Privacy trees/arborvitae hiding Commercial Property?

last year

last modified: last year

Suggestions on large Arborvitae/plants/trees to go along fence that doesn't shed? On the other side of our fence is commercial. So I'm looking for privacy and a noise barrier, but we have limited space. We also have power lines above our fence.

We have a large arborvitae on the other side of our yard, but spider mites and bag worms got most of them and I'd hate for that to happen again. I don't even know what it is, but the length/width of it worked out pretty good. Maybe someone can identify it?

Zone 6, Missouri. Full sun.

Featured Answer

Jordan (z7)

last year

You have plenty of area to plant GGs along that side. Just keep them a few feet away from the power lines above. They will never get wide enough at the height of the power lines to cause a problem. If you are concerned about height, try the Tiny Tower variety which is the GG's smaller cousin. GG and TT are beautiful, fuss free, worry free privacy plants that are great for boarders.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

charles kidder
last year
I suggest green giant or steeplechase. Whichever you can get a good price for. Plant them about 6' apart. You don't have to get big plants. They grow very fast.
Jordan (z7)
last year
last modified: last year
Green Giants placed 6 feet apart center-to-center would be ideal. Avoid Steeplechase as they are prone to winter wind burn in your area.
Related Professionals
Waterbury Landscape Contractors · Mount Sinai Landscape Contractors · Roanoke Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Thousand Oaks Swimming Pool Builders · Estelle Landscape Contractors · Salem Landscape Contractors · Glenview Driveway Installation & Maintenance · South Lyon Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures · Barrington Landscape Contractors · Cedar Hill Landscape Contractors · Smyrna Landscape Contractors · Hamden Siding & Exteriors · San Diego Siding & Exteriors · Wareham Siding & Exteriors · Villa Park Decks, Patios & Outdoor Enclosures
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
no green giants with power lines above ...

the plant on the other side of the yard would probably already be in the power lines ... yes.. no??

and i dont recommend anything that requires you to buy a cherry picker to trim them at 10 or 12 feet or something ...

look like a blank mowed field out there.. what are you hiding from????.. are they going to develop it or something????

ken
3onthetree
last year
Your last man standing looks like a Smaragd (Emerald Green) to me.

An assumption is your fence is at the utility easement edge (maybe 5' in from the prop line where the utility poles are placed?). Any plantings should be placed so that their mature spread will not impede beyond this easement line, and if arborvitae they won't have an extended canopy to infringe upward on the power lines if placed as such.

Don't want to make a mountain out of a molehill, but looking at what's behind you, hard to tell from the pics, but if that is just a landscape berm for the development, and their top of grade on the other side of that berm is close in elevation as yours is, then you should be fine planting screening and be done with it (it is unfortunate many cities are very "loose" in requiring developers to provide planting screening between different zoning uses).

However, if the continuous grade for the development is as high as the top of that "hill," then you might want to think about having a small landscape berm that, especially if arborvitaes are chosen, will sit on top of to help direct any water that those same "loose" regulations didn't account for. Often, a small berm can kiII two birds with one stone by allowing well-drained soil which arbors need.

And I got to sneak in 3 old school idioms in this comment.
Katy M thanked 3onthetree
charles kidder
last year
I think you can plant GG and not have to worry about the power lines. They don't grow out much at that height and there's little to no chance of a branch falling on the lines. Worst case scenario is the power company may come out and trim them on their side for you.