Privacy needed.

[ladymalfoy]

We’d like to plant a tree/bush against our fence to retain our privacy.
We’d like it to grow over 6 feet and spread 2-3 meters .
We thought Ceaoanthus but they only last for 5 years.
We’ve got clay soil.
Any suggestions appreciated.

Do you want foliage from the ground up, or higher? And do you want it to stay flat, or can it grow out from the fence?

I assume it's quite sunny?

I would say ceanothus myself, they are short lived, but they grow like anything, so you'll get your privacy quickly. We're putting in a Trewithen Blue shortly to mask a fence next door put up, can't wait! The C Dark Star we bought 2 years ago as a little foot high baby is now nearly 6 foot tall. Only the buddleja outstrips it.

Thank-you ! Brilliant. We want height and spread which is why we thought ceanothus. Our neighbours have had an extension but their new windows over look a bit of our garden. It’s sunny in the patch where we want it, we are moving a Budleai as well. Do yours smell nice? I’ve been checking and some are fragranced and some not.

Trewithen Blue (which I suspect is the tallest ceanothus) is, apparently. I hadn't noticed the others being scented.

I’m on it!

I’m sceptical about short lived Ceanothus. DS has a mature one in his garden and he’s been in the house 8 years. It’s been pruned and doesn’t look like it’s turning it’s toes up.

I used to walk past and admire a mature ceonothus near my previous house nearly daily, and I lived there 11yrs.

My NDN had a ceanothus which the new people got rid of. As far as I can remember, it was there since we moved in, and it was 16 years before my NDN sold up.

My first ceanothus lasted a lot longer than 5 years, over 15 I would say. It did die suddenly then though. But they do grow quickly - a replacement is over 2m in a couple of years.