Native Plants
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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
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Wednesday - August 20, 2008
From: Rosemary Beach, FL
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening
Title: Tree for screening along road
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
What would you recommend for a linear tree lined street that needs to act as a buffer to hide less desirable backyards of ugly houses. The road is on lake travis near austin, texas. was hoping for a dense tree about 30' tall or so. thanksANSWER:
Probably you want an evergreen so this limits us a bit. However, here are a couple of trees that should do the job:Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain-laurel)
Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar)
If you would consider deciduous trees, here are some suggestions:
Quercus muehlenbergii (chinkapin oak)
Rhus lanceolata (prairie sumac)
Cotinus obovatus (American smoketree)
If you would consider slightly shorter trees, here are more suggestions:
Viburnum rufidulum (rusty blackhaw)
Frangula caroliniana (Carolina buckthorn)
More Privacy Screening Questions
Privacy screen for pool from Southlake TX
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January 07, 2011 - Do trust I checked Q&A first. Can Cherry Laurel shrubs be pruned earlier than late winter in Austin? I foolishly planted 12 native Cherry Laurel standards on our suburban property line 5 years ago. I ...
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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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Tall screening tree for Santa Barbara, California
August 20, 2011 - Hi, we live in Santa Barbara, California. We are looking for a tree between 20-30 feet high to block the neighbors two-story house yet the area we have to plant is 3 feet from the fence to the drivewa...
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Shrubs and trees to protect beehives in Godley TX
April 06, 2010 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
Is there a (relatively) fast growing native small tree or large shrub (NOT cedar) that tolerates Johnson County clay, full sun, sometimes damp and sometimes dry soil with no...
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