Hi…I am looking to plant trees in my backyard along the fence. I am looking for trees that are narrow, and will grow to approx 10 feet, max. I live in Toronto (north of the city in Scarborough) and believe it is rated a zone 6. Any suggestions?
Thank you!
There are a number of trees with a columnar habit that can create an effective hedge along a fence line. Before deciding what you will plant do consider other conditions like sun exposure, soil type and space restrictions. In addition, the limit of 10 ‘ mature height may be pretty restrictive.
Some possibilities are:
Upright yew (Taxus x media) – Upright yews are interesting narrow evergreen shrubs that grow to 10-12 feet high and are easy to prune.
Emerald green cedar (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) – Emerald green cedar prefers well drained soil, consistent moisture and will grow in partial shade and full sun. It grows to 12″ in height and 3 feet in width. Thuja occidentalis “Degroots Spire” has a similar size and growth habit.
Forever Goldy cedar (Thuja plicata ‘4ever’) – This evergreen , which grows to 12′ h x 3-4′ wide, has bright green foliage tinged with yellow.
Slender Hinoki false cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Gracilis’) – This false cypress is a slow growing, open branched, pyramidal variety of Hinoki cypress. It grows to 8-12′ high and fairly wide at 4-5′.
Goldspire ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba Goldspire) – Growing to 14-15′ high, this narrow ginkgo has deep green foliage and a fall colour of golden yellow.
Autumn Jazz viburnum (Viburnum dentatum ‘Ralph Senior’) – This large shrub grows 8- 10′ high and as large as 8′ wide. Viburnum, a deciduous shrub, can make a good hedge in well drained, moist soils. Autumn Jazz has great fall colours.
We would recommend that you go to your local nursery and describe your preferences and garden conditions. They can best assist you in making an informed decision best suited to your garden.
09/05/23