Greetings all. We have a fence that runs the length of our back property line. Along this fence is a row of photenias that conceal the fence and provide as much privacy as they can from the neighbors behind us. Sadly, the neighbors have a two story house and the upstairs windows look right into our garden. The worst of it all is our photenias have developed a disease and one by one they are dying out, leaving a bare fence and worst yet, a direct view of their house, which I find very distracting.
We visited a garden center to explore planting options. Suggestions were made to replace the photenias with wax myrtle or perhaps Nelly R. Stevens. The wax myrtles they had were $150.00 for a 30 gal. plant which was probably 10' tall. And that was half price!! As you can imagine, at that price, I could spend a fortune replacing those photenias, even if I were to do it a plant at a time. So...with ALL of that being said, does anyone have any input or suggestions for me? If I am going to do something - and obviously I am going to have to - I sure don't want to make a poor choice, and certainly not at THAT price. However, one of you may have an alternate suggestion. I may be better off to just take the photenias out and come up with a plan that does not include a "row" of plants at all. Any thoughts?
LeeAnn,
At this moment I don't have any solutions for the screening problem. But I do have 2 places you can check for shrubs that might be a bit more affordable. Kings Creek Nursery is closing I have heard, and they are having a 50% off sale. Also the place I go in Ft Worth called Hermanns which sells to landscapers will have more affordable larger shrubs and trees. You know, climbing roses might fill part of that area...or trellis's with vines?
Do red twig dogwoods grow in your area? Mine have grown to screen size FAST! But climbing roses sound so pretty.
That's them in the background on the fenceline. Just ready to burst into bloom. The birds love the blue berries later in the fall. And winter of course has some red twigs. The best thing was they were inexpensive through one of the mail order catalogs deals, buy 3 get 3 free deal.
Cheryl, thanks for the idea...I will have to check into how they do locally. As soon as Maggie gets back that is! I love getting to see pictures of your farm. It is so gorgeous
CAC....I will check into both places as I am not familiar with either of them. But I DO love a bargain! And don't even tempt me with roses...I could have one of every kind there is! Thanks for the inout though.
I have strayed away from the straight line of border plants....I like something tall in the back and smaller toward the front......I like the idea of groupings of plants...like tall cannas, in the back and daylilies in front of that....maybe if you are brave, elderberry in a corner of the back yard??? It does spread quickly!!!Lady banks rose would be wonderful on a fence...There is a white blooming one along with the yellow blooming more traditional rose...Good luck....
Thanks David....another thought to consider. I agree about the straight lines. I even thought of bamboo but it just doesn't "go". I need something tall for sure. Perhaps just a couple of tall plants and fill in between with the Lady Banks. Speaking of which....Has anyone ever known there to be a pink Lady Banks? I saw one once but that was the only time. Is it possible? Or more likely I am remembering wrong.
Leann, I have never heard of a Pink one.....I guess there could be one out there.....but I have never heard of,seen,or talked about, a pink blooming Lady Banks.....Let me know if you ever find one!!!!!
HiHi Guys
Strange that L would ask that, because just yesterday I had stumbled across something that looked so much like a pink Lady Banks. It was sprawled across a dry stacked stone wall here in Conn. I took pics, but can't post um at the mo.
Anyway, I have been told it is the once-blooming Bonnita (sp?)that just grows wild around here, as does the 'Fairy'.
Weather bragging here ... the high today was 71* 
Maggie....everything was fine till you said....the weather!!!!!!!!!!! Oh ....I think I hate you.....i'm sorry....I am sweating to much and missed some keys......Have fun and don't forget to focus............