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Garden Privacy Screens For
Southern California Landscapes
Hopseed
Bush (Dodonaea viscosa)
USDA Zone: 9-11
Sunset Zone: 7-24
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Moderate to low, drought tolerant
Hop Seed bushes come with leaves in either bright, lime green or dark
purple. Both versions have leaves about 4 inches long and 1/2
inch
wide and are very shiny on multiple shrubby branches. These
drought
tolerant shrubs are fast growers to about 10 feet tall and almost as
wide. They take full sun to part shade. Once established in
the
garden (1-2 years) they can survive on rainfall alone.
Hopseed bushes have a growth habit that is a bit airy, with lots of
small branches and the long leaves add to the lacy feel. They can
be
trimmed as hedges or espaliers for a slightly denser effect.
These are
good for layering to create a full, lush feel in the border. They
are
perfect for the back of the bed (where the sprinkler won't reach),
along fences or as border screens. In late spring they develop
large,
papery seed pods, usually light brown, which hang on for weeks and
provide a dramatic effect. Although the seed pods break down
quickly
in the soil, I do not recommend planting these bushes near pools.
Brush
Cherry, Carolina Laurel Cherry (Prunus
caroliniana)
 USDA Zone: 7 - 9
Sunset Zone: 5 - 24
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Moderate to low
Brush Cherry is another dependable, versatile garden shrub for quick
screens and hedges. These shrubs can grow up to 30 feet tall and
10 -
12 feet wide. Although I have seen mature stands of Carolina
Laurel
grow even taller.
They can grow in full sun to part shade.
Once
established they can survive drought conditions. However, in
desert
areas they prefer less sun and will appreciate more water during the
hottest summer weather.
Brush Cherries have a dense growth habit with lots of branches so they
take well to heaving shearing as a hedge and can even be used for
topiaries. Left untrimmed, they will still maintain their neat,
shrubby shape, but the interior growth will not have leaves. They
can
also be trained as small multi-trunk trees. New growth is a
pretty
reddish rusty color in the spring. They get sprays of white
flowers
followed by clusters of small, bright red cherries. The cherries
can
stain concrete and make a mess. If you don't have enough birds in
your
area to take care of the cherries for you, just trim off the flowers
before they set. This will also relieve the plant of the stress
of
producing seeds.
Italian Cypress
(Cupressus
sempervirens)
 USDA Zone: 7 - 9
Sunset Zone: 4 - 24
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Moderate to low, drought tolerant
Italian Cypress trees are a familiar staple in the city, growing along
border lines as tall screens. They grow up to 60 feet high on
single
trunks and are generally 1-2 feet wide but mature plants can be much
wider. All cypresses prefer full sun, but will tolerate part
shade and
can survive on little water once they are established in a year or
two.
Italian cypress are perfect shrubs for problem areas. They grow
tall
but they're thin, so you can tuck them into narrow spaces. Their
trunks will eventually reach about 12 inches around, so your narrow bed
should at least be that wide. Their growth habit is sleek and
cylindrical, with most of their leaves pointing up.
They lose a
small
amount of needles during they year, but litter is not a big problem
with these trees. They do not grow very fast the first year, but
they
will make up for their lack of growth in the second year.
Continually
trimming the tops will result in a slightly fatter shrub, but they are
fairly care free, needing no trimming.
When you are planning on having your shrubs survive on rainfall, it is
best to encourage deep root development early on by soaking your plants
every few days instead of sprinkling the topsoil every night.
Even
established plants appreciate a deep soak during a heat wave, when the
weather has been over 100 degrees, or when it has been especially dry
and windy.
Leyland
Cypress Cupressocyparis Leylandii
 USDA Zone: 6 - 10A
Sunset Zone: 38 - 24
Sun: Full sun
Water: Moderate to low, drought tolerant
Leyland cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii) is a very fast growing tree
that grow tall and not so wide, making them perfect for screen
plants. They are also drought tolerant once established and
evergreen. These plants can grow four to five feet in one
season. Their shape is similar to Italian Cypress, except much
wider at the bottom. A mature tree can reach up to 60 feet tall
and up to 10 feet around.
Best spacing for these plants is 10 feet apart. If you plant them
too close together they become more susceptible to root rot because of
the crowded conditions underground.
If
you cannot wait until the shrubs grow together, put something in
between them as a screen until they fill in. Use whisky barrels
for portability. If you need a
thinner plant that is still a fast grower and tall screen try Italian
cypress.
Nandina
or Heavenly Bamboo
 USDA Zone: 7 - 9
Sunset Zone: 4 - 24
Sun: Sun to shade
Water: Moderate to low, drought tolerant
Heavenly Bamboo, or Nandina is a beautiful landscape shrub with leaves
that seem to change color every day. It is a slow grower but it
is worth the wait.
Nandina has low water requirements once
established and even grows well in dry shade. In spring or early
summer the shrubs flowers with creamy white blooms at the ends of the
branches measuring 6 to 8 inches. If the flowers are pollinated
they produce clusters of red berries in the fall.
It is useful as a low screen in the garden, reaching heights of 6 to 8
feet tall. Single plants usually measure two feet across, but they
slowly form clumps, spreading by underground runners.
Heavenly Bamboo isn't a true bamboo at all but is a member of the
barberry family.
All of these plants are growing happily in my heavy
clay,
alkaline soil in hot and sunny Southern California. Good luck and
happy gardening!
Best
Time to Plant Your Shrubberies
In mild winter areas the best time to plant almost
anything is fall. You'll get cooler weather and rain. This
give your
plant time to establish a good root system. You may see some
growth on
these transplants during winter and early spring.
When the
weather
warms up, my fall planted shrubs seem to explode with growth.
Their
established root system will be better able to support new growth and
keep the plant healthy.
Once plants are established it is better to give them one good soak
then a bunch of sprinkles on the soil surface every day. You want
the
water to soak all the way down to the roots. This also encourages
your
plant to develop deep roots to secure the plant and better survive
drought.
Plants that seem like a good idea at the time - but are
not!
Bamboo - Yes, they form a screen. They also form a
grove wherever they are planted in the open ground. Bamboo is
very invasive and almost impossible to eradicate. I've seen it
growing up through asphalt! Never plant bamboo in the open
ground, always use a container and make sure there is a barrier between
the container and your soil so no roots escape.
Oleander - Another fast screen plant, but the sap is
poisonous to humans and pets!
Next Garden Tips Page; Looking for a
pretty shrub for a drought tolerant garden
with great big dramatic flowers? Visit my Sweet Desert
Willow page...
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