What type of plant or shrub is fast growing and good for dry shady spots?
Question:I have recently moved and want a plant for a dry shady corner to grow up a fence and make a screen so people next door cant see into my garden.
Any suggestions?
Answers:
I've got a shady fence and wall area with a Virginia Creeper on it: it has green leaves which turn wonderful shades of red, burgundy in the autum and grows fairly quickly, it's deciduous. It can become large, covering the side of a house, for example, but I find the dryness of my site keeps it to 10' or so.
You could also mixed plant, adding in some English Ivies, which are evergreen, and come in a huge range of patterns, variegations etc, and will grow quickly too.
Mahonias and Pyracanthas are good, the former being evergreen, whilst Pyracanthas drop their leaves in Autumn, but have berries, as mentioned elsewhere: berries may be golden or red. My Mahonias are around 7' tall.
Good luck! Rob
pyracanthus (sp) grows fast and has red berries in winter to attract birds and small white flowers all spring/summer you just drag the spread where you want it to grow into
I would go with a techy arborvitae which grows fast, and remains fully foilaged all year.
A couple of suggestions: I have a Japanese boxwood (evergreen, lighter leaves than a normal boxwood, dense and fast growing) that I use as a screen. It is shaded most of the day and is in a very dry area.
Also, most varities of Arborvitae are fast growing, but aren't that exciting as far as looks go.
Finally, most varieties of Holly tolerate dry conditions well, and look nice as well - although they are not very fast growing.
Shade-tolerant shrubs
Shrubs and perennials can both succeed under high, broken or deciduous canopies. Evergreen shrubs to try include Buxus sempervirens and Daphne laureola; Gaultheria shallon, with pink flowers and purple fruits, does well in acid soil.
Mahonia aquifolium has scented yellow flowers in spring and Sarcococca also has highly scented flowers from winter through to early spring. Ruscus aculeatus is another evergreen and will produce showy red fruits when males and females are grown together
Russian Vine is also known as 'Mile a minute', it can grow a foot a day in summer.
Any new plant will need watering when its just been planted and for a few weeks after so keep an eye on it.
http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&...
Try Forsythia.
Characteristics of Forsythia Bushes: These early bloomers sport the vibrant yellow flowers that have become a fixture of our spring dreams. Their flowers precede their leaves. Border forsythias are fast-growing shrubs with an upright and arching form. "Sunrise" forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia 'Sunrise') is more compact than many forsythia shrubs, growing 4'-6' tall with a spread of 3'-5'. By contrast, Forsythia x intermedia 'Meadowlark' grows 8'-10' tall. In between is Forsythia x intermedia 'Northern Gold', at 6'-8' tall.
Plant Care for Forsythia Shrubs: See below under "Pruning Forsythia Bushes." If left to their own devices, forsythia plants take on a rather wild-looking shape, as branches shoot out this way and that. Most people prefer this wild look, pruning forsythia bushes only sparingly. Through regular pruning, you can shape forsythia bushes to conform to a more regular shape, if you so choose.
Sun and Soil Requirements for Forsythia Plants: Forsythia plants grow best in full sun and a well-drained soil.
Forsythia Shrubs in Landscape Design - Uses: Border forsythias, as the name suggests, are often used to demarcate property boundaries. They are also often used as a "living wall" privacy fence for summer and fall, after they have fully leafed out. Forsythia plants can also be used as specimens and for erosion control on slopes. The branches of forsythia shrubs are a favorite for vernalization, along with ***** willows.
Pruning Forsythia Bushes: Pruning of forsythia bushes is best done just after they've finished putting on their flower display in spring, because they bloom on the prior year's growth (pruning either too late or too early interrupts the growth/blooming cycle). Begin by pruning 1/4 to 1/3 of oldest branches, pruning them right down to the ground. This will encourage new growth and a more compact form. Beyond this "renewal pruning," you can also selectively cut newer branches in order to improve upon the overall shape of your forsythia plants.
Note that annual pruning is by no means mandatory. If you're happy with your forsythia shrubs as they are, you may wish to go several years between prunings. Note also that there's an additional incentive for pruning forsythia shrubs just after their spring blooms start to fade, beyond wishing not to interrupt the growth/blooming cycle. This is the time when it's easiest to tell the newest branches apart from the older. Only the older branches will have blooms; the first-year branches won't have any yet, so you have a graphic reminder to avoid pruning them.
ooooh oooh - I know - Bamboo !
Pick the right sort though - you want a clumping tall bamboo.
It needs sandy drained soil but is very thirsty
NOT and invasive one or a dwarf one or one that is non-hardy
Makes great sounds in the wind - is less messy than creepers (less insects too) and gives 365 green cover.
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