Slow growing screening conifers
Hi all,
I’m looking for recommendations regarding a conifer to be used for screening. Basically I’m looking for something that is slow growing and doesn’t spread too much. Something that will grow to a max height of around 8 feet and doesn’t drop any of its foliage. I know this seems like I’m asking for a lot but I’m looking for some low maintenance screening that doesn’t shed throughout the year, I figured that conifers were the best option.
thanks, Andy.
I’m looking for recommendations regarding a conifer to be used for screening. Basically I’m looking for something that is slow growing and doesn’t spread too much. Something that will grow to a max height of around 8 feet and doesn’t drop any of its foliage. I know this seems like I’m asking for a lot but I’m looking for some low maintenance screening that doesn’t shed throughout the year, I figured that conifers were the best option.
thanks, Andy.
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Lots of nice conifers but most wont stop growing so you would have to cut down to 8ft when it reaches 9ft
Thuja can be trimmed to keep to the height and depth you want.
https://www.chewvalleytrees.co.uk/products/category/hedging?size=any&shape=any&evergreen=any&native=any&leaf-colour=any&flower-colour=any&autumn-colour=any&fruit-colour=any&season=any&uses=any&hedging=any&growth-rate=growth-slow&pollination-group=any&pollination-type=any&fruiting-period=any&fruit-attributes=any&fruit-storage=any&fruit-colour=any&fruit-size=any&type=type-conifer-hedges&orderby=latin&sort=asc&results=30
There is also some among these https://www.chewvalleytrees.co.uk/tree-finder/hedging/evergreen
The reason I would like it to be slow growing is so that I don’t have to trim it a couple of times a year....who would! I intend to purchase them at the approximate height that I require so they provide an instant screwing.
It will grow steadily until it reaches the required height but, once the leading stems are cut, it grows much more slowly and just requires one cut a year to keep it looking tidy. Can be cut back very hard if necessary.
..but seriously.. they can be expensive to buy as large plants.. most are sold as 2 foot container plants.. slow growing means maybe 6 inches a year... calculate how long to 8 feet.. can you wait that long?... do you want wide bulky conifers or slimline ones.. only you know that..
The screening doesn’t have to be conifers, but I wanted something as low maintenance as possible that doesn’t shed too much. My neighbour is a prick, hence the screening, and to avoid them complaining about an excessive amount of leaves dropping onto their drive I thought that conifers would be the best choice, I am very much open to other suggestions though. I already have a number photinia’s but they do visibly shed a lot of leaves in autumn which would give them an excuse to go on the attack. I also figured that will a conifer it would provide a nice dense coverage.
Can be dense and slow growing.
As said before all trees shed leaves and need maintenance but I think yew only needs trimming once a year.
It also sprouts from old wood which a lot of conifers don't, so if it is neglected for a year or so you can still cut it back hard and it will regrow but a conifer might not.
Another point about buying large specimens is a) they are very expensive and b) can be harder to establish:
https://www.hedgesdirect.co.uk/acatalog/Extra-Tall-Root-Ball-Plants.html
Other evergreen possibilities are Pyracantha, Euonymous, Eleagnus.