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Coconuts and robellinis, good pool privacy screen?
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Posted by bobj z10 FL (My Page) on Sun, Feb 7, 10 at 22:03
| Hi,
We need a privacy screen for our pool, from the top of the fence at 6ft to about 15-20ft height (blocking view from 2nd floor across the street). The distance from the pool to the fence is about 15 feet. We have a landscaper recommending planting alternating coconut and robellini palms between the fence and pool. This sounds like the best option I have heard so far. Better than using Arecas or bamboo. Does anyone have experience with this combination? Will it do the job of blocking the view? Will it still do the job as the trees grow? Do I need to be concerned with fruits or fronds falling in the pool? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Coconuts and robellinis, good pool privacy screen?
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| Robellinis can require frequent trimming, but are quite attractive, sophisticated palms. They also seem to have problems with scale. Another option to consider are Foxtail palms. They are beautiful and do not have the maintenance requirements of the Robellini. Also, a Date Palm can be a nice choice and the wild parrots love the trees. Link to info: http://www.datepalm.com/dp/ Another suggestion I would consider would be Travellers Palms. It is relatively low maintenance and the palm leaves grow in a large fan shape. It is a slow grower, so if you choose this palm, be sure to select a mature plant. I cannot comment on coconut palms from experience as I have never grown them. Perhaps someone else will provide you with their perspective on this type of palm. |
RE: Coconuts and robellinis, good pool privacy screen?
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| I have robellinis in my front yard and from what I have seen (had them 4 years) the take a long time to get tall. My foxtails are very tall but they may not cover just above the fence, just way above the fence so putting them along with the robellinis may do the job. I don't know if it is just the type of robellinis I have, but they are very thorny at the base of the branches and not fun to trim. |
RE: Coconuts and robellinis, good pool privacy screen?
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| I have a pool, robellinis and coconuts. I suggest neither of them. Instead use travellers palms since you are zone 10 or clumping bamboo, I have both screening the pool and both are good. Travellers palms will be less expensive than good bamboo and faster screening. Coconuts are messy and robellinis as mentioned by sharbear are very slow growing and have wicked thorns, ouch. I have fishtail palms also but they don't screen much, plus as they grow taller they won't screen anything at all. Denise |
RE: Coconuts and robellinis, good pool privacy screen?
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| Your landscaper should concentrate on gas stations and not swimming pools. If you want palms around the pool, stick with Foxtails and plant them as doubles or triples. Bamboo and Arecas make much better screening, but you'll need to plant them far enough from the pool to avoid leaves, fronds, and seeds from blocking your filter. Evergreen trees are really the best bet, but again, you need to have them back from the water's edge, as every tree drops leaves at some point. |
RE: Coconuts and robellinis, good pool privacy screen?
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- Posted by bobj z10 FL (My Page) on
Mon, Feb 8, 10 at 12:22
| Thanks very much everybody for the great advice. We're thinking about bamboo instead of the palms. "Graceful bamboo" seems promising. However, we have about 30 feet of width that would ideally be screened. I'm worried about it looking like a wall of bamboo. Does anyone have any ideas about what could be put with/in front of the bamboo to make it less monotonous and more visually appealing? |
RE: Coconuts and robellinis, good pool privacy screen?
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| The "wall of bamboo" will look stunning once it grows in. As far as the base, fill it with Bromeliads and river rock. |
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