PLANTS FOR SCREENING

 

Many of our customers ask advice on screening problems, whether it’s an obtrusive window, an ugly building or just a need for privacy. Many people are convinced that the only way to screen a view is with conifers. This may sometimes be the best answer, but often there are other evergreen plants that will give a much more effective solution.

 

The advantages of conifers (usually Leyland cypress - x cupressocyparis leylandii - or Western Red Cedar -Thuja plicata Atrovirens) are

  • They are quick-growing
  • Usually quite established (ie tall) when purchased

 

However, there are disadvantages:

  • Have had a very bad press recently (the introduction of the Hedgeline legislation)
  • If neglected they can be very difficult, if not impossible, to get back under control.

 

Some evergreen trees will grow too large for the average garden.  To help combat this, we have a number of evergeen shrubs that have been grown, usually by grafting, with a clear stem of around 175-200 cms (6ft - 6ft 6ins).  This means that the head starts jut above normal fence height, without the plant taking up too much room in the garden.  Since these are carefully selected shrubs, they will not grow on forever, and can easily be pruned back if they get too tall, in fact, they will often benefit from occasional pruning.  Because they are shrubs, they will grow with a rounded head and so can be spaced further apart.

 

 

Standard Shrubs for screening:

 

Pictured right: Ligustrum japonicum (Japanese Privet) - Dark glossy green leaves make this a very handsome plant, with fragrant white flowers in late summer.  Available in larger sizes, it is quite a vigorous plant.

 

Ligustrum lucidum Excelsum Superbum (Variegated Chinese Privet) - Leaves have a very pleasant cream and green variegation, again with fragrant white flowers in late summer. This plant grows well, but not quite as vigorously as L. japonicum.

 

 

 

Photinia x fraserii Red Robin (Red Robin) - all new leaves emerge a very attractive bronze-red, which fades to green; the effect of the first full flush in Spring is magical.  White flowers are produced (usually in late May) if the plant has not been too vigorously pruned the previous autumn.  Not as vigorous as either of the privets, but grows to 12ft plus (400cms) without difficulty.

 

Prunus Lusitanica (Portuguese laurel) - dark glossy green leaves that are smaller than those of the common laurel.  Candle spikes of white flowers are produced mid to late summer.  It is particularly useful for chalky soils.

 

The above are the four mostly commonly used standardised shrubs for screening. However, the following shrubs are also available and are well worth considering:

 

Elaeagnus x ebbingei - mid green leaves with a silvery underside. Tiny white ,and extremely fragrant, white flowers are produced in autumn. A fairly slow growing plant.

 

Elaeagnus ‘Gilt Edge’ - A cousin of the above, with green leaves distinctly margined with yellow - again fairly slow growing.

 

Arbutus unedo (Strawberry Tree) - Technically the Strawberry tree is a British native plant.  It has dark green leaves and small bell-like flowers, produced in late autumn. At the same time it displays the bright red fruits that give it its name, produced from the previous year’s flowers.

 

Magnolia grand flora (Evergreen magnolia or Bull Bay) -This has very large, dark green glossy leaves with a curious brown felting on the underside.  Unlike most other magnolias, the bull bay produces very large, creamy white, lightly scented flowers over a period of several months from mid-summer.  If you need a single magnificent specimen, you should consider this.

 

 

Evergreen Trees for screening.

 

Pictured right: Acacia dealbata (Mimosa) - This has very fine silvery grey leaves, and delicate powder puff flowers in February that light up a winter’s day. It is a fairly vigorous tree that will break up, rather than block off, a view.  Usually the mimosa does not grow too large in this country, but takes very well to hard pruning if it is allowed to get out of hand.

 

Eucalyptus gunnii (Cider gum) - this is the most commonly grown Eucalypt in this country.  It is extremely vigorous, but will tolerate very hard pruning once established.  Although we can often get hold of very large E. gunnii plants, it is much better to use the smaller plants we usually have in stock; its extreme vigour (often over 2 metres growth a year) means that this will make a very large screen very quickly.

 

Olea europaea (Olive tree) - A well known sight in all the Mediterranean countries, it is actually hardy in the South East.  The tree is very long lived (in Greece I have seen specimens that are reputed to be over three thousand years old) and likes to be pruned.

 

Quercus ilex (Holm Oak) - eventually this makes a very large tree (60ft or 20m +) and should only be used where there is ample space for it to grow.

 

It is worth noting that almost all the above also make very good hedges from ground level.

 

 

 

 

For more details, please contact us on Tel: 01932 872195

Pantiles Garden Centre, Almners Road, Lyne, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 0BJ

 



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