This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

shady spot needs plant screen

>From: John Dreher <dreher@dsp.com>
>Subject: shady spot needs plant screen
>Sender: owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
>Date: Sat, 23 Aug 1997 11:39:57 +0100
>
> I would like to plant a quick-growing screen between my south property
> line and my southern neighbor, a 2-story apartment building that's about
> 8 feet from the property line.  In my yard there's a 35-40'-tall live
> oak about 10 feet to the north of the property line.  What can I plant
> between these two that will blot out the pink apt. building but not
> jeopardize the oak?  Is 10' far enough away from the oak's trunk not to
> worry about summer water?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Kay Dreher
> Berkeley, CA

Kay -

My most successful choice to date for this type of problem is
Rhamnus alaternus, the Italian Buckthorn, perferably a cloned
cultivar known to be tall and willing to be narrow ('John Edwards'
is the cultivar I have used in the past).  This shrub has dark
green, evergreen leaves which are clean looking and always in good
health.  It will tolerate tremendous heat and drought when it had
become established (I have often used it in the interior areas where
the summer heat reaches over 100oF routinely).  It grows very fast
(has been 'clocked' at 6ft a year!) and can be maintained very
narrow without becoming bare or full of gaps.  Planting in the next
couple of months, with lots of DEEP, DEEP irrigation can help it
prepare for a dry summer (respecting the oak).  I installed a very
long hedge in a hot and dry area in Dixon (though there was some
subsurface water available deep in the soil) where it became 15-18ft
tall in 3 years!  It is generally pest free and healthy.  Perfers
full sun but can grow in shade as well.  Can be pruned and sheared
in whatever way is desired.

There is a handsome variegated form which has recently become
available again in this area (I like to think that my repetative
complaining to growers about its unavailability caused this to
happen!  ;-).  It is less agreesive than the green form, but just as
tough and tolerant of poor conditions, heat and drought.  It makes a
fine specimen left unpruned (handsome natural habit).  If your
prefer to prune it heavily, watch for all green shoots which will
quickly take over.

 Sean A. O'Hara                     sean.ohara@ucop.edu
 710 Jean Street                    http://www.dla.ucop.edu/sao
 Oakland, California  94610-1459    h o r t u l u s   a p t u s
 (510) 987-0577                     'a garden suited to its purpose'
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index