Hi wise garden people.
I have recently tree changed, to a very dilapidated 1900's weather board cottage on your classic quarter acre town block in a small town in the upper hunter nsw. Its considered a cold climate here as the frosts are nasty, but can get baking hot in summer. Its a flood plain, with black clay like soil. Very fertile but dense slightly water logged when it rains and cracks in summer. Now Ive never gardened in my life, so this is all new for me, but it is a rather barren quarter acre of lawn, and flat. Surrounded my paddocks on 2 sides and a business on the western side. Now my question is...... I need a fast growing hedge on my western fence line. To block out the road and the business. Not knowing what Im doing Ive done some random plantings of fruit trees and a some tube stock of weeping accacias along the back fence. But a friend suggested I really need a plan. I have a very small to non existent budget for such things. A friend suggested a row of poplars as they will shade the house and then a hedge in front, but Im not so keen on poplars. Lilli Pillis apparently dont like the frost here, and everyone seems to grow those red robins, which I dont like. Im very keen to keep it as native as possible, and I like the idea of things being productive. But something fast growing would be nice. I have about 3 metres between the fence line and the side of the house on the western side. Along the back fence will be a row of weeping accacias, and then I need a shrub to plant in front of that. Along the eastern side in the back corner I have a newly created vege patch, and Im not sure what I should plant along that side. I have attached a photo. Im a little overwhelmed, as I just dont see how I can back this rather depressing backyard look ok without some serious money, and there are bathrooms to be built etc, so any advice or suggestions would be great.
Ren