[ryancooper]

Hello,
Recently my wife and I just bought 3 acre of land in NE PA and we wanted to plant some evergreens along the border of our property to give us some privacy. We are starting to build out house this year and figured now would be a good time to look into doing this.

Can anyone post ideas of what type of trees you would use and also how to go about planting them (how far apart, in a line, staggered etc. . .)

Thanks for any help

Ryan

[Lanelle]

As long as there is plenty of sunlight, most evergreens should provide a nice screening. Also, a staggered screening made up of groups of different varieties of evergreens will look more natural than a monoculture of just one type such as Arborvitaes. Norway spruce, hemlock, arborvitae, cryptomeria, American holly, columnar junipers and pines are possiblities depending on the amount of space, sunlight and problems with deer eating things.
Can you provide a bit more information about the length and width of the area where you wish to plant this screening?

[GroundKprs]

What is the purpose in your mind of this "privacy." Is it to shut out the rest of the world, and therefore shut yourself in?

Do you want a wall? You can't see thru a wall.

Or do you want a screen? You can see through a screen.

[GLAN]

Lanelle seems to have it all under control


I could make suggestions but it would probably come off as if there was an echo

[ryancooper]

Originally posted by GroundKprs
What is the purpose in your mind of this "privacy." Is it to shut out the rest of the world, and therefore shut yourself in?

Do you want a wall? You can't see through a wall.

Or do you want a screen? You can see through a screen.

Well that is a good question. I would like to limit the view our back neighbor has of our back yard . . Since we are on a slope and his house is higher than ours they can pretty much see right into our backyard.

Just would like some privacy.


As for the size I will post a pic of our lot once i scan it so you all can see.

[ryancooper]

Lot Map. . .

Here is a map of our lot. You can see sizes from here. We are going to be building the house 300 feet up from the road.

You cant tell from this map but the property slopes from the top of the map to the bottom.

Thanks!!

[GLAN]

You have plenty of room to do a staggered 3 row planting across the back. And it doesn't have to be perfect equal distance from plant to plant........


Me...I would do Spruce....couple variety and add in a couple weeping cedars.

Then were there is irregular extra space........Viburnum (Burkwoodii) Great fragrance in spring....Yellow twig dogwoods.....some Burning bushes

[Paul]

I don't know how your going to use your back yard. But I don't like a solid mass of year round green. Deciduous trees can provide you with what you are looking for. A mixture of ornamentals and shade trees might work for most usage. Larger ornamentals placed closer to the living area block out most prying eyes and shade trees placed farther out border the property will hide most eyes even in the winter.

What you really need is a landscape design! This way the elements that you want in the backyard are hidden from your neighbors. Blank green walls are just that blank. If your building your home now sit down with a designer, plan your backyard with planting for color and texture that goes with your hardscapes.

[GroundKprs]

Originally posted by Paul
What you really need is a landscape design!

That simple sentence says it all.

A good designer will respond to your perceptions, and even refine them. Like, what exactly is this privacy plant barrier to keep private? Just the back yard? How about looking into the 2nd story windows from the 2nd floor of other houses uphill from you? And beside you?

Being onsite will allow the designer to really feel the layout. Even with your lot map, and pictures of structures if you supplied them, what you could get here would be tainted by guesswork.

If you want a decent landscape, you should plan on spending at least 10% of the structure cost on the landscape. I have seen so many clients go that route five years after construction, when they realize the original landscape doesn't fit them or their home. Usually then, much of the original landscape was a complete waste of time and money. Having a proper design in the beginning is essential, even if funds are not available yet. The entire landscape can be done in phases over a 2-6 year period.