Hi, I need to create an instant hedge. I have two children with autism that my neighbours complain about because of privacy. I am looking for something easy to maintain and that has some flowers. If someone could recommend a place to go, I certainly would appreciate it. I need something that is 6 ft to start, oh I should say that I don't like cedars and that I live in North Van Thanks so much
Hmm, depends how much lateral space you have. Also whether you want evergreen, which makes flowers a little more complicated. Must it be a hedge? You want instant and low maintenance, and frankly a fence works better for those requirements.
Hi, we already have a fence that my children climb to look in their backyard. Since we are higher than our neighbours, our fence is at maximum height. I was thinking of a laurel as they seem to be quite hardy....any thoughts on this. Thanks C
How about putting a jutting strip of lattice along the fencetop and eventually growing vines on it? The lattice might even render the fence unclimbable, which seems to me to be the central assignment, really. With that in mind it might help to just redesign the fence - even face the whole thing with a vine holding material like chicken wire that cannot be climbed. Laurel and many others can potentially be climbed, or can assist climbing. Sometimes these boundary problems can best be solved by looking at what is available as an alternative too. People who want views screened, for example, can sometimes achieve a more satisfactory result by putting a strong focal point inside a yard than by putting up a screen around an otherwise empty yard. I wonder if the same applies here - if the kids' interest is fulfilled inside the yard, their interest in the neighbours may wane. Or, sometimes one solves a problem by flipping the whole thing on its head. The kids are likely climbing the fence to see the neighbours because they can't see through the fence. Making it harder to see will just arouse their interest more, to the point of taking more risks to overcome more substantial boundaries. What bothers the neighbours is perhaps not being seen so much as having two heads poking above the fence staring at them. Perhaps if the fence were made more permeable, with gaps between boards for example, then the kids would be able to see enough that they would not constantly be curious. It is possible that showing a photo of the fence and perhaps explaining how your kids are climbing it would help. Also, an idea of the budget would help.
