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Tree
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All year leaves tends to mean some sort of conifer, which would be a green blob in that cornerIs it your fence?If yes, train a thornless blackberry along it, lovely blossom & then crumbles for you if you also plant a self fertile apple in the sunny spot there, look for dwarfing root stocks, M9 or M26Now is the ideal time for planting a bare root fruit tree, get named one with known rootstock, one not one from £landThe link will take you to site where you can research a suitable apple for you
Eight out of ten owners who expressed a preference said their cats preferred other peoples gardens0 -
Holly?
I think I'd go for a large shrub and not worry about it being evergreen
Having said that, I do have a nice variegated pittisporum that would fit there. Needs trimming once a year to keep it in shape1 -
You won't get a shrub to that height. A holly tree would fit the bill if you don't want a conifer and has the advantage you can trim it without killing the top
A grafted apple or pear tree would work as the height is determined by the rootstock it's grafted on to but of course they lose leaves in winter
You need to bear in mind two very important things;
1) Any tree that will get to 4m quickly is going to keep growing way, way over that height and will be 8m in 15 years, so if you want one that's going to be easy to keep within bounds you're looking at potentially 15 years before it gets anywhere near that height of 4m
2) You need to be aware of root damage to the foundations of the houses that are very near to where you intend to plant it - I think that may be too close for any decent size 'real' tree0 -
You'll have much more choice if you drop the 'evergreen' criteria.
I'm a great fan of crab apples. Buy one on a restricted root stock, so it won't grow too big, and you'll have colour for most of the year, including flowers in the spring and colourful fruits in the autumn.
You could then under-plant with evergreen ground cover0 -
I think a Rowan tree would look good in that spot - it can have a nice canopy shape so it's screen the houses behind during the summer months - they're great for feeding the birds too.
I agree with FlorayG that any conifer type / evergreen type would soon overwhelm the space and not provide you with a lot of visual interest.
If you're wanting screening a better a idea may be to add screens / trellis to the top your fence and grow something lovely up them - you can get evergreen jasmine or I have a passionflower plant which is green now but in the summer has the most beautiful flowers.
I suppose it depends on what you're trying to achieve with that area of your garden.
Keep us posted!
WM0 -
Don't plant a conifer or a laurel - Both are fast growing, and whilst conifers pruned at ground level don't return, laurels will throw up suckers until you dig out the roots.Holly would do the job, even better if you can get a female. Tolerates extreme pruning, even at ground level. But dead leaves & prunings are prickly to deal with.Eucalyptus is also fast growing, and some can be copiced/pollarded (Snow gum springs to mind). But being shallow rooted, they are prone to being felled in high winds if allowed to get too big.Myrtle would be a good choice in my opinion - Not very fast growing and unlikely to get more than 4m high. Dark green leaves all year round (you can get a variegated variety, but it isn't that hardy in my experience). Leaves & flowers give off a pleasant scent, and the berries can be eaten.Her courage will change the world.
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Some other shrubs that might fit the bill are
Red Robin Photina
Callistemon Bottle Brush
Olearia New Zealand Holly0 -
I'd consider a camelia. We have one that is now around 9ft tall with lower branches removed to make it tree shaped. It's green all year round and flowers twice a year. Very forgiving. it could definitely be kept smaller than that1
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A Crab or flowering cherry would be nice but if you want evergreen then I'd suggest Ligustrum Japonicum VarigataIt comes as a shrub and you prune it to tree shape which is the cheapest way, or you can buy them as trees with a trunk.I have had one as a multi stemmed tree which would add interest there and from a cutting a shrub. The gold stands out in winter.It's fine branches are easy to prune and dispose of. They don't shed overmuch so very little clearing.It would give privacy and dappled shade. Grows about 3mtrs.4mtrs is high. You won't find something that grows that high and then stops at the size you want.
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I'd have a look for a tree trained ceanothus too, lovely blue flowers in the summer and evergreen.I would also think about whether whatever you grow is going to hang over the fence. If you own the bits outside the fence fine, but if your neighbours do, expect them to cut it level with the fence if it overhangs.Non me fac calcitrare tuum culi1
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