Sitting here mad…need tall thick screen shrub for my top fencerow

[Telemark]

I think the Thujas are NOT prostrate junipers.

Correct. They are not any type of juniper. Thuja is the genus name for Easter White Cedar, which is not actually a cedar.

 

[Mortenson]

I can't see a scenario where deer wouldn't bump off that plot from a vehicle driving up top on the ledge. Here anyway. It's just so close. I'd still plant a screen of something for sure, because after bumping maybe they'd come back out sooner. Caging a double or triple row of evergreens is obviously the Cadillac route. 20 years goes by faster than you think sadly. Poor man's way I'd probably do a twin row of wild plums. I have plum rows that became quite dense, scattered miscanthus into them and they look pretty legit. I think deer would feel relatively safe behind it. Coincidence or not, the 6.5 year old buck we recently found dead was in a bed next to a big lone cedar tree next to these plums/miscanthus.

 

[Dan Maranto]

one caution on the green giants is bag worms. If bag worms are prevalent in the area you'll have to spray every July once the worms show up. On the plus side Deer won't browse them.

Deer don’t browse….but damn those bucks like to rub! The ones I planted last year I “fenced in” with t posts, 2 strands of wire fence and one top line of mule tape for visibility….walked out this am and 2 were somehow hammered last night. He got in to the somehow

 

[RGrizzzz]

They have rubbed a few smaller ones in my neighborhood. Since you're along a fence, you might be able to plant a row or two, and then run some wire the length of the fence to keep deer off of them.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I would go double row of miscanthus, then a row of green giants behind or in front of it. (On the full sun side). The grass will be a solid screen and when the green giants catch up, it will be even better.

I know there not really “wildlife” trees, but they have been great here in MD. I planted a row along my driveway to screen. I planted around 30 in spring of 2017, 8’ apart. They were about 18” tall. This year they are 20-22’ tall, and have been a full screen for atleast 2 years now.

I lost a few to bucks running them, so the next year I replaced those, caged them all with a good layer of mulch. I watered through the first summer, but haven’t touched them since. No fertilezer, nothing, and they have blown me away.

I don’t know how they compare to something like a Norway, which I see recommend a lot for a screen, but I could be happier.

I got the originals from a local orchard, but every year around now I wait for home depot or tractor supply to do their annual 50% off sale and buy all I can to keep extending my screen around the yard. I got 8 6’ers last fall for around 18 bucks a piece and they survived the summer with nothing from me

Derek -

I was thinking the very same thing as Dan above. Green Giant arborvitae grow fairly fast as long as they get good sun. I'm not familiar with switch grasses, but arbs stay green all winter (they turn a sort-of bronze-ish green in winter) and they keep their smooth, flat foliage. No pointy needles. Arborvitae (also known as northern white cedar) are NOT true cedars or junipers, so you shouldn't have any problems with CAR on your apples. The ones I had here at home outgrew their places, so I yanked them. I never had any insect or caterpillar problems with Green Giant arbs.

 

[jsasker007]

Willows do well for me and they grow fast and spread on their own.

 

[jsasker007]

Also any of the long needle pines grow fast but most of those lose the branches at the bottom. I plant spruce in front and in between most of the pines I plant to get the most screen possible. The spruce take awhile but they are worth it in my opinion.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Definitely leaning towards the thujas now that I’m pretty sure they won’t be a CAR issue..could kinda spread them out in between my apples and at least thicken up the fence row and provide a visual barrier and maybe even someday be a bit more thermal cover up on my hillside.

 

[Bill]

Deer don’t browse….but damn those bucks like to rub! The ones I planted last year I “fenced in” with t posts, 2 strands of wire fence and one top line of mule tape for visibility….walked out this am and 2 were somehow hammered last night. He got in to the somehow

I think one of my deer was at your place and brought some green giant home in his antlers.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Willows do well for me and they grow fast and spread on their own.

I have 3 year old hybrid willows that are over 20’ tall and started as 2’ whips..probably wouldn’t work in that upper field as it’s pretty dry up there..have some hybrid polar up there that are doing well in a different screen though

 

[matinc]

If your planting conifers. Put white pine closest to what you want to screen. They are quick growers and stagger the second row back in between the trees of the first row. Also buy 3/2 transplants in stock if you go that route

 

[Dan Maranto]

I think one of my deer was at your place and brought some green giant home in his antlers.

View attachment 70879

when you see him, tell him he owes me a hundred bucks!

 

[Tree Spud]

Definitely leaning towards the thujas now that I’m pretty sure they won’t be a CAR issue..could kinda spread them out in between my apples and at least thicken up the fence row and provide a visual barrier and maybe even someday be a bit more thermal cover up on my hillside.

Thujas which are White Cedars, are usually heavily browsed during the winter. The deer will browse, then rub on mature trees, up to 6' above the ground level. They tend to be a slower growing tree.

For best cover screening, consider Norway or Blue spruce. The trees should be caged to avoid deer rubbing. If you plant 2-3 rows, 12' apart, with trees staggered at 12' spacing, you will eventually establish a great screen with branches to the ground.

 

[cavey]

Giant Miscanthus, would be my go to now,

I thought lilacs would be great but we have some type of blight now every year that sets those back,... just common swamp willows planted in a thicket row but eventually they will need to be cut back.

 

[jsasker007]

MG makes a nice screen and you get the bonus of something that looks good too.

 

[Tree Spud]

You can combine the spruces with MG, just make sure the spruces still get sun.

 

[matinc]

Spud like your concept. The only change should have been white pine on the outside to grow fast and spruce preferably Norway spruce behind the white pine. Norway grow much faster than blue or whites. But believe me great job on your shelterbelt