Plant Screening

[russ_a]

Hi,

Our current view from our kitchen window is nextdoors double storey extension. We would like to screen this out by creating a plant screen of about 3 meters high.

We have looked at buying a few fast growing conifers or planting a few bamboo trees.

Can anyone recommend anything or see any problems with conifiers or bamboo?

[Driller]

[JustinP1]

Conifers are bad if they are within a few metres of your house.

Bamboo is very nice though. Plenty of varieties to choose too.

[jeff m]

Bamboo spreads, can become uncontrolable

[racing green]

Avoid fast growing conifers like the plague as they won't want to stop at 3m and then you will be a slave to hedging twice a year. The tall bamboo's are great looking but will spread. Other options include pleached Lime trees which are easy to train but expensive, fastigate trees such as Prunus Amanagowa or Eucryphia which may be a bit slow growing for you or perhaps a structure like a pergola or summer house over which climbers can be planted. Whatever you decide remember if its quick growing just don't expect it to stop!

[JustinP1]

I've had good results training bamboo by using the 'weed mesh' type fibres.

A clump I had was hemmed in with this without a single shoot going through and plenty of evidence of baby shoots getting stunted and stopped.

If you ran a foot wide strip of the mesh under say gravel along the length of where you didn't want it to spread, you'll be fine. If the worst comes to the worst, you can just nip off the small buds when they appear in the growing season.

[netherfield]

You may get the neighbours complaining at Three Metres high, Two Metres is not a problem.

[Mr GrimNasty]

These trained holm oak screens take up almost no space in the 'wrong' dimension, they are evergreen, although every so often they will drop and regrow quickly.
http://www.hedgenursery.co.uk/browse/evergreen-oak...

[russ_a]

Cheers folks, neighbours will not be able to see the plants as they have no windows facing our house.

We have thought about builing our own extension / conservatory to block the view but that will be a few years down the line.

[Simpo Two]

jeff m said:

Bamboo spreads, can become uncontrolable

Buy pandas.

[Mr GrimNasty]

But pandas are so ungracious, they just.......

[Simpo Two]

Yes, but you can charge children all their pocket money to admire them.

Natural forest management, recycling of plant waste, helping of endangered species AND a source of income. Put the feckers in a big wheel and they'll make green power too!

So many boxes ticked your biro will run out...

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 22 November 23:03

[russ_a]

Thanks again,

Going to a look at Bamboo, just hope it doesn't spread and take over the neighbours garden!

[GKP]

Not all bamboo spreads using rhizomes etc, there are two distinct types. http://www.littleacrebamboo.com/bamboo.htm