|
- What are the most common soil-borne diseases in
the Pacific Northwest?
- What can I do about verticillium wilt?
- My new homeowners' association won't allow me to
build a fence. How can I create more privacy in my yard?
- How can I buffer my lovely garden oasis from ugly
street noise?
There are four soil-borne diseases common to this area: oak root fungus,
verticillium wilt, Phytophthora, and Texas root rot.
Verticillium wilt is caused by fungi in the soil that may persist for many
years. There is no known treatment that will guarantee the safety of
wilt-susceptible, deep-rooted trees and shrubs, but thorough fumigation has been
found to make the soil safe for the growing of shallow-rooted plants.
Many communities do not allow fences in visible areas, and they may also
create more of a barrier between you and your neighbors than you really want.
There are many landscaping options available that provide privacy. Consider
these:
| Arbors. An simple structure covered with vines will provide overhead
protection and will often not fall under the regulations that forbid the
erection of fences. |
| Berms. A mound of soil planted with trees and shrubs will provide privacy
and buffer noise. |
| Hedges. When kept properly clipped, hedges are excellent privacy screens
that also act as barriers to wind and noise. |
| Trees. A single mature tree will offer higher line-of-sight privacy than
other options. |
Decorative plantings will soften the appearance of solid barriers.
While fences can provide privacy from prying eyes, most do not offer much protection from noise. Reinforce your fence with
natural privacy plantings to create a wide and varied buffer zone between your garden and the street.
All rights reserved.
Revised: 03/17/01.
|