Question
QUESTION: Marc

Hi, I live in New York and my neighbor has a horse, their
property is close to mine. I dont want to put a fence up
but use plants instead. There are a number of trees so
I dont have tons of sun light.  I also put up some Hemlocks
but this is not working. Is there anything that you could recommend that would help on giving me privicy without spending tons of money.

Please help

thanks

Ken

ANSWER: HEMLOCK is poisonous to horses!!  It contains an alkaloid that attacks their nervous system.  It can be fatal, so keep it away from your neighbor's horse(s) at all cost, unless you want to buy them new animal.

Same goes for Yew, Oak, Locust, Walnut, Red Maple, Persimmon, & Russian Olive.  For a list of trees and plants to avoid around horses, go to:
http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/boulder/AG/Plants%20Poisonous%20to%20Horses%202

Are these "free range" horses?  In older parts of the U.S. (the Commonwealths and colonial states), the property owner is sometimes responsible for keeping animals off his/her land (designated "fence out" or "fence in" communities; usually by county).  Sounds like your situation.  Here in Nevada, we have wandering wild Mustangs that are worse than slugs at killing gardens! In open country it is a challenge to keep them out.

I could give you lots of ideas - none that are cheap. If you want to use trees/shrubs, they simply are NOT going to keep a 1/2-ton animal out of your yard, unless you plant them thick and big - and I mean BIG.  And if it is hungry for your petunias, a wimpy stick of a tree isn't going to slow it down.

What is a fence anyway, but a row of dead tree stumps and a bit of wire or boards?  I would ask the neighbor to string up a "hot wire" or electric fence. They are not that expensive.  If they refuse, it may be time for a fence.  There are lots of attactive options that don't have to be the white-boarded "Derby Downs" look.  Use black wooden posts & light gage wire, or a low ditch along the property with split-rail on top.  Metal T-posts with wire can also be painted to match the local fauna (green or brown).  

Add some trees & shrubs to these, and you won't notice them as much.
If you neighbor is such a stinker, give them the "ugly" side of the fence.

Sorry for being the bearer of bad news.  ~M



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Marc

Hi,  in a way you made me smile, no we dont have that much property here in New York, the horses are in corals and the Hemlocks are a number of yards away from them. Im talking about an area of say 100 yars maybe a little more or less.
I have 12 Hemlocks there now, it somewhat blocks the view of the barn and coral but not the smell. Im certain you would know what I could use as a plant / tree curtain.
Im looking for some very specific names that grow
fast, full and in semi shade and sun

thanks

Ken

Answer
The Tsuga canadensis / Canadian or Eastern hemlock was the right choice as it will grow in Full Sun, Part Sun/shade, and Shade.  And it will eventually get 50 - 75 feet tall by 25 ?35 feet wide.

For a full, evergreen screen I抎 suggest the some fo the larger Holly tree/shrubs, like Ilex  x attenuata / East Palatka holly (50抶15抴ide) or Ilex opaca / American holly (50?x 25?wide).

For other evergreens, I抎 suggest the Pinus strobus / Eastern White Pine (50?+), Eastern Red Cedar/Juniperus virginiana, or the Atlantic White Cedar / Thuja occidentalis.

Beyond that, there are the deciduous trees and shrubs, but they抣l only screen the barn & horses for half of the year.

~M