dense evergreen "wall" under forrest canopy in zone 7b

10 years ago

I have 7 forested acres in Greensboro, and one whole side of it is along a rather busy street. I would like to start a row of evergreen shrubs about 20 feet back from that road to act as a visual (and to some degree sound) break along that edge of the property.

The row would be under the canopy of a mixed hardwood woods, so no direct sun.

The other aspect here is that it is about 300 linear feet to deal with...so it needs to be something inexpensive. I'm willing to be patient. Would be fine with planting a row of 1 gallon plants and waiting a few years for it to become a significant "wall".

Does not need to be very tall; about 4 feet would be adequate. Needs to be evergreen. Needs to be visually dense.

Featured Answer

enith

10 years ago

I garden in zone 7B in PNW. Evergreen shrubs for shade that would work for me as a hedge are: Mahonia, Buxus, Sarcococca, Ilex and to some degree Prunus laurocerasus. Mahonia and Prunus should be relatively cheap and they also grow fast. Buxus and Sarcococca are much slower and also more expensive.

300 feet will need a lot of plants. Do counties in you area organize yearly native plant sales of bare root plants in early spring? These usually are a great source of cheap plants in large amounts. Maybe there is a native evergreen shrub that would work for you?

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Comments (7)

jeffpritchard
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks Enith. Last time I looked it appears they shut down the free/cheap plant stuff several years ago around here. Need to check again...last time might have been in my previous city/county.

Thanks for the suggestions on the Mahonia and Prunus. Will check them out.
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
10 years ago
I believe that Prunus laurocerasus is a problematic invasive in parts of PNW.
laceyvail 6A, WV
10 years ago
Also consider the many evergreen Viburnums--V. pragense, V. 'Cree', and others.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
10 years ago
If you are considering Prunus, then I'd focus my attention on a native species, Prunus caroliniana, Carolina cherry laurel. This can grow to a considerable size (much more tree-like than shrubby) but dwarf cultivars are available. I'd also consider Japanese aucuba, Aucuba japonica. Will grow in almost complete shade, very drought tolerant once established and grows rapidly. Other choices would be some of the hollies - Ilex opaca, glabra or crenata - all quite shade tolerant but slow growers. Also Leucothoe fontanesiana (also a native), Pieris japonica, Viburnum davidii, Eleaegnus pungens or one of the taller Sarcococca species. Nandina domestica and mahonia are also possibilities but both have invasive tendencies in your neck of the woods.

My second suggestion is to consider a mix of suitable evergreen shrubs. A single species planting invites more disease and pest issues than does a diversified planting and diversification encourages wildlife and offers more visual interest. Wouldn't hurt to throw a few deciduous shade shrubs into the mix also - they will help with the screening (at least during the growing season) and typically offer showier flowering and often fall color as well. And there are LOTS to choose from - Itea, Clethra, Fothergilla, Disanthus, Callicarpa, Kerria, shrub dogwoods, more viburnums, hydrangeas.....etc., etc.

btw, plants really do not help with muffling road noise - you need either a significant distance or a solid surface (solid wall or fence) to really accomplish that feat.
kitasei
10 years ago
Do you have deer?
dowlinggram
10 years ago
Be aware that trees along roadways often get killed by salt from the road. When It's dry it blows into the trees and the water run off is salty. I have a friend who planted cedars about 50 feet from the road and they were killed off by salt. If you do this plan on putting up a barrier to guard against the salt in winter