I need a tree expert

[cajuntec]

Looking for some nice "privacy" trees. Prefer something moderately fast growing with year round green foliage. I have about a 70 foot long section of fence that I'd like to plant a few trees close to in order to keep neighbors with a second story balcony from looking into my back yard easily.

Suggestions?

All the best,
Glenn

[SATX]

Trees by their nature are slow to mature. You may want to look into some fast growing shrubs that will still attain the height you want, without waiting years for it to happen. Plus, they are less exspensive than trees.

Large shrubs are generally more 'full', as opposed to the loli-pop shape of most trees sold at nurseries. Once the tree canopy attains a certain height, then you are left with looking at tree tree trunks which may not provide the screening you are looking for.

My neighbor and my self have the same issue you do. Photinia fraseri is what did the trick for us. Plus at this time of the year, new growth is a brilliant bronze-red in color. The also have nice blooms. It takes shaping and trimming well and is a nice full plant that can attain heights of 12' and widths of 8' to 10'.

http://www.google.com/search?q=Photinia+fraseri&hl=en&sa=X&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=40x3T4HgMMuCsALb472hBA&ved=0CD4QsAQ&biw=1344&bih=712

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/41165/

[tkuehn5410]

You might want to put in some Italian Cypress trees. They get very tall and are fast-growing, but you will need about 12-15 to cover that area well.

[perow]

red tip photinia are your best bet. Fast growing and great coverage

[cricketfire46]

Red tips grow thick and fast

[TheGasMan]

Might try poplar trees. Some of them can grow 8-10ft/year.

Look at www.arborday.org They have info on just about any tree you can imagine. Might help you find something to your liking.

[lilavidhunter]

Bamboo makes a heck of a shield.

[Richard M.]

Do the photinias loose all their leaves in the fall or shed a lot? I'm wondering if they would be good around a pool.

[M-2]

I love red-tipped photinias and have a large hedge of them on one side of my yard at present; however, I've lost others already and some of the ones in my hedge are dying off one branch at a time. In the last few years, they've seemed to become more susceptible to a fungus - here's an article from 2009 about the San Antonio area:

http://www.wildflower.org/expert/show.php?id=3710

Bamboo DOES make for a fast growing screen, but if you plan to live on this property for very long, you need to make sure you get a non-invasive variety otherwise you will regret it. Here's another article by the same author about it: http://www.wildflower.org/expert/show.php?id=2857

Japanese ligustrum might be something you'd want to look at. It grows FAST and grows tall. This article says up to 15 feet, but the ones in our yard are closer to 20+

[Dirtymike]

Red tips are prone to sickness, and pests. Bamboo is very invasive and almost impossible to remove once established. Look into wax myrtell. Can be trimmed up below into a multi trunk tree or left to grow like a shrub. Makes perfect screens to keep neighbors out of your life.

[cajuntec]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I'm looking into the ones that have been suggested. Please keep the suggestions coming. Thanks again.
All the best,
Glenn

[Stan R]

I have been looking at Hybid Populars

YOu can get a screen or shade variety. They live 30-50 years

YOu can get 40 3-4 inch trees for pretty cheap

Think about using some as a screen on my front property line.

https://www.directgardening.com

I ordered 3 different fruit coctail trees from them...

[cosmiccowboy]

skunk cover scent on your neighbors balcony.

[Jbonds99]

The red tips will keep their leaves year round.

[dustoffer]

I can't stand the smell of the red tips--anything but them IMO.