Viburnums for Privacy Screening

photo: the clean summer foliage of 'Allegheny' viburnum

Must you plant an evergreen hedge when a semi-evergreen flowering shrub is fine for the task?

Leatherleaf viburnum hybrid cultivars 'Allegheny' and 'Willowwood' are 60% evergreen, dropping their foliage very late in autumn in U.S.D.A. zones 6 and 7-a. 'Willowwood is preferred over 'Allegheny' in areas of zone 6 and 7 where powdery mildew disease may be a problem.

Prague viburnum (Viburnum pragense) is the only "true" evergreen viburnum. It possesses lustrous dark green foliage year-round and grows to 9-10 feet. Its height is tall enough to become a beautiful privacy screen and noise barrier from the neighbors and traffic.

All three viburnums are excellent growers. They have a distinct advantage over most conifer species used in privacy screening. These lovely viburnums flower in late spring and early summer, something the conifers don't offer.

Planting Leyland Cypress May Be a "Big" Mistake

If you live in USDA Plant Zone 6-b - 7, planting leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) could eventually turn into a maintenance diseaster in your landscape. Leyland cypress is a green behemoth, too fast and aggressive for most folks to handle. Ask yourself, "do you really need a 60-70 foot evergreen privacy screen around your property?" If neighbors can't view in, you can't see out.

Many gardeners make the mistake of planting leyland cypress only 6-8 foot apart. Leyland demands a wider 16-18 foot spacing. Unfortunately, leyland is also susceptible to 3 fungal needle blight diseases. Diseases usually don't infect until shrubs are 10 years and older. There are no practical cures (pesticides) for these diseases. Over time the shrubs may need to be removed at a considerable cost to you.

If you must grow tall screens or hedges, I recommend the more dependable Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) or Green Giant arborvitae (Thuja x plicata). In the 20-25 foot height category, plant Nellie R. Stevens holly, Foster#2 holly and Emerald arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd').

Some great evergreen choices in the 10-15 foot range are leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum), skip laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis') and 'Hick's Yew (Taxus x media 'Hicksii').