OT for you horticulture experts

[Uncle Ruckus]

I’m wanting to make a privacy tree line with Leyland Cypress. It’s going to be a lot of them. The best time to plant is “early spring”, which is kind of subjective. Those of you who have done this type of thing with success, when did you do it? When you consistently get 70 degree days? A certain month?

 

[turkish]

Don’t know if there’s anything special about that type of tree, but now is the time to plant trees in general.

 

[T-TownDawgg]

Check about that particular species, but I planted my Carolina Sapphire trees in the spring, and watering them all summer is gets very tiresome. I planted my evergreen privacy hedge (wax myrtles) last October, watered a half dozen times, and then the winter rains took over from there (40+ plants). They will establish some root structure over the fall/winter months.

Glad I timed it right, else I'd have had to install a drip system or endured a 300 water bill over the summer months.

Ruckus, I forgot to mention, in my search for the Carolina Sapphires, I learned that the Leland Cypress is susceptible to a irreversible rust colored blight

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

Elaeagnus is a great privacy hedge, very hardy, fast-growing, thick and requires almost no care.

 

[Mr Todd French]

The best time to plant trees with any real size to them would be in the fall if you don’t have Irrigation. Are you wanting a privacy hedge or just a tree line to block some views? Leylands should be fine but if you get scared of blight there are some other tree/hedges that would work in the same manner. I like oak leaf hollies

 

[DAWGS1.sixpack]

Just plant a stalk or two of MS Delta bamboo and see what happens.
Will take about 3 yrs but....

 

[horshack.sixpack]

I agree with this except mine would randomly turn brown and die leaving gaps in the hedge. I’ve notices that same thing in other peoples elaeagnus hedges over the years as well.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

I wouldn’t recommend that. That stuff can get out of control

 

[ShrubDog]

Make sure you got some room cause they can get big. Off the top of my head your looking at 15-20’ on center spacing depending on how you want it and they can be planted in a staggered double row if you want a really thick screen. Mr Todd French what do you like on spacing oc?

 

[Mr Todd French]

Eleaeagnus will make a good hedge but you better get ready to trim it a lot or pay someone like me to. Most people think plant a small fast grower to make a 6 to8 hedge and save some money. Problem with that is you can’t tell the plant to slow down once the height is reached. I recommend planting a bigger size slow grower. The extra cost up front will save you time and money over the year on the mantience of the plants.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

The best time to plant trees with any real size to them would be in the fall if you don’t have Irrigation. Are you wanting a privacy hedge or just a tree line to block some views? Leylands should be fine but if you get scared of blight there are some other tree/hedges that would work in the same manner. I like oak leaf hollies

Im need a tree line, not a privacy hedge. I have a natural tree line now, but it serves as a dam when it rain and stops the natural runoff of water. All the water basically gets pushed in one direction and turns into a river, which keeps washing away my driveway. I’m tired of fixing it with my tractor. Once I get good height I am going to borrow a dozer a flatten the current tree line and smooth the ground so I can finally get a natural runoff when it rains

 

[Digging dog]

Look into Green Giant Arbovitae as an option.

 

[o_Native Son]

What would y'all recommend for only about six feet wide (20 feet in length, .3 acre lot in a downtown neighborhood - Little Rock, AR area)? We're thinking about options and don't like looking at the neighbor's driveway, but we don't have a lot of depth(width) to "spend". We'd rather not just do a fence there.

 

[ShrubDog]

What would y'all recommend for only about six feet wide (20 feet in length, .3 acre lot in a downtown neighborhood - Little Rock, AR area)? We're thinking about options and don't like looking at the neighbor's driveway, but we don't have a lot of depth(width) to "spend". We'd rather not just do a fence there.

Podocarpus may be a good option here.

 

[Mr Todd French]

If we are talking about spacing elaeagnus I would do 24’ from center as a minimum. I’ve seen them get 7ft wide and 25ft tall with a source to climb on. They are actually a vine used as a shrub. Arborvitae, leyland, jap yew, oak leaf are all good for what we’re tskiing about. I agree on the double row checker board pattern also.
Native son depending on if you can do it or not you could make that a bed with a few layers. Make your back row the height with about 5 larger trees and then fill in the middle with shrubs. Add some liriopre or miscanthus grass in to jazz it up a little to

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

If we are talking about spacing elaeagnus I would do 24’ from center as a minimum. I’ve seen them get 7ft wide and 25ft tall with a source to climb on. They are actually a vine used as a shrub. Arborvitae, leyland, jap yew, oak leaf are all good for what we’re tskiing about. I agree on the double row checker board pattern also.
Native son depending on if you can do it or not you could make that a bed with a few layers. Make your back row the height with about 5 larger trees and then fill in the middle with shrubs. Add some liriopre or miscanthus grass in to jazz it up a little to

You said you like the holly, but I’m afraid it won’t be as tall as I would want, min 20’. I am considering buy the cypress due to its ability to grow in anything. I have very acidic soil and live in Hancock county. What would you recommend if you think blight could be a real possibility

 

[Digging dog]

You said you like the holly, but I’m afraid it won’t be as tall as I would want, min 20’. I am considering buy the cypress due to its ability to grow in anything. I have very acidic soil and live in Hancock county. What would you recommend if you think blight could be a real possibility

If you are on the coast, google pineapple guava.

Nvmnd saw 20’. May find another place for it though.