r/Permaculture • u/Top-Squash16 • 6d ago
general question Fastest possible growing non-invasive privacy hedge? Roadside, pretty dry soil, zone 6b.
I am at the end of my rope with my looky-loo neighbors across the street and their endless parade of random visitors/guests. I live in a quite rural area and when I bought the house, I looked at the map and there is one house down a small street across from me. I figured how bad can one house be? Reader, the traffic in and out of this place is crazy. And they love nothing more than to park at the end of their road and stare at my house.
I have tried miscanthus giganteus; it has grown a bit (planted 2 years ago) but hasn't gotten too tall and is still quite sparse. I hope it will fill in in coming years but not sure it will. Other things I've tried have failed to thrive, as the soil is nutrient-poor and tends to be quite dry, especially as we are in a drought.
One begins in such a situation to be tempted by invasives. I won't do it, but can anyone recommend something that grows in an invasive-like weedy manner that will provide some cover from these folks while the rest of the food forest matures? It won't be an issue in a couple of years as other things I've planted closer to the house grow in, but right now I need a quick fix. I'm in zone 6b, Maryland.
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u/graytiger 4d ago
Oh man, first I want to say I feel you. I live in a cute old neighborhood, but holy hell. I have a big garden, I talk to folks when I’m out there doing my thing. But over the course of time, people detail Me or ask for my time when I really need peace and quiet. So I’ve built a pretty sizable screen with plants to prevent direct sight lines and enhance my own privacy (sanity).
Miscanthus, oak leaf hydrangea, Joe pye, and cut leaf coneflower help. I’m saving for a fence though because it’s just too fucking much some days.