Privacy screens: thuja green giant / steeplechase (house, landscaping, club)

[Lusitan]

I'll be looking to do some landscaping soon. One of the things I'm interested in doing is growing a tall privacy screen as quickly as possible, and it seems like one of the best trees for that purpose is a hybrid of arborvitae dubbed "Thuja Green Giant", or a variant called "Thuja Steeplechase".

Anyone have any experience growing these in Northern NJ? What's a good nursery in the area?

Below are some links about these trees for anyone who is interested.

Thuja Green Giant, Evergreen Trees

The Garden Club January 26, 2006

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by Lusitan

I'll be looking to do some landscaping soon. One of the things I'm interested in doing is growing a tall privacy screen as quickly as possible, and it seems like one of the best trees for that purpose is a hybrid of arborvitae dubbed "Thuja Green Giant", or a variant called "Thuja Steeplechase".

Anyone have any experience growing these in Northern NJ? What's a good nursery in the area?

Below are some links about these trees for anyone who is interested.

Thuja Green Giant, Evergreen Trees

The Garden Club January 26, 2006

I would avoid arborvitaes if you have alot of deer - I planted 35 along one property line and the deer eat almost everyone of them : ) They are a bit falic (sp?) looking at the moment : ) My neighbor planted trees - cross between poplar and willow - they are over 40' high and only 8 yrs old! Nice trees but they do like water. Did you consider forsythias? Inexpensive and If maintained, they make a great privacy fence. Another good idea as they stay green all year round are the Shamrock trees - bushes. Slow growers so I would get a larger size to start with.

[wileynj]

This is a great website - will give you some really great information. Fast Growing Trees

[MoorestownResident]

Go with Leyland Cypress. Fast growing, inexpensive, good screen, nice shape. They are used as Xmas trees in the south. Animals do not feed on them. Like any fast growing tree (leylands in NJ grow about 2-3 ft per year) they are shallow rooted and can be blown over in very heavy winds. But they have relatively little problems compared to most.

Leyland Cypress, X Cupressocyparis leylandii

[Lusitan]

Wiley - it's safe to say that deer are not a concern at this location, but thanks for the heads up. I really like forsythia, and I plan plant some of those in another area, but in this particular area I'm looking for a very tall privacy screen so that's why I'm looking at evergreen trees.

MoorestownResident - Leyland is another one that I am considering. I read that it has a lot of problems with certain pests, and that its sunshine requirements are a little more exacting than the thuja.

I'm have been thinking that the best route might be a mix of Leyland and Thuja Steeplechase, both for the visual variety (I want a tall screen, but am not a big fan of a uniform look) and for having some species variety in case one does better than the other.

[MoorestownResident]

Leyland's biggest problem is bagworms but if it becomes a problem they are easy to get rid of. It is normally not fatal to the tree. You can spray them once a year or pick the bags off the tree by hand in winter when they are dormant. I planted about 20 Leylands at my prior house for screen, several did have minor bagworm issues but it was an easy fix. Bagworms are an issue on just about any evergreen including hollies. Your other choices could have the same issue.

Regarding sun, Leylands like full sun to part shade. I wouldn't plant them in an area with less than 3 hours sunlight though they will still grow.

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by Lusitan

Wiley - it's safe to say that deer are not a concern at this location, but thanks for the heads up. I really like forsythia, and I plan plant some of those in another area, but in this particular area I'm looking for a very tall privacy screen so that's why I'm looking at evergreen trees.

MoorestownResident - Leyland is another one that I am considering. I read that it has a lot of problems with certain pests, and that its sunshine requirements are a little more exacting than the thuja.

I'm have been thinking that the best route might be a mix of Leyland and Thuja Steeplechase, both for the visual variety (I want a tall screen, but am not a big fan of a uniform look) and for having some species variety in case one does better than the other.

I just found a website that sells / ships "Pink" forsythias! They are more on the white side but have a pink tinge to them - very nice ; ) If you want some "free shrubs / trees" just stop in by me - we have hundreds of baby cedars and hawthornes (sp) growing wild in my field and I plan to clear that area this fall. The hawthornes are great, fast growing plants - smell nice in the spring and birds love them. The ceadrs have a tap root - so replanting them quickly is key. If you want any, let me know : )

[wileynj]

I had no idea how special hawthorn Trees are!!! They bring Good Luck! : )) Paghat's Garden: Hawthorn Tree Myths

[hc7612]

If you want a super fast growing screen, bamboo is the way to go. Some types grow 3-4 feet a day. You just need to be careful which species you select. I know that some get out of hand very quickly. The root system can run a long distance. There are some that have more compact root systems. Here is a website that can tell you more about the different types. Bamboo Garden Nursery.

[Lusitan]

Thanks for the offer, Wiley - I'll take a closer look at those types of shrubs/trees and I'll let you know. Hey, when it comes to luck I could use all the help I can get ;-)

hc7612 - I have heard one too many horror stories about "bamboo-gone-wild", so I'm staying away from that. But thanks for the suggestion.