Question
Charles:

My neighbor is moving...  While no one is in the house, I would like to plant something that will create privacy between my patio and their back door.  What would you recommend for an area that is about 4' wide and 15' long that is not evergreen(juniper or arborvitae).  I would like to have as little maintenance as possible and have it grow from about 6-8'. I am in Ohio, so I need something that will last through winter and not have to be cut down or back.  I had looked at bamboo but it seems like it either grows out of control or dies off quickly.  Any ideas?  Thank you in advance for your assistance.  I am desperate to get this project done, I really want to use my patio this summer.


Answer
John,

If you want a quick screen.  I would recommend you use large evergreens such as norway spruce, douglas firs, cryptomerias.  Bamboo is a great screen if you plant it correctly.  If you would like bamboo in this area, I would recommend you go on Bambooheadquarters.com website, they have detailed instructions on how to properly plant bamboo.

Bud CHristmann