I'm not sure this is the proper place to post this question, but I'd like to add a few conifers to my landscape along a low brick wall separating our house
from the neighbor on one side. This is a narrow space, probably no more than 10 feet wide, and it is where my a/c units are located beside our house,
so I need something fairly narrow in spread. I'd prefer a conifer with a columnar or vase shape and was considering a hicksii yew, but in reading up on
them, they spread more than is acceptable. The conifers will be planted along the low wall, of course, so some spread into the neighbor's yard
will occur, as well as the spread into our side space. I'm planting 4 Emerald arborvitae in the front of the house, one at each corner and one on each side of a
bow window, and it may well be that this is what I'll have to use along the side.

Any input or suggestions would be helpful.

Look at Juniperus chinensis/Chinese Juniper.
There is one called 'Spartan' which should stay narrow as it grows, but as they say "your mileage may vary".

Are the trees being planted for privacy? Since the space is so narrow have you considered adding a decorative fence on top of the low wall and planting some type of vine which will hug the wall and the fence? This link has some suggestions for evergreen vines in your area. https://www.wildflower.org/exp...

One more question please. Have you talked the neighbor with whom you share the property line? They may have some suggestions as to what might work and please both parties.

Sky Pencil Holly http://landscaping.about.com/o...
Arborvitae Degroot's Srire http://www.monrovia.com/plant-...
Hope this helps.

I'd hesitate to plant conifers that close to the house because they are not a good fire safe plant.

Of course, I live in wild fire country and that is an automatic concern.

I do like greene's suggestion because they probably would enjoy their privacy, too.

Smiles,
Lyn

Thinking back to the air conditioning unit.
I recall something about plant in close proximity need extra waters; are prone to dry out too quickly. If there is a row of (hopefully identical) conifers, the ones closest to the A/C unit may be under more stress and may look and grow differently - or may fail to thrive.

Good point about the fire hazard!! Wow, live and learn.

The a/c units need good air circulation to perform well so planting conifers too close should be avoided. Yews are more forgiving of pruning than some others.

Thanks, Everyone, for all the suggestions. Sky pencils and DeGroot's Spire I have already considered and having experience with DeGroot's Spire, it's on my
list. Sky Pencils tend to be blunt at the top and that's not the look I'm seeking. Wild fire hazards are not a concern here, so that helps narrow my field. The house
next door is a rental, which is why I want the privacy. Also, part of my side yard is visible from a side street, since my neighbor sits on a corner lot, so that needs
to be screened as well. I'm probably going to decide between the Emerald Arborvitae and the DeGroot's Spire, but all suggestions will be carefully considered. There
should be enough space between the wall and the a/c units, although my primary concern is farther back from them.

My sincere appreciation to all of you for your suggestions. I can always count on my friends here on ATP to help with my planting questions!

Thanks, Everyone, for all the suggestions. Sky pencils and DeGroot's Spire I have already considered and having experience with DeGroot's Spire, it's on my
list. Sky Pencils tend to be blunt at the top and that's not the look I'm seeking. Wild fire hazards are not a concern here, so that helps narrow my field. The house
next door is a rental, which is why I want the privacy. Also, part of my side yard is visible from a side street, since my neighbor sits on a corner lot, so that needs
to be screened as well. I'm probably going to decide between the Emerald Arborvitae and the DeGroot's Spire, but all suggestions will be carefully considered. There
should be enough space between the wall and the a/c units, although my primary concern is farther back from them.

What I may do in the section near the a/c units is something similar to Greene's suggestion of the privacy fencing: trellises with moonflower vines for summer bloom
and fragrance, combined with clematises.

My sincere appreciation to all of you for your suggestions. I can always count on my friends here on ATP to help with my planting questions!

Sorry for the double answer. I didn't think I hit the "finished" tab.

Hemophobic said:
...privacy fencing: trellises with moonflower vines for summer bloom and fragrance, combined with clematises.

Wow, what you describe is even prettier than what I had imagined.. Sounds good! Look forward to the photos as the project progresses.

Hang onto your hat, Greene. The trees will be planted this fall and the trellises and vines will go in next spring. I will definitely keep a photo diary.

(Lifting my hat to you!) I'll hold my hat, hold my horses and hold my breath.
Creating new landscape areas is exciting...both for the people who have the vision and do the labor, but also for those of us who hope and dream.

It is most exciting. I just wish my energy weren't starting to diminish so much! Can't keep up with my wishes and dreams
anymore.

These photos will give y'all a better idea of what I'm dealing with and trying to accomplish.

The arbor swing (which I will be painting soon). You can see how close the neighbor's carport is to my house and the side street beyond her yard. This will be screened off.


The side yard looking from the swing to the front of the house:

BTW, about midway of the front yard on this side will be a bed containing a laburnum alpinum, with alliums and other perennials and shrubs underneath. The laburnum is
currently being nurtured in a pot for planting out.

The side yard looking from front to rear:

On the front corner here I will be planting one of those arborvitae Emeralds to screen the a/c units from the street, along with hydrangea(s) and perennials. All of the area from
the first a/c unit backward has been planted and mulched already. There were many, many overgrown shrubs along this side of the house when we bought it last year and
they have been removed. A huge improvement, IMHO.

The back of the swing, where I really, really want good screening:


The front of the house where the 4 Emerald arborvitae will be planted, perhaps as soon as next week:

One on either side of the bow window and one at each corner.

I spent all of last summer and fall removing all the overgrown shrubbery from around the house, planted a few tulip bulbs in the fall and started generally cleaning up the yard.
This was the nightmare I had to deal with the back yard: I finally had it completely removed and leveled off, grass seed sown. My g-granddaughter (age 8) and I moved every on
of those wall blocks by hand and riding mower to the front yard where they were placed in a circle around the 2 dogwood trees there. Many good plants lived in this back yard
circle and I would love to have saved it, but it had been neglected for so long and the weeds had moved in with a vengeance. It would have taken me several years of hard work
to reclaim it. I saved as many of the plants as I could, gave some to my neighbor and called in the Bobcat! My plantings will be confined to the perimeter of the yard.


Enough for now. If I were only 10 years younger!

Whew, big job!! Wish we could all come for a weekend and help. The photos help quite a bit. I had imagined the 'low wall' to be about 2-3 feet tall. Thank your lucky stars to have such a helpful granddaughter!