GARDEN COLUMN FOR SALISBURY POSTPRIVATE

Darrell Blackwelder

November 20, 2006

     Rowan County’s high density housing developments now dictate the use of privacy plantings of screens and border plantings. Contemporary landscape designs often feature informal mass planting of trees and shrubs, replacing the "sheared" look. Vines lacing through decorative fencing is another design option allowing immediate privacy.  Decorative fences not only provide a level of privacy to the landscape, but become an instant backdrop for further landscaping endeavors of trees, shrubs and other plant materials.

     Commercial developers were the first to implement berms as a design element in the 90’s. Residential homes now incorporate these huge mounds of soil in combination with plant materials to screen a building or residence, adding a touch of "mystery" to the landscape design.

    Red tip photinia was a standard hedge material in the 70’s is no longer acceptable in the landscape because of leaf spot disease. Leyland cypress has similar problems with not only fungal problems, but insects and potential ice damage. Rapidly growing plant materials are only a temporary solution to screening problems.  Mass production and over-planting have taught nurserymen and landscape designers a valuable lesson in selection and use of plant materials.

     Landscapers and nurserymen realize that older dependable plant material as well as new cultivars of trees and shrubs adapt better and are becoming accepted as the standard in landscape designs.  Hollies, camellia and some ligustrums are making a comeback as solid hedge materials. Other plant materials such as osmanthus, magnolia, aucuba, waxmyrtle, cherrylaurel, foster holly and Eastern hemlock make effective screens. Actually, any tree or shrub can be a screening material if it meets the size and scale and is horticulturally correct for the location. 

     Homeowners should consider deciduous trees and shrubs such as crepe myrtle and wiegelia as screening material. Deciduous plants of this nature provide a subtle screen without being too obvious.  The blooms are a fresh alternative to a stark green wall of leaves. Camellias, both sasanqua and japonica, are a duel purpose shrub offering both lush foliage and bloom.

     Visit nurseries throughout the year to gain knowledge of blooms and foliage, especially deciduous shrubs and trees. Below are recommended trees and shrubs for screening materials.