fasr growing trees

[dondons]

my neighbour has cut down some trees in his garden leaving an ugly view. I would like to plant a couple of trees as a screen. I know leylandii are fast growing but I will not have them as I view them as a menace!! I would much prefer a useful tree like a fruit tree or a particularly beautiful tree. But would it grow quickly enough?and would there be enough branches and leaves to act as a screen?Have you any suggestions? And 2nd question = roughly how much would such a tree cost?

[WendyS]

I believe eucalyptus trees are pretty fast growers and whilst other trees round here are now shedding their leaves in the rainstorms, a eucalyptus tree near us still has all its leaves intact, so may screen your view for longer in winter.

Alternatively, could you erect a series of strong high poles along the area in question and plant a series of decorative green & variegated leaved ivies to climb up around them.? Ivy grows very quickly if its roots are established in good manured soil and thickens and bulks up so would form an evergreen screen all year round. A neighbour near us had some leylandii denuded of branches and reduced in height. Various ivies are now established and densely growing around the bare trunks. . They are also a valuable roosting and place of shelter for the birds.
Ivy is very inespensive to buy. The main expense here would be getting some really sturdy thick poles anchored firmly in the ground, and if necessary, some crossbars between the poles to enable the ivy to twine around them.

[Thunderbird+]

Hi dondons,
A tree or trees that might fit the bill are the flowering crabs, that colourful fruits which can be used to make jelly and wine, and you also have the added bonus of beautiful blossom in the spring, they are deciduous so the screen will not be so effective during the winter months but this,you may find is out-weighed by the other bennifits.

A cuople of good varieties are Malus 'John Downie' and M. 'Golden hornet' which produces lovely littls golden apples.
You should be able to pick one up for under �20.00
Good Luck Tbird+