i can not link to blue sterling wholesale nursery .... in bridgeton NJ ... perhaps you can contact them for UNIQUE plants ...

with your house.... your garden should be as UNIQUE as the house is... i hope you can move beyond the offerings of the bigboxstore .....

the only question is... how important is BIG stock???? and how long can you wait ....

good luck

ken

here is the link to blue sterling .... i have no dealings with them.. other than spending many hours cruising the website ....

perhaps a call to them .. to get a referral.. to a landscaper who works with them.. will really get you something out of the ordinary ....

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: BSterling

Perhaps some evergreens similar to those that already seem to be successfully growing in nature or other yards. Colorado Blue Spruce, Eastern Red Cedar, Firs, Thuja Green Giant, and Pine come to mind. Space them far enough apart that they have space to develop their triangular to cone shapes.

I'm back - recovering from sticker shock of first landscape quote :) 9 Trees (privacy outside fence on the side of pool equipment, 36 green giants and some golden mops on the other side. $400 a tree installed? Obviously we are getting other quotes and checked with a local nursery who may be able to have someone install for us if we make a large purchase for them. Wow! I never imagined pricing would be so all over the board for trees?

how big a tree for 400 bucks???

green giants... at the link ..... 30 bucks [plus shipping] for a 4 footer.. if you are willing to plant them yourself ... and i wouldnt go much beyond a 3 to 4 footer ... or might you have some neighborhood hunks.. willing to earn a little dough .....

did you get a 'plan' .... no one says you need them all right now .... nor that they all be giants ...

get some adult beverages... and sit around that pool ... every 5 minutes.. move the chair .. and discover the site lines that are most important to hide ... that is where i would invest in larger stock ...

but in other directions .... though you want a tree ... perhaps a smaller one.. will fit the bill ...

the larger the conifer.. the longer it takes to restart growing .. after cutting all its roots off ... so if you pay $400 for an eight footer ... and 30 for a 3 footer ... in 5 years time .. with proper care.... i would bet a nickel.. the 3 footer will be the same .. or larger than the $400 ...

below is a pic of my GG's ... 2 inch peat pot ... 4 inch plant.. planted in 2000 ... on irrigation line for first three years .... i have more time than money ... lol ... and they are another 3 to 4 foot taller this year ... they are finally achieving the proper annual growth rate.. since their roots are finally mature enough to support such growth ...
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planting potted stock is not all that hard ... perhaps some lessons in that regard.. if you ever get that far ....

you might make the job a lot easier.. if you can find someone with a post hole digger ... who could auger you a hundred holes in one afternoon for a hundred bucks ....

AFTERCARE is the most important issue .... you will have to commit to insuring they are properly water for the first two years .... investing in some hoses.. and willing to insert your finger and make sure the root zone stays moist .. when mother nature doesnt take care of it for you ....

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link