What is the best privacy hedge? See details.?

I'd like something fairly fast growing, dense, and easy to care for. Experience in gardening/landscaping is appreciated. I'm looking at the following.


Plum Hedge


Lombardy Poplar


Forsythia


Privet Hedge


Chinese Elm Hedge





I have small children and a dog. The hedge does not necessarily have to be tight enough to serve as a fence, although that would be a nice bonus. Whether or not the hedge is poisonous is another consideration.

What is the best privacy hedge? See details.?
Of your listed choices I would only find 1 acceptable as a privacy hedge. Plum hedges like the purple leaf varieties for example don't get all that big, and they're deciduous, worthless in the winter because you see right through them. The same for Forsythia, plus it gets wider than tall and would take over as it spread. You'd need serious pruning yearly because of the fast growth rate and to keep young vigorous growth on the plant for it's superior flowers.


The Poplar and Elm you mention are trees, again you'll lose a lot of space eventually unless you elevate the canopy by removing the bottom limbs, then your privacy is gone again.


That leaves the privet, a nice evergreen shrub which also comes in a yellowish color instead of the typical green. It can get to be a monster but shearing every year can keep it under control. Shear wider at the bottom than at the top to allow light penetration to the bottom leaves, this will help prevent leaf drop from the lower branches. Do it once after initial Spring growth spurt then again by mid-Sept at latest. This will keep it under control, and tightly sheared so it looks better.


Another alternative would be "Emerald Green" Arborvitae. They are narrow, just 3 or 4 feet, and grow fairly quickly to their max of 12-15 feet. No shearing for width is necessary, you may want to top them every couple years when they get to desired height. The good things about the arbs are that they are cheap,common, and available just about anywhere, Home Depot, Lowes, etc... in season. Small ones in a one gallon pot shouldn't cost you more than $5 or $6 max, maybe $12 for a good sized 3 gallon. Only drawback to Arbs is they may get spider mites in bad droughts and stressful summers, and bagworms like them. That's easily treated though. Ligustrum (Privet) and the Arbs are both pretty tolerant plants, they'll do fine in Zone 6 and don't really care much what soil they're in as long as they are well watered for the first couple of years. Full sun is best for these, but light shade won't hurt. The more shade the less dense the plant will be.
Reply:A good solution to your question is the holly. Hollies grow in American climates, are attractive and green year-round, and come in sizes ranging from small bush to +40 ft tree. They make great hedges because burglars and nosy neighbors are unable to penetrate the dense thorny leaves and branches. Report It

Reply:Arborvitae is a fast grower and you can purchase them at any height you like. They fill in nice as a privacy hedge.





Privet hedges take forever to grow. I wouldn't use them. The Lombardy Poplar is good too. It makes a difference on how you want it to look also. Forsythia is not good as a privacy cover. I don't know what a Chinese Elm hedge is. The Plum hedge will not grow real fast either. Unless you plan on buying only full grown hedges.





If I were you I would choose either the Lombardy or the Arborvitae.
Reply:We planted lielandii Cypress, it grew super fast, planted at two feet hihg, it grew almost two feet a year. IT is supposed to stop after a certain height. Japanese elm did not turn out for us, but we live in Wa. So different climate..I never saw a bloom once. It grew slowly and got tall, then I had it cut down, dug up and burned. Like a goat....





I have apic of the hedge it created if I run into it I will send it. It separates the pool from the neighbor's view. My dad swims naked.
Reply:I will post the pic on my page here later where you can view my info....I should have given you my elm. I vote the cypress. pic #063 you can barely see the yellow house (old farmhouse I grew up in) yellow!! Why did the new owners want to paint it yellow? Thank goodness for fast growing trees.
Reply:I have hemlocks all around my property..they stay green year round.grow quickly.low maintance...my house is 20 feet from the road.. and no one can see it...LOVE IT !!!


The ones you mentioned are all nice....but they will loose their leaves... and there goes your privacy....
Reply:rosemary is a great hedge. it's hardy and easy to care for. It also smells great!!








It really depends on the weather and soil conditions though, which you haven't supplied.
Reply:Consider Podocarpus - Buddhist pine, Chinese yew





I just planted a dozen of these 2 years ago. These are best suited to mild climates.





This quick growing hedge requires little water and grows to 15 Ft tall +





Rosemary is not so FAST growing and will need to be replanted after maybe 5-7 years.





Cheers


T
Reply:I live in Australia and the plant - Duranta - Mini Gold or Sheena's Gold makes a beautiful hedge. Bright golden foliage with a pale purply spray of flowers, followed by berries that are reported to be poisionous, but I have not heard of anyone being harmed by them. Easy to grow and loves the sun but grows in the cooler climates also.