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Using blueberries or other fruit as an edible screen
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Posted by steeletm NC (My Page) on Fri, Oct 1, 04 at 9:18
| We have just purchased a place further out in the country with six acres of land. They are building a large development behind us with lot sizes ranging from 1.5 to 13 acres. Our house is located about one hundred feet from the property line and the nearest that anyone can construct a house is about three hundred feet away from the property line (because of an intervening gully and the septic tank rules) . They just began clearing a building site about four hundred feet directly behind our pool house and took down enough trees so that we have a view of a beautiful mountaintop. We want to plant something on our property line that will grow tall enough to obstruct the view of the house they are building but will give us a view of the mountain. The line we want to plant has a southern exposure and recieves close to full sun each day. My wife loves blueberries and we have never had enough space to grow enough for her. What varieties would you plant? Does anyone have any other suggestions for edible plants for zone 7 that would provide adequate screening without growing too tall? We have rejected such suggestions as Leyland (sp?) Cypress (grows too fast, too tall, gets bagworms and produces no fruit), apple trees (tough to plant close enough to get fruit) and provide an adequate screen and lilacs and crepe myrtle.
I have thought of interspersing fruit trees and blueberry bushes.
Tom |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Using blueberries or other fruit as an edible screen
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| How tall does this have to be? |
RE: Using blueberries or other fruit as an edible screen
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| No more than eight feet or so. Lower and I can see the house, higher and I can't see the mountaintop. |
RE: Using blueberries or other fruit as an edible screen
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RE: Using blueberries or other fruit as an edible screen
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| I don't know. What are they? Will they grow in NC? |
RE: Using blueberries or other fruit as an edible screen
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| Sure! They are also called shadblow, saskatoon, serviceberries or sarvisberries, have you heard of any of those? Amelanchier spp. Similar to blueberries except not needing such acid soil, also very ornamental, and native to our part of the world. Underused. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Amelanchier arborea
RE: Using blueberries or other fruit as an edible screen
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| you won't be happy w/just blueberries they grow SLOW. I would suggest a mixed screen where you can throw a few fruting plants (e.g blueberries) in. We have a screen of hicksii yew, camellia, hollies, rhodendron, azalea, and bay berry, with blueberries, thornless blackberries, elderberries, highbush cranberry, currants, gooseberrie, aronia, raspberries mixed in. There area also a few fruit trees (apricot and pear). It is also underplanted with some bulbs, iris, hosta, and astible. |
RE: Using blueberries or other fruit as an edible screen
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| Thanks for the info on Juneberries and on the mixed screen. This gives me something to work with. |
RE: Using blueberries or other fruit as an edible screen
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I second the suggestion of serviceberry/juneberry/amelanchier for a screen. The clump bushes typically grow over 10ft high and provide very nice blueberry-like fruits in June. Many say they are tastier and sweeter than blueberries, though the seed is bigger. There are many types of cultivars. Choose one with the height range, and the looks, that you are interested in. They come in trees and clump bushes. I have never seen the trees, though i have seen the clump bushes used for screens. They do lose their leaves in the winter so you do need to pack them in, for a better winter screen.
Always an...Angel |
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