What to plant?

Cathy Miller
by Cathy Miller
I'm looking for a shallow rooting(due to septic and underground wiring) plant, shrub, or tree that in non-invasive to plant for privacy from our alley, needs to grow well in southeastern Ohio. Any suggestions?
  10 answers
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Feb 18, 2013
    Cathy, if you tell us more about you site-what zone you are in, whether the area is in sun or shade, etc-we could provide you more specific information. I would caution you that the combination of shallow roots and height is probably a recipe for trouble. One tried and true screening plant is arborvitae, which is known not to create root problems.
  • Cathy Miller Cathy Miller on Feb 18, 2013
    I'm in zone 6a and the spot where I want to plant is mostly sunny.
  • 3po3 3po3 on Feb 18, 2013
    I would try a good local nursery (ie, not the big box stores, but a place that has master gardeners on staff and such). They typically have good recommendations, and may have something that's new to your area that other folks won't think of.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Feb 19, 2013
    A visit to a local nursery is always a good idea. If 3 to 4 feet high would work for you, you could consider Ilex glabra. Canadian hemlock makes a spectacular tall screen. If you don't mind if the plants are deciduous, a mixed viburnum hedge would be beautiful, and provide wonderful cover and food for birds.
  • Barb Rosen Barb Rosen on Feb 19, 2013
    I'm with Douglas, shrubs might be the better plan. Consider Clethra, it gets quite large if you let it, has pretty , shiny green leaves year round and a sweet scented flower in spring, ninebarks, caryopteris and beauty berry might also be nice, although they lose their leaves in fall. Check with your local growers to see what does best in your area. It is always a good idea to tour around and see what does well in other people's yards too : )
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Feb 19, 2013
    Barb, are you sure you meant Clethra? The only Clethra I know is deciduous and blooms in late summer.
  • Barb Rosen Barb Rosen on Feb 19, 2013
    Whoa! Thanks for catching that, Douglas! My clethra is next to the Euonymous that I meant to write - not enough coffee yet this morning obviously! My apologies all : )
  • Cathy Miller Cathy Miller on Feb 19, 2013
    Thanks everyone....I enjoy reading your suggestions!!!
  • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Feb 19, 2013
    @Cathy Miller If you have something for it to climb, creeping virginia is a very good summer/fall screen - we have it on our back fence and most people can't find the gate because of the screen, but the gate is opened enough in the summer/fall that it hasn't grown over it. Beautiful red foliage in the fall.