Question
I have a house in Sedona, Arizona (high desert) on a small lot -- where my dining room, kitchen, and bedroom look out directly into the dining room, kitchen and bedroom of my neighbor's house (which is only about 60' away. There is a 3' chain link fence along the property line already (my neighbor put it in) and rather than putting up a taller wood fence, I'm wondering if there is some kind of small tree or shrub (ideally evergreen) that I could plant that would grow to 6-8' tall and require relatively little water (and that would be very hardy)? Since I'm hoping to completely screen the neighbors, I would want the trees or shrubs to completely grow together. If you could recommend something and let me know how far apart they should be planted, I would very much appreciate it.

Thanks!

Answer
Hello,

Here is a list of evergreen privacy hedge plants that are drought tolerant and adapted to a desert environment:

Emerald Green Thuga. Grows 8 to 12 feet high,but can be trimmed down. Extremely drought tolerant and disease and insect resistant. Obtains a columnar shape that has a pruned look. Grows in almost any soil from sandy loam to clay. Plant every 3 feet to achieve a thick barrier.

Nellie Stevens Holly. Grows 15 to 25 feet but can be trimmed down. Good drought tolerance. Tolerates wide range of soil conditions. Plant 4 feet apart.

Common Privet (ligustrum vulgare). Grows to 15 feet high. Tolerates wide range of soil conditions. Produces clusters of tiny white flowers. Plant 4 to 6 feet apart.

Atriplex Torreyi. Native to the Southwest. Grows 6 to 8 feet high. Plant 3 to 4 feet apart.

Desert Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia gilliesii). Fast growth to 10 feet high. Requires infrequent deep watering. Produces yellow flowers with protruding bright red stamens in the summer. Plant 4 to 6 feet apart.

Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii). Grows 4 to 6 feet high. Produces small yellow flowers in April and bright red berries in Fall. Plant 3 to 6 feet apart.

Japanese Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa). Grows 6 to 10 feet high. Tolerates wide range of soil conditions. Produces red flowers in April. Plant 3 to 4 feet apart.

Rock Rose (Cistus ladanifer). Grows to 5 feet high. Tolerates wide range of soil conditions. Produces white flowers in June and July. Plant 3 to 4 feet apart.

Sea Tomato (Rosa rugosa). Grows to 8 feet high. Produces fragrant single or double white,yellow,pink or purplish red flowers. Also produces bright red tomato shaped fruit. Plant 4 to 6 feet apart.

Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus). Grows to 6 feet high. Produces pink flowers in May and June and white fruit in late summer to winter. Plant 4 to 6 feet apart.

Good luck. Let me know if I can be of further help.

Mark Harshman
http://www.mahdrafting.com
Email: [email protected]

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