Native Plants

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Tuesday - April 09, 2013

From: Burleson, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives, Privacy Screening
Title: Privacy hedge for Burleson, TX.
Answered by: Joe Marcus

QUESTION:

I moved out to the country away from the hustle and bustle only to find that I have less privacy out there because of open land. I hear children screaming and dogs barking from 1/4 mile away. I want to plant a privet hedge and am thinking of using wax leaf ligustrum. I have 7 1/2 acres and cannot afford to cover the entire fence line. I have some mature ones on another property. Can I propagate and if so what type of propagation is best? It will be next to a fence where we keep cows. If they are able to reach some of the branches, will the wax leaf make them sick? Do you have a suggestion for something that would work better and grow quicker?

ANSWER:

Unfortunately, there are no plant screens of any kind that will silence screaming children and barking dogs.

For a visual screen, we can give you a couple recommendations. Juniperus virginiana, Juniperus ashei or Juniperus pinchotii might work for you as evergreen screens. Of these species, Juniperus virginiana is probably the most attractive and the most likely to be available in nurseries. Cattle will not eat juniper leaves.