Native Plants
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Sunday - May 25, 2014
From: Pflugerville , TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening, Trees
Title: Pfluegerville Screening Hedge
Answered by: Larry & Brigid Larson
QUESTION:
We live just north of Austin in a subdivision built on farm land so we have relatively flat land with good soil. We just put in a pool and are needing a privacy hedge along our 66 ft back fence. We need something slender at 3-4 ft wide and 10-15 ft or so high that doesn't attract alot of wasps and bees for kids with allergies to stings. Also we have 2 small dogs so something non-toxic to dogs.ANSWER:
This Mr. Smarty Plants answered a question really similar to this about a year ago. They were looking for a tall, really slender tree as a privacy screen. Here is a link to: Privacy Tree for Austin, TX . It also has several further references to screening plants suitable to your area.
And here are some similar question/answer pairs:
Fenceline trees for Northwest Austin
Landscaping plans in Kyle TX
I’m not sure what to do about not attracting wasps and bees. As you review individual plant suggestions, oftentimes they have annotations that they are attractive to birds, bees or other beneficial garden denizens. Those then can become ones you avoid!
Similarly, we have questions from folks who are concerned about plants that are toxic to dogs. The ASPCA and other organizations have lists of these plants which you can cross-check against the plants you are considering. Here is a link about a privacy screen from somebody who was also concerned about their dogs: Landscaping plans in Kyle TX
This answer deals very extensively with several references to plants with respect to dogs:
Is Thalia dealbata toxic to dogs?
As I read that information, here are a few trees that I think you should seriously consider:
Juniperus virginiana (Eastern red cedar) [a bit tall and some toxic nature], Cercis canadensis var. mexicana (Mexican redbud), Cotinus obovatus (American smoke tree), Pistacia mexicana (Mexican pistachio), and Juniperus ashei (Ashe juniper) [This is our Ashe Juniper, hope you don’t suffer much from Cedar Fever!]
From the Image Gallery
More Privacy Screening Questions
Plants for pool privacy from Peachtree GA
March 20, 2012 - We currently reside in Georgia and have a pool surrounded by a fence. However, because our house is located on a hill, my neighbor on the left side can very easily still see my backyard and we can see...
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May 01, 2008 - I'd like your recommendation for an evergreen shrub (flowers would be a nice bonus but not as necessary as the evergreen factor) or small tree with a height hopefully under 12' and a width hopefully...
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Need shrubs for a privacy screen in Glendale CA
October 30, 2014 - Dear. Mr. Smarty Plants
I need to grow a tall hedge 15-20 feet minimum to block a condo complex which overlooks my back yard. I need a fast growing hedge which is non toxic to dogs and one which roo...
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November 04, 2012 - I would like to create a natural fence line on my property in South Georgia. They need to be pretty dense and horse, cow, goat friendly, growing to a height of about 4ft, preferably quickly! Do you ...
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Need suggestions for plants for a privacy screen for a pecan orchard in Chappell Hill, TX.
September 21, 2011 - Mr. Smarty Plants,
My family has just begun converting our land in Chappell Hill, TX (Washington County) into a pecan orchard. We had to clear a lot of the overgrowth around the edge of the proper...
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