Q: We have recently invested in landscaping our back yard and it has become a haven for us. We are challenged to find a tree that can grow in shade, provide privacy and is fast growing. My husband doesn’t want to see our neighbors homes and our home sits higher than the others.

A: My friend Ashton Ritchie, turf expert for the Scotts Company, recently moved to Georgia and had the same problem at his new house. He used ‘Bright ‘n’ Tight’ cherrylaurel and sweetbay magnolia to screen between homes.

Another option is ‘Scarlet’s Peak’ columnar yaupon holly. Depending on the height you need, you could consider ‘Slender Silhouette’ sweetgum, which grows to 40′ tall but only 5′ wide…and it has very few sweetgum balls!

Cherry Laurel Bright & Tight

Scarlet's Peak holly