Native Plants
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Sunday - May 29, 2011
From: Muskego, WI
Region: Midwest
Topic: Privacy Screening
Title: Evergreens for privacy screen in WI
Answered by: Anne Bossart
QUESTION:
We'd like to add privacy to our backyard with evergreen trees. The problem with this area is it very wet and the ground is soft and mushy until the dry summer conditions. We've rocklined the the area where water runs like a brook when it rains a lot, which has helped direct the rain, but it still is damp and moist.ANSWER:
You may be disappointed with our recommendations as the suitable evergreen trees are the one that can seem to dominate the natural world around you, such as:
Abies balsamea (Balsam fir) (Images)
Pinus strobus (Eastern white pine)
Thuja occidentalis (Arborvitae)
Tsuga canadensis (Eastern hemlock) (check with your local agricultural extension service before you plant this tree, as it is highly susceptible to attack by woolly adelgid in warmer parts of its native range)
However, they are adapted to the conditions you describe as they are native to your area.
We recommend you use these "everyday" conifers for the backbone of your screen and then add smaller deciduous flowering trees to make the planting more interesting such as:
Amelanchier laevis (Allegheny service-berry)
(which flowers early in the spring, produces berries the birds love and then has interesting orange to red fall colour)
(which is a decidous conifer that turns yellow or orange in the fall before it loses its needles)
Ilex verticillata (Common winterberry)
(which will provide an amazing display of red berries as long as you plant a male and a female)
(which has very intense red fall colour)
Sambucus racemosa (Red elderberry)
(which also flowers early and produces very red berries)
Sorbus americana (American mountain ash)
(which produces red/orange berries that persist after the golden/orange leaves are shed in the fall)
If you create your screen using a mixed planting, you will not only have the privacy you need but it will be attractive to look at throughout the year, and will provide much needed wildlife habitat!
Here are some photos from our Image Library
More Privacy Screening Questions
Evergreen tree for California screen
September 28, 2010 - Dear Mr. Smarty Pants,
I need a tree for screen and privacy. Our neighbors are building a second story. We will loose our privacy and our patio will be like a fish bowl. I will plant it about 2 fee...
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Recommendations for a 700 ft. noise and privacy barrier in Georgia
January 06, 2009 - Need recommendation for a fast growing, non-invasive native plant for a 700' barrier (noise & privacy) in wooded area; the area is mostly hardwood with some pine, and a good understory is established...
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Need suggestions for cold resistant, hardy hedge plant in Jonathan, NC.
June 28, 2011 - I'm looking for a Full sun, cold resistant, hardy, non-invasive plant to be used for a property line hedge for North Carolina. Preferably NOT slow growing. What can you suggest?
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Is purple bindweed good for a screen growing on a fence?
September 12, 2012 - We cleared a bunch of dead trees and tree limbs (mostly cedars and some oaks) on our semi-rural property in Driftwood and now we're left with an undesirable view onto the neighboring property. We're...
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Shade tolerant evergreens for privacy shield in Louisville KY
March 10, 2014 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
Our property is adjacent to the highway for ~ 200ft. I'm looking for partial-to-full shade tolerant evergreens that will grow to be relatively tall. Our soil is clay and g...
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