A. In a narrow area,
consider tall and thin plants like junipers or Will Fleming yaupon.
You might also want to layer plants. One idea would be a layer of
ornamental grasses and a second layer of perennials (or the other
way around, depending on what you select).
At the back, plant a taller
shrub. For privacy year round, select evergreens. Many also have
flowers and berries to attract wildlife.
Remember that the plants don't
have to be that tall to provide a screen, depending on the area
that needs privacy. Another advantage of a screen is as a sound
block. You will block sound three times the distance as the plant
is tall.
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Producer's note: I prefer to use
this method to hide my chain link fence and to provide privacy.
On the sunny fencerow, I have rusty blackhaw viburnum, an Isabella
sprunt rose, kidneywood, coralvine on the fence itself, a mutabilis
rose, mountain laurel and a climbing rose on a trellis. In front,
I use native grasses Mexican feather grass and gulf muhly.
I've also planted penstemon sage, black-eyed Susans,
liatris, coneflowers, tecoma stans, flame acanthus and firebush.
I sprinkle in larkspur seeds and a mix of wildflower seeds for spring
beauty.
At the edge, I planted winecups. On the shady fence,
I have another mixture including aromatic sumac (not evergreen),
'snowball' viburnums (evergreen with very fragrant spring flowers),
primrose jasmine at the corners, a trellis of crossvine, various
large salvias, butterfly iris, shrimp plant and inland seaoats.
I layer it in front with various smaller plants like
oxalis, lemon verbena, gulf penstemons, salvia lyrata, my beloved
columbine and pigeonberry.
On the back fence, I'm slowly cultivating a hedge of
mountain laurels, started from seed. In front, I have Turk's cap,
pavonia, inland seaoats and a bunch of other things. Let your imagination
go wild. There are countless suitable plants for sun and shade.
It makes a much more interesting screen than a static row.
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 Flameleaf
sumac -- Skip describes this as a perfect Aggie/U.T.
plants for its colors of burgundy and burnt orange. It's one of
the most outstanding plants for rich fall color. It's deer resistant,
and requires little care.
It grows to 10-20' with a 10-15' spread. Good food source
for bees and birds. This is the one you'll see growing wild in west
Austin, where it seems to set the hills on fire. It is deciduous,
but not for long, and the autumn show is worth it.
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