![\"Tennant](\"http:\/\/habitathorticulturepnw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/DSCF0380.jpg\")
<\/a>Tennant Lake Fragrance Garden in Ferndale<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Shrubs and trees are often used in the landscape to create barriers.\u00a0 Privacy screens are the most common, either to prevent other people from seeing into an area, or to physically keep them out.\u00a0 Often screens are planted to block out traffic noise.\u00a0 Sometimes they are merely used as a design element to cover an unsightly view or to create a secluded nook within a garden.\u00a0 Historically, the classic English hedgerow was used instead of fences to create boundary lines between properties and pasturage, often providing the only refuge of shelter for remnant wildlife populations.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Being a “green” gardener, I try to discourage people from planting single-species hedges.\u00a0 Personally, I think they are boring, and if shearing is required, too much work. A mixed-species screen is more interesting and provides better habitat for wildlife.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When deciding what type of plants you want in a hedge or screen, first you need to decide how much room you have\u2014how wide and what heights are desired or acceptable. Unfortunately, if you have limited space your choices of plant material are severely limited.\u00a0 That is why arborvitaes, Thuja occidentalis<\/i> varieties, are so popular; the columnar types fit in narrow areas and stay neat without shearing and can usually be purchased inexpensively.\u00a0 Many other cultivated conifer varieties are also suitable.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Most people want plants that are fast growing to quickly fill in the space, but such plants can quickly become a problem too. Popular hedge species such as the English Cherry Laurel, Prunus laurocerasus<\/i>, and the red-leaved Photinia x fraseri <\/i>easily get out of hand even if they are sheared regularly.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 English yew, Taxus baccata,<\/i> is the traditional species for mazes and topiary.\u00a0 It is long-lived and can take much shearing and pruning but because it is slow growing, it requires patience (it also can be expensive initially!).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Our native Tall Oregon Grape makes a great barrier.<\/p><\/div>\n \u00a0 I recommend using natives when possible, but unfortunately unless you have space for tall conifers, such Cedars, Hemlocks and Firs, there are few good choices of shrub-size native evergreens.\u00a0 Tall Oregon Grape, Mahonia aquifolium,<\/i><\/a> is one of the best, but it has prickly leaves that may not be desirable for some applications.\u00a0 Evergreen Huckleberry, Vaccinium ovatum,<\/i> and Salal, Gaultheria shallon,<\/i> are so slow growing; they will probably not achieve the desired height for many decades, although they could still be a part of the overall design.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pacific Wax Myrtle<\/p><\/div>\n \u00a0 For some better choices we can look further south.\u00a0 The fragrant, Pacific Wax Myrtle, Morella (Myrica) californica, <\/i><\/a>is related to the eastern Bayberry.\u00a0 The California Bay Laurel (Oregon Myrtle), Umbellularia californica,<\/i> is also fragrant but gets very big.\u00a0 The Coast Silk Tassel, Garrya elliptica,<\/i> has attractive, long catkins in late winter.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Leyland Cypress, Cupressocyparis leylandii,<\/i> is a hybrid of our native Alaska Yellow Cedar and the California native, Monterey Cypress.\u00a0 It is a popular fast growing tree often used for screening.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>