thinking of planting cedars

[Tim]

in my backyard. Are these difficult to take care of?

[frostyone]

Once established, they're low maintenance as far I know, Tim.

Helped my brother plant some, years ago, and he hasn't done much since to them.
Neighbours have them and they say the same.

[Tim]

thanks frostyone. We aren't noted for our excellent plant care, the neighbor has one that looks a little brown. But these would look great as a barrier to the neighbor across for privacy and some more green.

[Deb]

Cedars bring "skeeters". (Mosquitos)

[BillD]

I have a fifteen foot hedge across the back of my yard. The new neighbours don't look after it, so it is getting unkempt. It hasn't been trimmed in 5 or 6 years, and it is their hedge. They do need to be trimmed to stay full. I have no mosquitos.

[Glen]

My neighbours have 2/3 of their yard surrounded by cedar hedges. It looks nice and I have a ton of skeeters. Can't sit out most nights.

[Lesley]

I think mosquitoes come with cedars that aren't maintained. They need to be trimmed properly and more importantly raked out really well underneath so that there's no buildup of rotting matter for the bugs to breed in. I've got cedars on both sides of my property and across most of the back. I've got some mosquitoes but no more of a problem than anyone else in the neighbourhood.

[Tim]

skeeters are definitely a consideration.

Any other recommendations besides cedars? I don't like the 'hedges' look much, prefer small trees that provide some privacy from neighbors.

[Number6]

Would you be planting the cedars or whatever allow a fence for added privacy or is there no fence? If you have a fence you could plant ivy and let it follow the fence. In a 3 or 4 years it will be absolutely solid green from Spring until Winter and no maintainance except the leave that drop (which I usually let blow away).

[Frogy]

I don't know if you've planted already but you may want to consider Junipers instead of cedar. If you like a blue spruce you'll like the Moffat Juniper. They have a natural shape and grow to about 4m high. Hardy to zone 4. (I believe TO is zone 5)

[Tim]

thx frogy. We haven't yet we are still finishing kitchen and bath. We just got our granite counter tops finally, and friday we actually have a working sink!

[Glen]

I sat out when I got home tonight (11:25pm). I lasted 15 minutes before I was forced back in by skeeters.

[gollychuck]

Skeeters need to live as well, remove water and you have no skeeters.

My ceders have outgrown themselves 35 years starting to die.or white fly have killed them by not spraying anymore.you cannot have both.