How to create privacy screening hedge with potted plants?

[macd]

I want to create a privacy hedge to block out next door.  My issue is that it needs to be in pots as there are only solid surfaces(paving etc) in the area where the screen needs to go.

I am thinking the straight and narrow lily pilly would be good? ultimate height needs to be 3-4 metres

Could you advise what size pots I would need to use to create this screen along with how many plants per pot would I need.

Many thanks

[JacobZ · Accepted solution]

Hi @macd,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

Creating a privacy screen with potted plants is definitely possible, and lily pillies are a great choice because they’re tall, dense, evergreen, and well-suited to shaping into hedges. Since your goal is a 3–4 metre tall screen, the main considerations will be pot size, spacing, and long-term maintenance.

To support trees that large, you are going to need some fairly large pots, in the region of 200 litres, which would be around 70cm in diameter. If you are growing them from saplings, then you will need to increase their pots incrementally; you can't just go straight to a massive pot, as water will drain to the bottom of the pot, way out of the reach of their roots.

You should only plant one lily pilly per pot, as planting more than one will cause them to compete for root space, and they’ll become stressed as they grow taller. Instead, place the pots close together—roughly 80-100 cm apart, depending on how dense you want the hedge. Over time, their foliage will knit together to form a continuous screen.

It’s also worth noting that potted plants will dry out faster than those in the ground, so consistent watering is crucial, especially in hot or windy conditions. Adding good-quality potting mix designed for trees and shrubs, slow-release fertiliser, and a layer of mulch on top will help. You may also want to consider installing drip irrigation or linking the pots with irrigation tubing to make watering easier and more reliable.

Allow me to tag our knowledgeable gardeners @Noelle, @mich1972 and @robchin to see what they think. 

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[macd]

Hi Jacob,

Thank you so much for such a thorough and comprehensive response.  I do have a couple of questions if I may.

1.  Because of space would 500 x 500 x 500 pots work?

2. Where does one find a 700 pot that doesn't command a fortune?

3. Could I plant a 200mm or 300m  plant stock into the 500 pot straight away?

4 Which strain of Lily Pilly would you choose?

thanks in advance

mac

[JacobZ]

Hi @macd,

You could give the 500mm pots a try, but due to limited room for root growth, you might not be able to achieve that full 3-4m height you are after. The problem is that the larger the tree grows, the larger the roots need to be to support it.

There are options such as the Tuscan Path 75cm Grey Harper Bowl or Northcote Pottery 80cm Wine Barrel, which are roughly the size you'd need.

It's not advisable to plant young trees in big pots because water always sits at the bottom of the pots, and their young roots can't reach the water unless you saturate the entire soil mass, which can lead to issues like root rot. You are going to have much more success if you incrementally increase the pot diameter by around 10cm at a time, until a time when they require those bigger pots.

I'd use Lilly Pilly "Resilience" such as these 300mm Resilience Lilly Pilly - Syzygium australe Resilience. They grow to roughly 3m tall, with some good width and density for screen purposes. They also tolerate a wide range of conditions, including heat, humidity, and different soil types, which makes them very reliable in pots where plants can sometimes be a bit more stressed. While it won’t stay quite as slim as “Straight and Narrow,” it still grows into a dense, upright screen and will give you a healthy, low-maintenance hedge with fewer problems long term.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[JacobZ]

Hi @macd,

Just to throw another idea out there, have you considered using bamboo?

It is easy to work with and will form a usable screen in much less time than typical screening options like Lilly Pillies. 

We have a handy guide on How to plant a clumping bamboo hedge, which you could tailor to your specific situation.

Jacob  

[macd]

thanks again Jacob...

re pot size ... what is most critical  :depth,  width or length as I would like to use troughs or cubes for this project

cheers

mac

[macd]

yes have planted clumping bamboo 2 yrs later not much has happened...see attached pic

[JacobZ]

Hi @macd,

They all matter pretty equally because roots grow both down and outwards. If I had to pick one, though, it would be depth. The deeper the roots grow, the stronger the plant is anchored.

I'd say your bamboo isn't performing as you had hoped for the same reasons I am mentioning. Big and tall plants need big pots. At present, those bamboo plants are competing for every bit of water and every bit of nutrients in the soil.

If you regularly apply fertiliser and ensure they are well watered, they should thicken up, but they will always underperform if they are always fighting eachother for resources.

Let me know if you have further questions.

Jacob

[macd]

.....so now you've seen the area in question if I was to start again with bamboo in pots  can you  give me the rundown on what to do and what pots etc?

[JacobZ]

Hi @macd,

I'd suggest using a dense variety such as Bambusa Gracilis and planting one plant per pot. Each clump will naturally produce multiple stems as it matures, filling out to create the lush screen you want. 

For pots, you’ll need something large and deep to support both the height and the dense root system. The larger your pots, the better. Aim for a minimum of 500 mm wide and 500mm deep per plant, though if you can go larger, the bamboo will be healthier and easier to maintain long-term. Bamboo is very hungry for water and nutrients, so more soil volume makes a big difference.  As bamboo grows so rigorously, you would have more success than with a lilly pilly if you were to put it straight into a larger pot.

Space your pots relatively close together—roughly 1 metre apart should work. Over time, their foliage will knit together into a solid green wall.

Because bamboo in pots can dry out quickly, make sure to use a premium potting mix such as Searles 65L Premium Advanced Potting Mix, which contains water crystals to help with water retention. Regular watering, especially in summer, is crucial. Mulching the top of the pot will also help retain moisture.

Additionally, applications of a slow-release fertiliser such as Scotts Osmocote All Purpose Controlled Release Fertiliser at the beginning of spring and summer, which are the key growing periods, will help the bamboo to thrive.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob