needed:fast-growing, evergreen, tall privacy hedge

garden guy, i appreciate your detailed input.

I actually do want a lot of privacy.

I will have to hire someone to do this. It's a big job.

Hmm... I guess there are two ways to think about width. I was thinking about width of a hedge. Some folks are looking for a 3-5 foot maximum width. A plant that grows as wide (or wider) than tall will need regular pruning along sides and eventually becomes very woody with 3-inch thick main branches.

Pink Escallonia is definately a beautiful plant -- I am growing one at my home in San Diego CA. When left unpruned, it grows about 15 feet high and wide with many side branches first arching upwards, then back downward. It does need partial shade in high heat which is not a problem at my location.

As for 3-foot spacing to form a hedge, I would not do it with plants that grow more than four feet wide. I can sympathize with homeowners who want a quick privacy screen, but in 10 years time some plants will have lost the root wars and be dead or dying, others will be sick with disease from stress. If you are not going to live there that long, then I guess the approach is "it will be someone else's problem".

Most nurseries have a desk copy of the Sunset Western Garden Book, or simply go browse it at your local bookstore. I would use an edition published in 2000 or later as it is more accurate regarding plants currently available. In the first part of the book, there is a section called "Plant Selection Guide" and it has a subsection titled "Plants For Screens and Hedges". Take a look at those plants and examine which ones will work in your area.

I think its great you are spending time looking at possibilities.

Thanks everyone for your advice. After a lot of thought and discussion, i decided on Texas privet. It's going in this week. Wish me luck!

thanks again!
Dina

Good luck! Its definately a good plant for your situation.

I have the axact same problem! What was the verdict??? Please tell me your experience. I was going to plant ficus-phew-I am glad I didn't!!!!