Seventeen years ago, I planted a hedgerow between my 3/4 acre property and the neighbours'. Elder, ocean spray, a black bamboo, native roses have joined the planting. I later added a maple and a cedar the latter of which I am keeping pruned so it doesn't get too big. My goal has been to attract birds, and privacy without sacrificing a lot of light in the garden (property line faces south-east). This year I enlarged my little pond and added a stream near the elder and the birds have been even better than before. My problem is the elder has a lot of dead wood with leaves up high. Ocean spray is in the same state. I tried this year planting two red huckleberry (a favourite of the birds) and a snowberry under the elder where they get some morning sun. I've been watering a lot but one of the huckleberries has already died and the other doesn't look too promising. I don't really to take out the elder and ocean spray and start over. I really would like some screening hopefully that the birds would like - perhaps something I could plant this fall? Or would it be possible to get new stems coming up from the elder if I cut some more right out? I'm really feeling the need for more privacy since new neighbours have taken to parking vehicles right on the other side of the fence. I'd be most grateful for advice!
