privacy from seeds? (landscape, growing plants, trees, vines)
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Last year, the city cracked down on all growth that extended into the alley behind my rental home. As a result, all the trees, bushes, and other vegetation were cut down completely by the landscaper hired by my landlord. Total overkill, but what's done is done.
The back yard was very private before, and now I have a clear view of the house across the alley, and all privacy is gone. The house is an eyesore, with all kinds of junk in their backyard. Never could see it before, and I don't enjoy the sight now.
Being a rental, I don't want to spend money on bushes or trees, so am wondering if planting a row of sunflowers along the chain-link fence in back would work. I read reports that the root systems on these are difficult to remove at the end of growing season...any other plants that i could grow from seed that would grow tall and create a screen? I'd need the growth to be 6' at a minimum - higher is better.
How high is the chain link fence? Will the landlord object if there are any plants tied up to it (i.e. sunflowers) for the growing season, or if you have staked up climbing vines (i.e. pole beans, scarlet runner beans, that kind of thing) close enough to touch it?
I'd look at vines. There are annual vines that grow quickly enough that you could get some meaningful screening this year. Then you could also plant some slower-growing perennial vines. They are easy to keep trimmed without destroying how they look.
For an annual vine, I'd plant scarlet runner beans. Actually, planting both sunflowers and runner beans could wind up looking pretty spectacular. Mix in some of the taller cosmos, and you'd have a show-stopper.
I've never lived in a climate like Texas, so I have no educated opinion about which perennial vine you could plant. Any large seed distributor like Burpee or Thompson & Morgan will have a number of candidates.
You could also plant hollyhocks. They are perennial, fast and easy from seed, and grow as tall as sunflowers.
BTW, mixing several kinds of taller and/or vining, fast-growing plants will provide more screening more quickly than planting just one kind. Mix and match!
If you want a few vegetables...mix in with annual or perennial vines, try climbing cucumbers, peas, beans as mentioned...sunflowers would work...get several varieties that grow different heights.
After summer, sunflowers and annuals will be history....try evergreen vines even ole ivy
Ask your landlord if he'd be willing to plant some evergreen shrubs...you never know, he might do it...
How high is the chain link fence? Will the landlord object if there are any plants tied up to it (i.e. sunflowers) for the growing season, or if you have staked up climbing vines (i.e. pole beans, scarlet runner beans, that kind of thing) close enough to touch it?
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Fence is about 4' high. There wouldn't be a problem tying anything to it, as long as I removed it when I moved. Whatever I grow has to be taller than the fence....the view over it is the problem.
Last year, the city cracked down on all growth that extended into the alley behind my rental home. As a result, all the trees, bushes, and other vegetation were cut down completely by the landscaper hired by my landlord. Total overkill, but what's done is done.
The back yard was very private before, and now I have a clear view of the house across the alley, and all privacy is gone. The house is an eyesore, with all kinds of junk in their backyard. Never could see it before, and I don't enjoy the sight now.
Being a rental, I don't want to spend money on bushes or trees, so am wondering if planting a row of sunflowers along the chain-link fence in back would work. I read reports that the root systems on these are difficult to remove at the end of growing season...any other plants that i could grow from seed that would grow tall and create a screen? I'd need the growth to be 6' at a minimum - higher is better.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Good that you checked on that as I had a similar problem and I just willy-nilly bought filler plants to grow next to a very old and dilapidated garage near my property. House went up for sale and sold so the first thing the new owners did was tear it down and built a lovely new garage.
It took me a couple of years to rid that area of those plants (they kept spreading) and I was finally able to replace them with white rocks and a bird bath.
Even just a fast growing hedge would work but keep in mind, you wont have privacy the first year. Maybe not even the second year. Not sure how long you plan on staying there but figure a few yrs before the eye sore is completely blocked out.
Look on craigslist. Sometimes people are willing to give they established shrubs away or for cheap. You might have to do the digging though.
Lastly.. take come cuttings of fast growing ever greens but again, don't expect privacy within 3-4 yrs if you're not buying established trees.
Last year, the city cracked down on all growth that extended into the alley behind my rental home. As a result, all the trees, bushes, and other vegetation were cut down completely by the landscaper hired by my landlord. Total overkill, but what's done is done.
The back yard was very private before, and now I have a clear view of the house across the alley, and all privacy is gone. The house is an eyesore, with all kinds of junk in their backyard. Never could see it before, and I don't enjoy the sight now.
Being a rental, I don't want to spend money on bushes or trees, so am wondering if planting a row of sunflowers along the chain-link fence in back would work. I read reports that the root systems on these are difficult to remove at the end of growing season...any other plants that i could grow from seed that would grow tall and create a screen? I'd need the growth to be 6' at a minimum - higher is better.
You can get a Duranta plant pretty cheap. It will grown 6 feet tall and at least 4 feet across in the summer. It might freeze in Dallas, but just cut it off and it will come back when it warms up.
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