Question
Hi Sean...

I live in Lawrenceville, GA so I think you're the person to ask!!!

I built my house in '03 and last year finally got around to trying to do something with the sides and back.

I planted (or rather had someone plant) some burning bushes all around the perimeter, which at this time of year looks like a bunch of dead twigs.  So, I want to replace them with something that will remain interesting throughout the year, but isn't too expensive (i.e. Yew).  The strip around my house is about 2 to 2 1/2' wide and widening that strip isn't an option at the moment.    I have Stella D'Oros and Eenie Weenie daylillies as edging on both sides of the house.  In back, I have some "short" yellow roses, Fire King Crocosmias and some short red "storm" lilies.  Any suggestions?

Also the back of my house faces the brush that leads to the street, so of course when you're driving down the street you can see everybody's back yard.  The grade between where my backyard stops and where the pinestrawed and brush begin is a nice steep 30 degrees.  I'd like to plant some sort of high growing hedge/shrub right between where the end of the backyard and the beginning of the pinestraw.  I thought about Canadian Hemlock, but I understand they like water, which as you know comes at a premium here in Georgia in the summertime.

Lastly, what can I plant to cover up the AC unit?

My house faces the southeast and the AC unit is on the east side of the house which is in partial shade.

I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but I need help!!


Thanks, so much...

Yasu

Answer
Well it sounds like you should hire some one to come do a design but in the interest of time and money here are some short answers.

Replace you burning bush with Cleyera Japonica. It is happily maintained at 30" wide and 4 to 5' tall for a long time.

As for the Large Evergreen do not use Hemlock. There is a new blight killing them in the US. Instead go with Awaubukii (sp?) Viburnum. It gets 12' tall and wide if you let it(can be hedged at about 8' ht. and 5' wide)and can take sun or shade. Its very fast grower. You can buy it in three gallon size from most nurseries. It has large shiny  evergreen leaves. You could also mix in a few southern magnolias in the existing trees for long term natural looking screening, although these trees are typically slow and expensive.

For your AC you could use any fast and dense evergreen. Cleyera Japonica is good medium grower that hedges well. So is Loropetalum ruby but it is more vigorous and needs more pruning. Japanese Anise is good but looks bad when hedged, its more natural and is a yellow green color with coarse texture. Abelia 'Edward Goucher' is a good semi-evergreen that is fast and pretty but may not 100% screen in winter.
Japanese Boxwood is fast and easily hedges too. There are many more, visit your local nursery and ask for medium sized evergreens that hedge easily.

Best of Luck. NOTE: We do work in your area. $85/hr for a consultation (drive time is charged from our office in Smyrna)


Sean J Murphy, LA,ISA, LEED AP
Please check out my blogs and articles on landscape topics like this on my websites.
http://www.seanjmurphy.com
http://amenityarchitects.com