"Screen" Trees??

[Hunter 257W]

I'm in need of some fast growing trees for a "Screen" effect on the property line. I'd prefer evergreens for the fact that they don't lose their leaves and therefore will screen my property year round. What are some good evergreen species that are fast growing and affordable for this purpose?

 

[JandSCattleCo]

Leyland cypress.

Fast growing.

Inexpensive as opposed to others.

Fast growing.

Hardy.

Did I mention they are fast growing???

 

[Hunter 257W]

Leyland cypress.

Fast growing.

Inexpensive as opposed to others.

Fast growing.

Hardy.

Did I mention they are fast growing???

I do like fast growing. I just looked them up and read that 3 feet per year is possible. Any good sources in middle TN? I'd like to get trees that are about 3 feet tall and bare root.

 

[Football Hunter]

Protect em,bucks love to rub em,learned the hard way.....

 

[Hunter 257W]

You wouldn't want to put tubes on a tree that you are growing for a screen, would you? The tube would keep them from spreading out and filling in the space between. Has anybody used tubes on a screen type evergreen?

 

[JandSCattleCo]

Lowes and Home Depot both have them right now. My neighbor just bought two last weekend.

Mind you it was for going on the far side of his house. Not on mine.

Also, no tubes on these.

 

[BSK]

As others have pointed out, the Leyland Cypress is probably your best bet. They do make excellent screen trees.

 

[DaveB]

Only thing I found is they do not transplant very well. Be sure where you put them is where you want them.

 

[Hunter 257W]

Well, I just read this about the Leyland Cyprus and it doesn't sound so good:
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Leyland cypress only lives for twenty to twenty-five years. I've found that trees left to grow large may have limited root support and are the first to blow down during high winds.
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These trees will be out in the open with no other trees sheilding them from the wind and they'll also be in a line from North to South so they'll get hit from the West in most every wind storm we have. Also this will be a 400 yard long line so there will be a significant amount of work and money spent planting them and I want it to last my lifetime. The 25 year lifespan of the trees doesn't inspire confidence in that regard.

Also a portion of this 400 yard long line floods every Winter so I'll have to use a tree species that can tolerate that. From what I've read, the Leyland Cyprus can't stand flooding. For that area I was looking at using the Bald Cyprus since The Wildlife Group sells them and i like dealing with those guys plus more importantly, this tree loves standing water. But then I realized they lose their leaves in the Fall. What I need is something that stays thick and green year round.

Back to the Leyland Cyprus though, one possible plan to reduce the chance of blowovers is to plant more than one row. If I decide to go this route, that would take care of the dry part of my fencerow which is about 150 of the total 400 yards.

 

[treefarmer]

Consider pine trees which can grow about anywhere if they have sun. Some are fast growing and some are slow. I'd suggest the slow ones because the fast growing (loblolly) would get blown over in a wind when they get larger. You are going to need a lot of them and pines are inexpensive and can be ordered through the Tenn. Div. of Forestry for planting next winter. You could plant a row of fast growing loblolly backed up by a row of slower growing Virginia Pine. Last year's seedling catalog can be seen at: http://www.tn.gov/agriculture/publicati ... atalog.pdf

 

[Football Hunter]

You wouldn't want to put tubes on a tree that you are growing for a screen, would you? The tube would keep them from spreading out and filling in the space between. Has anybody used tubes on a screen type evergreen?

Nope,probably a fence,they tore mine to pieces.

 

[Hunter 257W]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. As usual, there are so many option that I am a bit overwhelmed. I'm still reading what I can find about the various species you guys suggested and others and considering my soil and water conditions.

Football Hunter, I don't think deer will be a problem with these trees in the spot where I will be planting them. There are no woods or other deer cover anywhere near them anymore so I can't see deer rubbing being a problem to their survival. I sure hope not because I'd hate to have to build 200 cages. At the price of "woven" fence wire, I'd hate even more to pay for 200 cages!

 

[Hunter 257W]

Consider pine trees which can grow about anywhere if they have sun. Some are fast growing and some are slow. I'd suggest the slow ones because the fast growing (loblolly) would get blown over in a wind when they get larger. You are going to need a lot of them and pines are inexpensive and can be ordered through the Tenn. Div. of Forestry for planting next winter. You could plant a row of fast growing loblolly backed up by a row of slower growing Virginia Pine. Last year's seedling catalog can be seen at: http://www.tn.gov/agriculture/publicati ... atalog.pdf

I'm looking at the price sheet you reference here and have a question about the Loblolly pines. What do they mean by 1.5 Gen, 2.0 Gen and 3.0 Cycle?? The 500 quantity price sure is good.

 

[AllOutdoors]

Thuja Green giant.

 

[treefarmer]

The 1.5 Gen, 2.0, and 3.0 are improvements generation-to-generation. The 3.0 will grow fastest and maybe have better form and disease resistance. The prices for pine seedlings are good and hard not to consider. They also only take a minute to plant each one. Delivery is free to your county.

 

[Hunter 257W]

Are you familiar with Old Holder's Cove Rd?

You talking about near Winchester? If so, then yes I am. If you know that area, did you ever go to Judge's Gun shop when it was out there?

 

[Hunter 257W]

The 1.5 Gen, 2.0, and 3.0 are improvements generation-to-generation. The 3.0 will grow fastest and maybe have better form and disease resistance. The prices for pine seedlings are good and hard not to consider. They also only take a minute to plant each one. Delivery is free to your county.

Thanks, Yes, those prices are darned good. The 500 tree prices are practically free compared to what I've paid for trees before.

 

[Hunter 257W]

Yes, that's the area. I frequented Judge's shop, always enjoyed his company. What I was getting to is I planted a row of about 20 of Leylands at Mom's place back in 2005 for privacy. They've done great, you may want to ride bout there and look at those. I wouldnt rule them out, they're perfect for a natural fence.

The only issue I can see at this point against the Leyland Cyprus might be cost compared to the bulk tree purchases TreeFarmer mentioned a few posts back. Since I have a 400 yard long border that I want covered and probably will plant two rows, the per tree cost effects total cost a lot.

But Thanks, I'll take a ride out that way and look for the trees you planted. Knowing they were planted in 2005 will give me a good idea for expected growth rate. Good info for sure.

 

[Jarred525]

Consider pine trees which can grow about anywhere if they have sun. Some are fast growing and some are slow. I'd suggest the slow ones because the fast growing (loblolly) would get blown over in a wind when they get larger. You are going to need a lot of them and pines are inexpensive and can be ordered through the Tenn. Div. of Forestry for planting next winter. You could plant a row of fast growing loblolly backed up by a row of slower growing Virginia Pine. Last year's seedling catalog can be seen at: http://www.tn.gov/agriculture/publicati ... atalog.pdf

I have done this but you have to be patient.

 

[Swampster]

You might stage it. If you think you might like the Leyland short term, go with them, but in front of them, mix in some pines, and in front of them cedars. Cedars are slow, but give good ground to crown growth for your screen. Maybe throw in some crepe myrtles for color and texture.

 

[a retrohillbilly]

Virginia pine , grows anywhere, holds its lower limbs, get from above source. The "christmas tree" grade is best....treefarmer is right on!

 

[Hunter 257W]

I just ordered 100 Loblolly 3rd cycle & 100 Virginia Pine (Christmas tree grade) from the TN Forestry Service to be delivered in January. This should give me at the least 1 row of each species and 2 if I space them a bit further apart. Right now I'm looking at a 10 foot spacing.

I would like to have a row of the Leyland Cyprus but the prices offered here for the other species are so much cheaper that I can't see using the Leland's when I need so many.

I would like to included cedars too but they were out of stock. I KNOW they would grow good as they are everywhere around my place.

 

[treefarmer]

I agee cedars are great screen trees and didn't know the nursery normally carries them. I keep the wild ones around my cabin as a screen.

 

[CATCHDAWG]

How tall do they need to be? There is a hedge called Elliagnus (sp) that grows so thick the wind won't blow through them, let alone see through them. They peak about twelve feet tall in just a few years and are a lot cheaper than any tree.

 

[pass-thru]

White pine is the best. Will not loose lower limbs as long as they get light.

Virginia pine are undesirable for many reasons.

 

[treefarmer]

I have read Eleagnus are an invasive but there are several varieties. I love White Pine and if you have the soils it is a fine tree. If you have poor soil or dry South facing slopes/ridges White pine won't do well. A quick phone call to your area forester will let you know what to plant.

 

[CATCHDAWG]

I have read Eleagnus are an invasive but there are several varieties. I love White Pine and if you have the soils it is a fine tree. If you have poor soil or dry South facing slopes/ridges White pine won't do well. A quick phone call to your area forester will let you know what to plant.

Mine are Ebbengeii Eleagnus and are not invasive. I also have very poor soil and they still did great. Seem to be a very hardy plant.

 

[CATCHDAWG]

Forgot to mention they only cost $4 each for one gallon plants a few years ago.