Hey everyone! I'm planning to spruce up my side yard this spring, but I've hit a bit of a snag. I have a narrow strip of dirt—just about 12 inches wide—next to a 5 ft chain-link fence that I want to fill with a thin hedge. The tricky part? It's completely shaded by some neighbor's pine and hickory trees. I can't relocate the fence or walkway, and I need the hedge to be around 5 ft tall without breaking the bank. Plus, I have a bunch of stray cats that roam around, so I want to avoid any toxic plants. I'm in Growing Zone 6. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
2 Answers
I faced a similar situation and ended up laying down a couple of inches of clear stone in my tight area. It really helped keep the weeds down, cleaned everything up, and added some brightness without needing a hedge. Might not solve the privacy issue completely, but it looks nice!
You might want to consider growing a vine along the fence instead. They can be really great for tight spaces like yours and can add some nice greenery without taking up too much width. Just look for shade-tolerant varieties that work for Zone 6! Maybe something like a climbing hydrangea could do the trick? Just be prepared to trim it back periodically to keep it neat.