It’s About Thyme
by CHRIS WINSLOW
If you’re tired of the sight of your neighbor’s old car on blocks, or if you prefer the idea of your morning swim being a more private affair, then it might be time to turn your thoughts to creating screens and barriers with plants.
A few years ago Paul Kaskie (Southern Wood subdivision) wanted to screen out road noise, and wanted it fast.
He planted primrose jasmine (Jasminum mesnyi)… a sensible choice. This shrub is a fast grower, and has deep green leaves with lemon-yellow, unscented flowers in late winter and early spring.
It normally grows six feet high, but can grow like a vine up to 10 feet high if it has some support. And if you give it adequate space, it can become two to three times as wide as tall.
Primrose jasmine can tolerate shade but does its best in partial to full sun. It can tolerate drought once established. However, it will grow faster and fill in better if it gets adequate water.
Paul showed me an effective and simple way to incorporate a drip irrigation system so that the newly planted plants could automatically get the water they needed to grow fast and thrive.
To provide regular water, Paul ran flexible ¾ inch drip pipe along the length of the planting row and pinned it to the ground. Later he hid the pipe under a cover of mulch.
At the base of each plant he inserted two to five gallon per hour emitters. At the water faucet end, he installed a battery timer that could be programmed for multiple start times and durations. This allowed him to water his screen without being there.
This was planted a few years ago, and the outcome is substantial and beautiful. Paul now has an effective sight and sound barrier.
On the other side of town, Paisley Robertson had a different dilemma: how to block the view of the two-story balcony porches that stared down upon her backyard.
Paisley’s solution: build a tall trellis and plant an evergreen flowering vine. By doing this she has flowers and an effective living barrier all year.
We live in an area where the climate allows us to choose from a variety of screening and barrier plants. Paul and Paisley both made good choices.
Here are some others:
On the evergreen vine side, my favorites are tangerine beauty crossvine, Texas coral honeysuckle, carolinae jasmine and confederate jasmine.
On the evergreen shrub side, there is yaupon holly, bay laurel (also a culinary herb), xylosma, eleagnus, compact cherry laurel, southern wax myrtle, the viburnums (at least five varieties to choose from), loquat, clumping bamboo and primrose jasmine.
If the irrigation part that I wrote about sounds a little difficult, give me a call, and I will be happy to give a hands-on demonstration.
Happy gardening everyone!
If you have a question for Chris, send it via email to iathyme@yahoo.com. Or mail a postcard to It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748 www.itsaboutthyme.com
