Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Sunday - February 21, 2010
From: Dallas, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Privacy hedge for Dallas area
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
We live in the Park Cities area of Dallas, and our neighbors are right on top of us. Our lot is small, but I'm looking for a privacy hedge or small tree to plant along the side of the fence. It needs to grow about 10 feet tall, be very hardy and not be too wide, as our backyard is small. Do you have any suggestions?ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants assumes that you are interested in evergreen shrubs for your hedge. Here are some suggestions that are generallly within your size range. As they grow wider, they can be judiciously pruned to keep them from encroaching on your yard space.
Morella cerifera [syn. = Myrica cerifera] (wax myrtle) and here is more information. There are dwarf varieties of this shrub that only grow to 3-4 feet so you would need to be certain that you aren't buying one of those.
Leucophyllum frutescens (Texas barometer bush) and here is more information
Ilex vomitoria (yaupon) and here is more information.
Mahonia trifoliolata (agarita) and here is more information.Rhus virens (evergreen sumac) and here is more information.
Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain-laurel) and here is more information.
There are three evergreen vines that you might consider growing on your fence:
Lonicera sempervirens (trumpet honeysuckle) and here is more information.
Gelsemium sempervirens (evening trumpetflower) and here is more information.
Bignonia capreolata (crossvine) and here is more information.
More Trees Questions
Supplier for non-native Norfolk Pine to East Texas
March 17, 2013 - I would like to buy a Norfolk Pine Tree for my uncle who lives 90 miles east of Dallas, Texas. He saw my Norfolk Pine tree in CA which is 30 to 40 ft. tall. Where can I find a company that will ship...
view the full question and answer
Pruning Texas madrone trees from Utopia TX
August 19, 2012 - I have a number of large Texas Madrone trees on my ranch in Utopia Texas. A few of them have dead limbs and I was wondering whether I should cut off the dead limbs or just leave the tree alone. I wa...
view the full question and answer
Need a shade tree for front yard in Fredricksburg, TX.
July 16, 2012 - I live in Fredericksburg, Tx. I have a large front yard, but only one huge pecan tree in the front yard that is probably 18 years old. It shades half the yard. I want to plant another shade tree for t...
view the full question and answer
Chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergeii) weeping sap
October 14, 2010 - Help, help! Our Chinkapin Oak is weeping sap along the trunk. There is no sign of damage. What can we do?
view the full question and answer
How do you stop the bark from peeling off the tree in Amarillo?
May 07, 2012 - How do you stop the bark from peeling off the tree? I live in Amarillo, TX. If you can't stop the progression, how do you keep the tree alive?
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
