You could cover an entire 3/4 acre lot with that many forsythia. Six to eight feet between plants is a good idea.

Around here, local nurseries carry about 17 billion forsythia in the spring. If you are looking for small, cheap ones, Soil & Water sells whips for erosion control, or you can look into Musser Forest.

cheap enough? .... ken

http://www.musserforests.com/prod.asp?p=LGF

if bare root.. timing of planting is imperative.. see this link:

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub

on your members page.. add your location.. for more precise help ...

Thanks for the responses!

Bare root will probably be easier for planting which will be done in spring.

The vinyl fence I'm dealing with requires 45 plants with a 6 ft. spacing (I measured). This seems to be the most practical and easiest way of dealing with the mess. It's required around an in-ground pool, but was not properly installed by previous owners and just doesn't look good due to beating by weather.

Companion planting will be on property line where neighbors have a chain fence plus evergreens the entire length of the property. That will take at least 30 more (I just started to measure). I am basically working with a 3/4 acre of blank slate that is also a big mess.

I've considered options after extensive research, and decided I don't
like the way fencing in general looks around a pool. Vines are not an
option, fence will not support them. Having the mess ripped out and
fencing the entire yard is one option but materials that will tolerate
the salt air from the Atlantic are minimal aside from vinyl that I
hate.

Thanks again!

Mike

Have you considered other plants so you have some variety? That is a lot of boring green for most of the year (and I love forsythia, just not as an exclusive plant.). As Ken said, if you tell us where you are you will most likely get some other varieties that might work so you have more than one kind of shrub.

Hello,

Thanks for the response!

I'm in zone 7b (Rehoboth Beach Delaware).

I agree that sounds like I'm planting lots of the same shrub (I am).

I have what could only be described as a massive mess to deal with around what is a really beautiful in-ground pool with a necessary vinyl fence that looks completely awful, and a very long property line with very tall evergreens next to a chain fence that needs major help.

My plan is to have the forsythia cover the fence around the pool (I'm looking for planting suggestions. (Should some be inside the fence, others outside. Perhaps staggered?) , then do other plants for variety on both sides of the fence. I will also bring in very large pots for plantings around the pool. Plans are similar on the border fence but just on my side of the property (no pots).

Plant suggestions anyone has that will do the job relatively quickly like the forsythia and give more variety would be great.

Photos show pool and fence area. The pool fence looks a lot better in the photo. in reality, it looks like a giant play pen. Bottom photo is the property line.

I have already done a living fence along the back property line (about 70 numerous different trees and shrubs in a staggered pattern).

Thanks again to everyone who has taken the time to respond!

Mike

Viburnum plicatum, mock orange/Philadelphus, and Hydrangea paniculata all have varieties that will be similar in size to LG forsythia, and IME grow as quickly as the forsythia. Like forsythia, all like a good amount of sun for best bloom or fall color. I wouldn't try planting any of these inside your pool fence as they will add litter to the pool (old leaves, spent blossoms, etc.) and will feel crowded, based on the space that seems to be available in the photos. A semievergreen vine trained on wire such as Lonicera sempervirens may work also.

For safety's sake, do you want clear sight lines from any other parts of the yard to the pool? Have you investigated the cost of replacing the fence with something less unattractive, particularly a wire fence of some type that will disappear from a distance? or even whether vinyl fencing can be painted or stained?

Hello,

Thank you so much for the expert advice!!

I had not thought of the wire idea, I'll add it to my list!

Sight lines are not an issue.

For insurance purposes a fence is required either around the pool or entire yard. Because the salty air disintegrates wood and iron, neighbors opt for vinyl which I hate due to the aesthetics. One house has the entire property closed in with a solid wall type structure. To me it looks like a big white prison fence. Other vinyl structures are equally unappealing. Plus, because of environment, lots of people have a discoloration that they have to deal with on their fences (as well as their house) that needs attention at least once or twice a year with a pressure washer.

I've looked in to the cost of fence replacement which would put me back at the beginning of not liking vinyl.

Painting or staining is not an
option for me due to issues with poor installation (it leans in places and is not easily corrected)
that add to the awful way it looks.

So, my necessary fence material options and what I can do to transform the mess are limited. Because of the sheer size of what needs to be dealt with, I'm thinking big.

Thanks again!

Mike