What kind of plants make a good privacy screen for my back yard in Houston, TX?

Question

I need some attractive, fast growing plants to make a privacy screen in my back yard. They should be fast-growing, able to grow about twenty feet tall, not take up too much space, and provide good privacy.

Thanks!

Answer 1

we live on a busy street, when we moved in, there was just a little chain link fence - no privacy - my hubby got some privot hedges and planted them, that was several years ago, we now have very good privacy. the hedges are very tall.

Answer 2

Bamboo which is beautiful -- however the drawback with this is, the plant has a tendency to spread and it's very difficult to control and eradicate once that happens. Also if you plant it on the border of your property, your neighbor will hate you because it will grow under the fence to their side, too.

Many years ago, I read a Sunset Magazine article suggesting that a barrier (I forget how deep you need to go but I think it was using a copper sheet but I could be wrong) be established to contain the entire planted area before setting bamboo into the ground.

My dentist lowered some 5 gallon black plastic nursery pots of bamboo into the ground and then when he tried to remove them a few years later because they had grown too big for his garden, broke his ax because the plant was so tough.

I found this: http://www.lewisbamboo.com/habits.html

Here is another: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gardening/article/0,1785,HGTV_3546_1373747,00.html

Answer 3

Southern Wax Myrtle. It's native to your area, is evergreen, and grows to the size you're looking for.

Answer 4

leyland cypress