Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
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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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Sunday - May 01, 2011
From: Woodstock, IL
Region: Midwest
Topic: Privacy Screening, Shrubs, Trees
Title: Hedgerow to block sounds and scenes of traffic
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
What would make the best year round hedgerow to block the sight and sounds of traffic 60 feet from my house?ANSWER:
For the best year round hedgerow to block the sights and sound of traffic, I think you would want a dense evergreen. The best native possibilities for McHenry County of Illinois are:
- Juniperus virginiana (Eastern red cedar) with varieties that lend themselves to making a thick hedge.
- Thuja occidentalis (Arborvitae) with varieties that lend themselves to making a thick hedge and here are more varieties of arborvitae.
- Juniperus communis (Common juniper) with varieties that lend themselves to making a thick hedge.
Here are photos from our Image Gallery of the above plants:
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