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5 Different Trees and Bushes recommendations NJ zone 6-7

7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

New Jersey zone 6-7.

Mostly full/mostly sun areas.Will water them well especailly during establishment.

_____________ (Plant 1) already have 'regular' arborvitaes along fence spaced about 5 feet apart, they were about 4ft when installed about 8 years ago and are about 6-7ft tall now.

Looking to plant something similar but that will grow taller faster, and wider to fill in some of the 5 foot space between each existing arborvitae. The base of the arborvitae is only about 2 feet away from the fence, so I don't want something that'll grow too much over the fence once it reaches that height, in other words looking for something that somwhat tapers but is also wide. Maybe need two of these new plants in between each arborvitae to fill the 5'.

Would it look tacky to alternate evergreens like this? Might just put the same types of arborvitae in between but they don't seem to grow tall enough. There's a maple tree/limbs about 20 feet above the fence line and not wanting to have anything grow too much into that tree though either.

________________ (2) for the fence corner (but about 15 feet away from it), looking to plant a very large evergreen bushes/trees, but not a pine. I'm not sure the name but I found a particular type which looks like a giant arborvitae but more oval shaped instead of cone/cylindrical, and it can be considered a nuisance because it grows so fast and big and can engulf a house if planted too close to it and not maintained, but for this corner it wouldn't be a problem.

I might plant a large oak/maple/Pine here instead though - I planted a few starter Oaks I bought form ebay last Fall in this spot but they seem to have disappeared by mid Winter. I was going to keep the best one this Spring.


_________ (3) the other corner want a tall growing (eventually about 35-40 feet) dense evergreen columnar (about 10 feet wide mid height) but not sure which type.

______ (4) looking for a pine columnar that reaches about 40 feet eventually but it may grow higher if wants to.

_______ (5) A deciduous columnar or somewhat columnar (don't want it too narrow) which may grow up to 60 feet or more (no real restriction) in place of where a white birch had died and roots removed. Preferably something with berries or seeds that wildlife can enjoy eventually, but not a fruit tree for in front of the house. Might go with another somewhat-columnar evergreen (not deciduous) for this spot too though but slightly different than the (4) plant if so.

Hoping to get these as mini plants for about $30 each also, maybe ordering online.

Comments (8)

  • PRO
    7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Show pictures taken from a moderate distance away, so that we can see surroundings. Correlate each picture with your statements above so we can match them up.

  • 7 years ago

    Just a note but "mini plants" - especially when it comes to most conifers - will not be much of a presence in the garden for many years. Are you willing to wait the 10+ years necessary for the babies to grow up into adulthood (or in some cases, just gawky teenagers)?

    When it comes to planting trees, I always suggest to clients that they buy the largest they can afford (within reason). The trees will outlive them by a large margin but getting there is a slow process that takes many years.

  • 7 years ago

    I don't really want to post pictures of the neighbors' houses I hope you understand.



    Yea I know it'll take many years for mini $25 plants to establish but if it's save me $1,000+, I'm fine with that. I'll stake them and just leave them.

  • 7 years ago

    My SIL in Essex County, NJ has extremely voracious deer. Her deer browse most plants on the "deer resistant" list. If your local herd is similar, that will affect plant choices.

  • 7 years ago

    no deer to worry about.


    I already spec'd spacing. not posting pics of backs of neighbors' houses, sorry.

  • PRO
    7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Here are some plants to look up that may meet some of your needs: Yoshino & Black Dragon Cryptomeria, Needlepoint Holly, Fastigiate Hornbeam, Chesapeake, Nigra & Steeds Holly.

  • 7 years ago

    thanks for the recs, I coulda just googled the usda hardiness zone and found many options but I know for example like dogwoods are recently not doing to well in this zone (something with a beatle or something like that) but I will search each type further.


    Now I think I'm going to actually just plant like 7 different types of trees in between the arboorvitaes! Sounds wrong but I have seen many examples of similar, and it looks cool, also what's good is that for example arborvites sometimes can get snow damaged (limbs break under weight) and if you have a 20 year old screen of them and one gets beat up, you might want to replace it and might be hard to find the exact type and especially size and could be pricey. With using different types, if something dies or gets beat up it can just be replaced.


    I think I'll try an aprocot tree (have seen one doing well in the area) and a few other evergreen columnars/semi columnar.