Living Walls for Beauty and Privacy
by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener
Without strategically placed evergreens in the yard, it can feel like prying eyes are looking right into your home. Not only does your privacy seemingly disappear, but that neighbor's debris pile comes into clear view! The good news is now is the best time to plant a living privacy screen for the maximum growth necessary for seclusion. Evergreen plants "clothe" a landscape, providing a lush green backdrop even when other plants have gone dormant.
The Solution to Unwanted Invasions of Privacy
The solution to both of these unwanted invasions of privacy is not rocket science. Simply plant a wall of living trees and shrubs to block an undesirable view and create needed privacy! Imagine enjoying hot tub sessions without prying eyes from that too-close-for-comfort neighbor.
An excellent local example of a hedge plant that looks its best year-round is the Golden Euonymus. It's best to plant these shrubs now for maximum autumn rooting, which is critical for a lush wall next spring.
Essential Steps for Successful Evergreen Planting
To successfully incorporate evergreens into a landscape, there are several essential steps that are worth your time and energy.
The most important requirement for evergreen trees to thrive is drainage. When planting, blend one shovelful of Watters Premium Mulch into every three shovels of native earth to pack around each plant's roots. This improves soil structure and ensures proper drainage.
Feed new trees with Watters All Purpose Plant Food 7-4-4. The cottonseed meal in this naturally local plant food promotes robust root formation while maintaining good foliage color. Lastly, water your newly planted trees with a solution of 'Root & Grow.' This water additive encourages the roots of a plant to form a deep, healthy system, helping them establish quickly and thrive.
Your Go-To List for a Living Wall
When you are ready to choose the trees for your living wall of green, read through the list below. This is the 'Go-To' list when starting a living fence.
Colorado Spruce: Very cold-hardy, this spruce has that perfectly symmetrical Christmas tree shape. It is an excellent choice as a holiday tree or as a semi-formal accent in a large yard. It creates a stunning evergreen backdrop against contrasting foliage colors, flowering shrubs, or highlighting autumn leaves from other trees and shrubs in the yard. Line up several as a windbreak or to quickly diffuse lights and sounds along busy streets
Pinyon Pine: This dense pine is easy to care for and as cold-hardy as any native can be. Its thick green needles are sturdy and more numerous than those of other pines, with less needle drop in summer. Thick and reaching 25 feet tall, it makes the perfect windbreak and an effective shield from prying eyes.
Deodar Cedar: This is the largest of the screening plants, growing to over 50 feet tall and 20 feet wide. It is one of the fastest-growing screen plants, with a growth rate of 2-3 feet every year. As with most upright evergreens, this cedar can thrive on low water use, drought conditions, and drip irrigation. Make sure to give it plenty of growing space because, with its long, swooping branches of Arizona Blue foliage, this tree will need it!
Juniper: Finally, let us look at the juniper family. Hillspire, Blue Point, and Wichita are on the extensive list of junipers available at Watters Garden Center for fall planting. Juniper forests surround us, so it is a no-brainer that junipers are natural to add to your landscapes. Pick the color and height you like; all grow well in this part of the world.
Arizona Cypress: My favorite native evergreen is the Arizona cypress. This specimen tree grows just like an alligator bark juniper in size and color. Still, it grows faster and fills in better than other evergreens. Growing to over 20 feet tall and 12 feet wide in just a few years, you can see why this is the number one choice for a planted screen.
There are more screener choices, such as larger evergreen shrubs and deciduous trees like aspens. We will discuss those varieties another time.
Get More In-Depth Information
My recently published book, "The Secret Garden: Plants as a Natural Screen," is a locally focused gardening book that presents in-depth details about screening plants. Free copies are available for download at WattersGardenCenter.com under 'LEARN'.
Free Garden Classes Every Saturday at Watters Garden Center
Join us every Saturday morning at 9:30 AM for our free garden classes, right here at Watters Garden Center on Iron Springs Road in Prescott. July is packed with valuable insights to help your garden thrive!
July 12, discover "Simple Steps to Heal Your Sick Garden." We'll cover water issues, diseases, and pests, providing you with immediate solutions for healthier plants. Your garden will thank you!
Then, on July 19, learn about "Green Screens: Designing Living Walls for Beauty & Privacy." Find out which fast-growing plants create instant privacy, block unwanted views, and reduce noise.
Finally, on July 26, "Poolside Paradise with Patio Tropical Plants." Learn to arrange heat-tolerant tropicals in containers to transform your pool area, deck, or patio into a vibrant, resort-like oasis.
Come learn something new and connect with fellow gardeners!
Until next week, I'll be helping gardeners create their Secret Garden here at Watters Garden Center.
