Bamboo or tree screening? Suitable bamboos?
I'm thinking about bamboo as a screen where NDN has ripped out a load of tall shrubs and trees so I can regain some privacy.
My original thought was trees (eg;amelanchia, acer viper, liquidambar, alnus, liriodendron, metasequoia all available at local GC £39 each), but I am tempted by bamboos - cost and quicker growth.
Has anyone got advice on which bamboos would be suitable, tall but 'less' invasive? I want to cover a stretch of about 5-6 fence panels, there is a trampoline in front which I'd prefer not to move (hence bamboo rather than tree). The rest of the area has a play tower / climbing / swing in front but has some room (1m 30cm at narrowest) behind it and then a shed. The compost bins sit here at present but will be moved I think.
I'll post a picture ...
Posts
PS - the rest of the garden isn't this messy!
..my advice would be to think in terms of something a little smaller than what you have in mind... you don't really need huge trees or bamboo's for that situation... large deciduous and evergreen shrubs, with a small tree mixed in here and there...
..as for Bamboo's, if this is really what you want, I would only consider clump formers such as Phyllostachys aurea or nigra....and Fargesia robusta or rufa... on no account plant Bissettii or any other type... also I would not plant any Bamboo closer to a fence boundary than 3 foot away, as I would need all round access to chop off spreading culms, as even clumpers do need a bit of control after 5 years or so...
..although control is easy for these types...
..incidentally, I have no idea what NDN means here... to me it would mean what American Indians often refer to themselves as...lol... NDN = Indian... or Native American...
(NDN is next door neighbour salino).
lol.!..oh I see ..sorry...I thought neighbour had to be in there somewhere...
I bought my bamboos from an expert who grows them in his garden and sells them, digs them up for you. Cheap as well, but the point being I could see where they got to in x years time plus got great advice on which types. I love them, but you need the right one in the right place.
Hmmm, think my heart is with tree/s really.
Been to local GC (garden centre!
) and they have a unlabelled weeping willow , huge already, only £20 ... want it, want it, want it .... will cause problems won't it? Are there regulations how near they can be to buildings? How much space around it, can I stop the lower branches growing? Can I plant at the sides, how far away? Tempted to go back and buy it, shop closes in an hour...
Ok ok I've come to my senses
Trees it will be but not willow
Any advice on those I named in my first post?
I'm thinking a conical cherry (prunus amanogawa) to the left of the trampoline, an amelanchier in the middle of the picture and a liquidambar to the right of the composting.
Salino, height is definitely needed to gain privacy as the main garden is quite a bit higher than this area.
Bumped up for photos really.
I am now considering the following:
Prunus - conical shape, crimson leaved variety.
Fagus (beech) - conical variety - not at home to check so excuse spelling etc...Dwark purple and dwark gold, alternating.
I like the idea of a 'striking' 'in your face' look to draw eye down to this part of the garden hence why I think alternating purple and yellowy lime leaves.
Beech appeals as I expect it will give better winter screening.
Prunus for the purple leaves and for the flowers of course.
What mix would you have?
Must get into action soon!!!
For starters the fence is a pretty one and glad you have chosen trees not bamboos
Do you think you will plant your chosen trees just at the points where you can see that neighbours windows and patio doors? Or do you hope to block the view completely? Personally I would plant just at the points
Is tthe trampoline area To the immediate right or left of the slide picture?
Just trying to picture it all
Like your choices of small trees, what about a rowan too? They have all year round interest with blossom and berries, small apple tree, small pear? All these wouldn't take long to grow and can get quite nice sized ones for good prices at home base places etc
Anyway just some thoughts
Back to hw 
I'll pop back later to see what you think x
Why not a small tree for each panel of fence - crab apples, sorbus, flowering almond etc - and climbers on the fence. The canopy of most small trees will clear the fence and will provide privacy, and the climbers will provide colour and cover lower down. You could use all the same tree so that your eye isn't constantly drawn to the problem and will focus more on the underplanting, or use two varieties and alternate them if you want to make a feature of them.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...