Road privacy shrubs & cutting white pines?

[WarrenPFJr]

I am in a similar position with wanting road privacy. I plan to make a hedge from Rose-of-Sharon with pine saplings behind them. I have a gazillion small RoS from all the seeds dropped from larger ones around the property. They grow quickly and will need a bit of trimming early on but will give the pines behind them time to grow. I have utility lines so the new pines had to be pushed back quite a bit. The previous pines were right under the lines and the power company would trim them to look weird/ugly.

 

[Torvy]

Another possibility is local craftsmen.

We have some wood workers in the region (Piney Woods) who will pay for select timber. I don't know if White Pine is coveted for that. Here guys look for a bunch of different species.

That could offset the cost of removal.

 

[danielk]

When we planted our privacy line, we planted two rows with the second row 10 feet back and positioned to be in the gaps of the first row. You could leave the first row as you have it ( unless you're concerned about the bugs spreading) and simply add the 2nd row set back. Those will plug the visual gaps that are in the first row and restore your privacy. As for the particular tree, I don't have a recommendation, but with this method, the particular tree type matters less.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

When we planted our privacy line, we planted two rows with the second row 10 feet back and positioned to be in the gaps of the first row. You could leave the first row as you have it ( unless you're concerned about the bugs spreading) and simply add the 2nd row set back. Those will plug the visual gaps that are in the first row and restore your privacy. As for the particular tree, I don't have a recommendation, but with this method, the particular tree type matters less.

I believe the bugs are spreading. One by one they die off and at the time 40+ years ago I gave some to a neighbor which he planted. His are dying off. You see sawdust at the base and hear bugs chewing from 30ft away.

 

[joc664]

From our house to secondary road is about 500ft. There's a ditch along paved road and my land up about 3'-4' above road. 40+ years ago I ordered a few hundred white pine saplings, spaced 10ft apart with dibble bar along road, up drive, etc. for privacy. They were perfect at about 6ft-10ft but now you see about 1-2ft diameter, highway department limbed them, some died, others cut back for our HV power line overhead to transformer.
A couple months ago I had one cut because of pine bark beetles. Now I see another one dying...you can hear bugs chewing.
I know a very good tree service that has great equipment & last tree they cut & hauled off $400. Rather than (my guess) having them come out every few months I'm considering just cutting them all. The good thing was the pine needles choked out weeds so I don't have to weed eat along road. Ditch & bank are steep.
At this point there isn't much privacy at all and so many missing not pretty plus low limbs hard to mow around, etc.
>I'm sorry for such a long post, bear with me<
Here's what I'm thinking: I'm 73 so time isn't on my side. I can cut trees myself but close to road is dangerous (falling on a car! ).
The tree service could cut them all, grind all stumps and have a huge chipper so I'd have a huge pile of chips. (Finally my question!):
We're in Virginia zone 7. Clay soil fairly acidic (guessing 5.5ph). I'm thinking about a hedge row for privacy, but must be fast growing. My idea would be planting then spread that pine chip mountain so it would probably be 1ft-2ft deep, 12ft wide so no weeds (?).
Hedges for acidic clay soil.
I'm reading: "Carolina Sapphire (Arizona) Cypress, Cryptomeria Radicans, Thuja Green Giant, Lombardy Poplar, Nellie Stevens Holly, and Leyland Cypress are fast growing trees that grow well anywhere within Zone 7. Italian Cypress and Wax Myrtle."
I don't like privet at all & pull it up, it grows wild here. We have forsythia bushes but again not fast growing & deer eat young ones I plant.
Around here most everyone plants cypress but they must not have a good root system because we see them blown over sometimes.
Any ideas? I'm thinking a hedgerow would give the most privacy and some grow 2ft+ a year.
I have tractor & lots of attachments.
Thanks in advance.View attachment 3873401View attachment 3873402View attachment 3873403

There are chemicals you can apply to the soil as a drench and kill beetles. Leave the trees and plant behind them. imadicloraprid could be one that would work and save the trees if they are not too infested.

 

[Dennis Mohn]

From our house to secondary road is about 500ft. There's a ditch along paved road and my land up about 3'-4' above road. 40+ years ago I ordered a few hundred white pine saplings, spaced 10ft apart with dibble bar along road, up drive, etc. for privacy. They were perfect at about 6ft-10ft but now you see about 1-2ft diameter, highway department limbed them, some died, others cut back for our HV power line overhead to transformer.
A couple months ago I had one cut because of pine bark beetles. Now I see another one dying...you can hear bugs chewing.
I know a very good tree service that has great equipment & last tree they cut & hauled off $400. Rather than (my guess) having them come out every few months I'm considering just cutting them all. The good thing was the pine needles choked out weeds so I don't have to weed eat along road. Ditch & bank are steep.
At this point there isn't much privacy at all and so many missing not pretty plus low limbs hard to mow around, etc.
>I'm sorry for such a long post, bear with me<
Here's what I'm thinking: I'm 73 so time isn't on my side. I can cut trees myself but close to road is dangerous (falling on a car! ).
The tree service could cut them all, grind all stumps and have a huge chipper so I'd have a huge pile of chips. (Finally my question!):
We're in Virginia zone 7. Clay soil fairly acidic (guessing 5.5ph). I'm thinking about a hedge row for privacy, but must be fast growing. My idea would be planting then spread that pine chip mountain so it would probably be 1ft-2ft deep, 12ft wide so no weeds (?).
Hedges for acidic clay soil.
I'm reading: "Carolina Sapphire (Arizona) Cypress, Cryptomeria Radicans, Thuja Green Giant, Lombardy Poplar, Nellie Stevens Holly, and Leyland Cypress are fast growing trees that grow well anywhere within Zone 7. Italian Cypress and Wax Myrtle."
I don't like privet at all & pull it up, it grows wild here. We have forsythia bushes but again not fast growing & deer eat young ones I plant.
Around here most everyone plants cypress but they must not have a good root system because we see them blown over sometimes.
Any ideas? I'm thinking a hedgerow would give the most privacy and some grow 2ft+ a year.
I have tractor & lots of attachments.
Thanks in advance.View attachment 3873401View attachment 3873402View attachment 3873403

Thuja green giant (some other varieties of arborvitae are deer candy) or your hollies, both are deer resistant ( deer do not know that) and grow well in zone 7 with slightly acidic soil. the cypress may need more water but would do, also all are relatively fast growers. Your local nursery center with knowledgeable people can assist you with selection and planting.

 

[bgr]

Be careful with Leyland Cypress. They grow wide as well as tall. My neighbor planted a row of cheap bare root seedlings and they are now 70 ft tall and about 30 ft wide(some are more) at the base. They are all at least 10 feet onto my property and drop a lot of needles. Look out for deer resistance, too. very important. Arborvitae are pretty good, but check deer resistance and how wide your variety will grow when selecting.

 

[fustsgt]

I understand the timing issue. I'm 75 and keep planting things that I may never see fully developed. Oh, well, someone will. I'm not sure about your area, but have you considered tall grasses? They will be tall in the first year or two depending on the variety. I cut mine down in the spring, but you don't have to. I've seen people plant two rows and cut one row down each year.

Maintenance is very low. When I do cut mine down, I use a serrated machete and it's really quick

I understand the timing issue. I'm 75 and keep planting things that I may never see fully developed. Oh, well, someone will. I'm not sure about your area, but have you considered tall grasses? They will be tall in the first year or two depending on the variety. I cut mine down in the spring, but you don't have to. I've seen people plant two rows and cut one row down each year.

Maintenance is very low. When I do cut mine down, I use a serrated machete and it's really quick.

We are both optimists, I planted a small orchard of pear and apple trees two years ago. I'm 83 today.

 

[Torvy]

We are both optimists, I planted a small orchard of pear and apple trees two years ago. I'm 83 today.

Happy birthday. Mom turns 93 one month from today. You're comparatively a spring chicken.

 

[kenmbz]

Deer eat Rose of Sharon here.
PO planted bamboo, that was an amazing spreader and took me years to clear it all out. They should outlaw Bamboo anywhere where it's not found naturally.

I tried forsythia, but deer eat that here too.

Looking more for a winter privacy that won't spread or get above 10' tall in two places, about 100' long each.

Giant Thuja get too big for where I want them and I don't like the looks, but they are a good solution for quick privacy. Have not seen deer eat them at all on the locals who have them.

The leylands seem to grow into and kill each other eventually,

I like the suggestion of driving around to see what others have done that looks good.

Most of the farms just leave a wide row of brambles
We want something a little nicer between ourselves and the neighbors.