Suggestions Please - Page 3

I found a link to the Leyland/Leylandi cypress

www.fast-growing-trees.com/LeylandCypress.htm

   

You will really have to find out if they will grow in your area or if it is too cold. 

This is a great website.  www.fast-growing-trees.com/EmeraldGreen.htm

The Emerald Green Thuja can handle the cold and might be a safer choice.

"You will not have to deal with ugly browning in even the coldest of winters – meaning no unattractive dead spots or holes as commonly seen in disease-prone evergreens like hemlocks.

Even resists snow and ice damage!"

Good luck,
Michele

 Hi Kelly,

I had a similar problem with a neighbor and the privacy fence just was not always tall enough. We planted bamboo. It grows remarkably fast and makes a great shield. However, it is considered an "invasive" plant, so you need t research it some prior to planting it. 

Here is one site that is informative. There are many others. Also, it is relatively inexpensive; I actually was able to get some free plants from someone wanting to thin their grove out.

http://landscaping.about.com/od/tropicalplants/a/bamboo_plants.htm

I'd suggest cedar. It grows so fast, it is amazing. Plus, the cedar repels fleas and other insects (I use cuttings around the kennel and under soghouse bedding). I'm not sure how it weathers Michigan winters, compared to Washington. I missed one lousy year of topping off that damn tree and it doubled in height. Now, I will have to pay a fortune to have the thing taken down altogether. Nice scent, even if I am allergic to it. :-) A 4 year old with a rifle???? And that isn't child endangerment, recklessness, or plain irresponsible. Michigan must not have enough cases of Child Protective Services failures, because out here, you could get the parents severely investigated with a photo of that crap. The thought gives me shudders.

Im with the prickly stuff and the first time that kid gets stuck that will put an end to coming near.I also would just keep calling social services they have to do a case file on each complaint. Use flood lights  cheap and annoying ,extra benefit. I would never allow dogs out, with out you and work on training not to touch food with out a command .Start with inside food dont release with out permission, use,treats on nose hold till released. It might save there lives.  best

 I agree with Mystere. Cedars are amazing in the growth rate and they are easy to grow and maintain require no trimming). They grow out of rocks along the highway!  Also, they are cheap. I live in MO and you can have all you want from our farm! I could probably ship a few to you. They are native here and do get very big. 

Trees don't happen overnight and they aren't free.



Not necessarily so.... Check with your state Dept of Agriculture. Here in OK, they give away various shrubs and trees for bird habitat or erosion/wind control. Check into it. I think the  minimum is 50 here in OK, but MI may be different.   We just shared the ones we couldn't use with friends.

Miss Beeb,  a camera sounds like a great idea.  They are not so expensive any more.

I would not go out of my way to antagonize them.  Always be pleasant and cheerful around any of them.  It is a show of strength that you keep your good manners and not descend to theirs.  Talk to them (when unavoidable) as if they were normal people and keep it brief.  One can always break away by saying - Oh my, I hear the timer going off-see ya later!  In the meantime, up your security and surveillance systems.

The green Thuja hedge goes to 12 feet which would double your fence and is extremely hardy.  Where you need something taller, a fast growing thick evergreen for that spot.  Whatever hedge plant you buy, make sure it can handle the Michigan climate,  I think we are talking very cold, windy and ice storms now and then.

Good luck and we will want to see pictures of the progress.

Michele