Would like to plant some fast growing tall trees to provide extra privacy beside our panel fences (around 58 panels for the bit I'm thinking of). Are conifers the best or does anyone have any other suggestions? Thank you. xx

Silver birch give good screening without blocking out light.

i think they are called llyandi they are fast growing trees seem to shoot up over night and you can chop the tops off to keep them at a certain height they grow huge

Depends how far away from the house, As JG says, Silver Birch are good, but bare in mind, however high a tree is WITHOUT pruning (so even if you prune it it will be this at pre pruned height, if you lay it down the roots are that long.
IE if you are looking at 3 meters away from a house, you would NOT want Silver Birch,
Laylandii are fast growing, but need cutting once a year, you cannot leave them uncut for a year otherwise they get totally out of control. You also cant grow much underneath them as they sap water and are very acidic
If your looking for a hedge typw, Thuja is slower growing sister to Laylandii, but doesnt grow as quick :)
Willow is another one that is quick growing but needs to be a LONG way away from the house as they sap water like noones business.
Where are you looking at putting them, Do you want a complete screen or just shade etc etc etc
Lea :) :)

> you can chop the tops off to keep them at a certain height they grow huge

You have to be careful with the pruning of conifers. It they aren't pruned regularly, a sudden prune will leave large brown areas that look unsightly. Conifers are fine if pruning won't be required in the future - so only suitable on a boundary if neighbours aren't going to want overhanging branches removed.

I wouldn't put Leylandii if I were you, they are a nightmare to control!  The other disadvantage of them is that they tend to prevent any grass growing underneath them as the roots are near the surface and soak up all the moisture from the ground.

I love my neighbours Leylandii hedge, it's very easy to cut, looks good, grew really fast to the required height and smells so lovely when I trim it too. As an aside, definitely not berberis. My own berberis hedge is a nightmare, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. When I trim the hedge the poor dogs pick up spikes in their paws for months after.

Would bamboo be any use?

> (so even if you prune it it will be this at pre pruned height, if you lay it down the roots are that long.
>

This was discussed on Gardeners Question Time (was it this week or last? :)) and they said the opposite, that you can expect the root length to be limited if you prune regularly and indeed would die back if an oversized tree or shrub was pruned down.  Sooo......who's right?  :-D
Also, regarding hedging, didn't the governement pass some new laws about leylandii etc and what height they would be allowed to grow when bordering anothers property?

I dont know whos right, Its what I got taught in horticultural college :) :) Would rather air on the side of caution and go with the view I was taught rather than the other view :)
Incidentally we often come across live roots alot further away from a pruned tree than if you laid it down, where there is no other trees around or have been :) :) (just an aside, roots still live even if you cut a tree down if the stump isnt killed :) :) )
You can go to the council to complain and  get them to look at how high a neighbours hedge is, and if it is inpeding your light, but in this area you have to pay for the privaledge, it was about £400 for the privaledge, has reduced to about £250. But even if your complaint is upheld you still dont get the money back :)
I havnt heard of a new law but would be interested if there was :) :)
Lea :) :)

It's for use on our own land, so no neighbour issues. We are installing a timber clad static caravan as a holiday let and have put this in the paddock. We are replacing the paddock fencing with close board fencing and want to add the trees to give both clients and us some added privacy.

If it's primarily privacy in summer but less vital in winter then hazel makes a nice barrier, gives you nuts and in winter doesn't block out too much light but the branches still give some privacy.

The advantage and disadvantage of leylandii is the fast growth.  You will find it can easily get out of hand, need a lot of work to maintain it at reasonable height, and if allowed to get out of hand will need a tree surgeon (not cheap) to prune it back.

If you don't mind having to give it a trim and a re-weave every year, what about a fedge ?, cross between a fence and a hedge made from living willow. But as has been mentioned, not recommended for near houses.
[url=http://www.willowkits.co.uk/html/willow__fedges_.html][/url]

One of the best options is a hedge of mixed native trees and lower growing specimens.  Hawthorn grows very quickly and can be mixed with beech, blackthorn, hazel, alder, field maple etc.  For colour and food you can also plant cherry or apple trees - there is a good guide here.  The benefit of this type of hedge is that it hosts and feeds a wide variety of species and provides a more natural screen and windbreak.  You could plant one of two evergreen varieties at key points along the length if it suits you.  Yew grows to a fair height in less time than you might imagine and although beech isn't evergreen it does hold on to it's leaves for quite some time when planted in a hedge.  Behind the hedge you can plant honeysuckle which will achieve a very good height if you extend a few fence posts or provide some wire for support - there are other good climbers which although not evergreen will provide a lattice of branches to help screen the view.

Due to the desirability of hedgerows like these you can sometimes get grants or subsidised special offers so it's well worth having a look online.  You can get good advice from Defra, and from there good links to the RSPB etc for lots more information.  Oh and you can buy the plants/sticks from commercial nurseries or plant auctions to further reduce the costs. 

Another big advantage is that you'll improve the outlook for your visitors and provide an opportunity for seeing birds they might not get in their own gardens, particularly if you are in a rural area :)

That sounds lovely and would give something to look at and enjoy at every part of the year, provide food and shelter for birds and wildlife.

I planted exactly this kind of native mix 16 years ago as a windbreak--hazel, hawthorn, blackthorn, field maple, viburnum, honeysuckle, rowan and ash. The hedge around my allotments has been laid once and is due again this winter, is dense as can be and is more stockproof than a fence. The section around the front of our row has been trimmed back twice and is huge, at least 5m tall. It cuts out all the wind (which at this elevation can be severe) and we've had a healthy population of hedgehogs, amphibians and birds. It's not as fast growing as Leylandii but far more beautiful and rewarding. Plant whips in two rows, offset, so that three whips form a triangle.

I'm not a great fan, but conifers are probably the quickest growers - but you absolutely must treat them like a hedge once they are established.  If conifers are left they will go mad and grow taller than your house within a few years (and may cause friction with neighbours).

Yew is poisonous to dogs so wouldn't be intentionally planting this stuff if you have dogs.