Ok, I live on a small horse farm in Missouri. I have pasture that goes up to the front of my property. I planted white pines on the outside of my fence line and they are doing pretty well overall. What I didn't realize is that they tend to be pretty susceptible to disease. They were planted to give me privacy from the busy road out front.

So, I've been considering putting something on the inside of the fence as a "Plan B" so that if the White Pines start to die that I am not left with these gaping holes.

I need help in selecting the right type of replacement privacy screen.

I have a water line that goes horizontally across the entire width of my property, so I need something that won't grow crazy roots like poplar trees.

Some other things to consider:

1. Good soil drainage
2. Provide privacy screen 6' or higher
3. Full Sun
4. Non-toxic to horses
5. Drought and disease resistant
6. Low maintenance
7. Fast or semi-fast growing
8. This may be difficult to predict, but one can try... not tasty to horses.

Some shrubs I have been looking at are

1. Hybrid Willows (they look like they might be tasty to the horses though)
2. Pink Honeysuckle (neighbor said they attract bees, is that true for all honey suckle varieties)?
3. Bridle white spirea
4. Purple Lilac (my favorite really, but again think they might be tasty to the horses)

I am really open to suggestions. I don't have a super green thumb, but am always willing to try something new.

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

Answer #1 · Brent Wilson's Answer · Hi Kerri - Not sure exactly where you are in Missouri, but you'll need plants that will grow in zone 5b to 7a. Most of the plants that you've been looking at will lose their foliage during the winter. I don't have any experience with hybrid willows. The honeysuckle, Bridal Spirea, and Purple Lilac should do fine in your area. If you want to add in some evergreen plants to the list you already have, here's some suggestions of plants that I have experience with:

Gold Mop Cypress
Prague Viburnum
Blue Hollies
Iowa Juniper
Blue Point Juniper
China Boy & China Girl Holly
Hollywood Juniper (Juniperus torulosa)
Hetzi Column Juniper

These are all drought tolerant when established and will: tolerate full sun, require good soil drainage, grow 6 feet or taller, are low maintenance, medium to fast growing when planted in fertile, loose soil, and are for the most part long-lived and disease resistant. Not sure if horses like to eat them or if they are toxic to horses? If horses are like deer, they usually don't like coniferous evergreens such as junipers. I've never heard anything about holly being toxic to horses. If you happen to be down in the southeast corner of Missouri, in Zone 7a, let me know and I can add a few plants to the list.

Hope this helped. Let me know if you have any further questions.
Brent)

Answer #2 · Kerri Van's Answer · Thank you so much Brent. I live just 30 minutes south of Kansas City. I like your suggestions. Horses rarely nibble on evergreen type trees or shrubs, so those are some great ideas. I hadn't thought about evergreen type because I didn't know of any that were semi- fast or fast growing hoping that before any White Pines might die that are in the front row, that it didn't take years and years just to fill the gaps.

Now, to find a nursery that I can buy them as "starters" because I have a good long stretch to plant and can't afford to buy them at local nursery prices. I was buying much of my trees from the Arbor Day Foundation, but it doesn't appear they sell any of those you listed above. I'll google for some online nurseries. Berger comes to mind, but I'm sure there are plenty others. Any/ all suggestions welcome!

Thanks again!)