In need of a privacy screen!

[JLM]

As the title says, we are in need of a privacy screen! We have a nosy neighbor, so it would be nice if i could get some ideas for a decent screen. We need something cold hardy, wind tolerant to hurricane force preferably, fast growing, and something that will reach a maximum height of 15-20 ft, 30 ft is fine but we dont really want anything that tall along the fence. Believe it or not, they have found a way to see over our 6 ft fence, so anything would be appreciated that meets most or all of the requirements. Thanks!

 

[kinzyjr]

@JLM Podocarpus would work really well.

[JLM]

29 minutes ago, kinzyjr said:

@JLM Podocarpus would work really well.

Thanks! Are these toxic to pets? I forgot to mention this in the original post.

[kinzyjr]

14 minutes ago, JLM said:

Thanks! Are these toxic to pets? I forgot to mention this in the original post.

Yeah, they are toxic to dogs - even in small amounts.

[teddytn]

1 hour ago, JLM said:

As the title says, we are in need of a privacy screen! We have a nosy neighbor, so it would be nice if i could get some ideas for a decent screen. We need something cold hardy, wind tolerant to hurricane force preferably, fast growing, and something that will reach a maximum height of 15-20 ft, 30 ft is fine but we dont really want anything that tall along the fence. Believe it or not, they have found a way to see over our 6 ft fence, so anything would be appreciated that meets most or all of the requirements. Thanks!

 

I have a raised bed I’m building down the length of my 4’ chainlink fence with my neighbor, they’re not nosy but definitely want some more privacy. I plan on planting 5 magnolia grandiflora spaced out a long the fence. That will leave room in between to plant a bunch of needle palms. It will take a bunch of years but the idea is they’ll grow in and create an evergreen wall along the fence. 

[PricklyPearSATC]

Little gem magnolia, (don't know if really stays little, in San Antonio they do..LOL)
viburnums, xlysoma, hollies,

I really like viburnums for that lush look....


We have loquats under our power lines...the city prunes them LOL...


We do have a large loquat in front and it is quite tall.  Their height can be controlled if pruned properly.  ( I think might be about 25 ft tall...it's about 40 years old)

[amh]

Bamboo?

Nosy neighbors or are they just able to see over the fence? Something with thorns like citrus would keep them at bay.

 

[rprimbs]

11 hours ago, amh said:

Bamboo?

Nosy neighbors or are they just able to see over the fence? Something with thorns like citrus would keep them at bay.

 

I was thinking citrus too.  Maybe make a narrow citrus 'hedge' out of a variety of citrus.

[JLM]

Thanks for the recommendations yall! We are looking into the Magnolias since we really love those. The reason we have not considered bamboo is because we have heard that they attract snakes, and with us having 4 curious dogs that would not be a good idea lol
We do have other neighbors behind us that are just naturally tall enough to see over without wanting to see over. They are nice people, their oak tree blocks them for the most part.

[Merlyn]

Magnolias are great and cold hardy, but they don't make great visual screens unless you trim the heck out of them.  I see a lot of them around the Orlando area that are very sparse, and some that are super dense.  I suspect it has to do with the individual species as well as how they are pruned and fertilized. 

Viburnum makes a super dense screen in full sun with regular trimming.  And you can hack them to the ground and 99% will grow right back. 

Bamboo is a good option too, something like Seabreeze (Bambusa Maligensis) and Asian Lemon (B. Eutoldoides Viridi-Vittatta) are hardy to 18-21F, rapid growers, and very dense lower branches.  I don't know about the snakes thing, I guess it's possible.  I have mostly black racers around here, they seem to like all areas equally.