Garden

[Seannie]

Hi all,

My neighbor put deck on front of house very close to property line. I need to plant some bushes or shrubs that will grow more upright than spreading. I live near Denver and would love if the plants are low-water but privacy and noise-reducing matters most to me as this man talks very loudly. (!)

I am interested in what you've had good results with in your own yards. Bonus points for plants which bees love!

TIA, Seannie

[gardensla]

I'm guessing you mean shrubs that are evergreen? I would have thought juniper 'Skyrocket' would be the easiest, most drought-tolerant choice.

[Desertdi]

oleander

[JustJazzmom]

Try viburnums--in particular Viburnum burkwood 'Conoy' or 'Mohawk'. Both are evergreen or semi evergreen depending on how cold your winters are -- love full sun or partial shade and have pinky white flowers in spring. They are also disease and insect pest free plants and their flowers have a slight fragrance.

Photos: Conoy

Mohawk

Flower head:

[gardensla]

On 4/2/2015 Desertdi said:

oleander

She's zone 5B; oleander (zones 9-11) would be almost an annual for her.

[luvmyteddy4]

I would go with a fast growing evergreen - maybe not this big!

[JustJazzmom]

I'd suggest boxwood but many are now coming down with a fungal disease called boxwood blight.

I would also suggest Ninebark too but that is deciduous and also pest free.

Hollies are nice but you need a male with a few females to get berries on the females.

[Seannie]

Thank you all so much! I'm new to gardening so I don't know if I want evergreen or flowering shrubs. Perhaps I must consult a local gardening center.

The photos are amazing! I want all of those plants in my yard!

Seannie