Hedge or fence?

If you don't need to keep critters in (and I'm imagining the tortoises -- tortii? -- are somewhat easy to contain) then a hedge should be great. What kind of plant(s) is it composed of?

That’s what I was thinking, the dogs and tortoises have the back yard so no need to fence in the front. The type of hedge is called Viburnum, grows tall and thick.

Looks fab jc!

I don't know, it would look nice with a white picket fence and a nice gate.
This way, the dogs and tortoises could use the front yard too, especially
when you sit out on the porch.

The hedge is really pretty. Will you eventually have to do a lot of pruning and shaping?

Oh.... I love viburnum. I have one viburnum judii that's about 8' tall now and has great smelling flowers in the spring. They can get pretty tall.

It's now or never, to me, in that putting in proper posts for a well made fence takes some digging and some concrete. Plants may or may not be best temporarily moved. Then there's the matter that the leaves will grow through the picket spaces, if it's a picket fence, a bit hard to trim from the front or behind the fence. If it's a picket type fence, it may look oddly dainty next to a robust viburnum hedge. If it's a solid wood fence, probably to 42" high if that is the code there, I'd personally move the plants a bit back toward the yard.

Which viburnum is it?

Yes, but look at JPB's picture, it has a fence and a hedge - both look very nice.

I like the idea of the hedge and fence, might have to re-think the whole thing now

Why not a laser fence and/or some Portal turret guns?



Fun and festive! Great for lowering one's home insurance as well.

I said I liked that fence with the hedge. It had a balancing presence to the hedge, though I didn't articulate that. The spacing could vary, especially re dogs and turtles, but I liked what I saw.

A typical viburnum can be beefy. I was questioning a dainty typical bought picket fence (not all picket fences are slight but many promote that aspect even if custom designed) against viburnum.

I have design hundreds of fences and specified hundreds if not thousands of hedges. I was expressing my opinion. On JPB's photo, I liked it.

What we don't know is how high and wide JC expects to maintain his hedge in perpetuity, or what codes are for fencing or hedge heights in his area. We haven't talked about shade in the yard.

I apologize. I guess that opinion didn't get into my post, or I failed to press reply on the post where I said that. But, wait, it was clear enough to me...

I rather like the idea of an "internal", supportive structural fence (which remains hidden) , which the plants grow through & around.
But I'm thinking it might be too late for such an option.
That's just my preference, I'm certain that whatever you decide to do will look great, judging form the rest of the work you've done so far, on this & your other thread.

ooo err sweet viburnum sweet cheeks now you're looking sexy

the hedge is the fence i hope the gate is wrought in black

love the strelitzia it is so you honeybunch

i'd prefer my orange trumpet creeper up your backyard instead of the bamboo

and low growing palms and bromeliads in the shade

can you cook?

The hedge I planted has grown a couple feet and is starting to fill out nicely. And now that a five year old will be living here I will be going with the fence as well.

Around here, I would probably hedge with pyracantha. In South Florida I might use Bouganville - and I apologize for the spelling of both.

Neither might sound friendly, but they're good with missionaries and other solicitors.

I would like to see a wrought iron fence with small gate, of same, between posts. Beautiful photos you have there.

haha true, I have a bouganville in the backyard but that thing needs trimmed every few months, grows like crazy.

Thanks, I thought about that. The gate will have a deadbolt so he can't get out of the yard and nobody can get in, will have to move te mailbox and have it put on one of the pillars.