TREE AND SHRUBSLeaf it to me

Good fast-growing screening shrubs/trees that will reach 15-20 ft tall in a short period of time?

My idiot neighbor cut down all the English Laurel between our properties, which was perfect screening (it was actually on my property, grrrrr). However, before re-planting with English Laurel again, I was wondering if there are some other options I should take a look at? I live in the Oakland Hills in the Bay Area, I can’t remember what Sunset zone that is.

How annoying for you! The mania to chop everything down will be the end of us, eventually.

It depends whether you want a flowering screen or not. Fast growing
and flowering would be Oleanders, which come in all colours of pink
as well as yellow and white. They can be planted quite close
together, and with some early pruning thicken out well. I have some
in my garden which are about 14 feet tall. Another fast-growing
option are the Leylandii Cypress. These also can have their tops
cut off to encourage bushiness, and grow very tall, up to
about 100 feet, at the rate of about 3-4 feet per year.

Neither of these options are overly expensive. There are many
other shrubs but the majority are not evergreen and will not afford
the privacy you require. Make a visit to your local nursery–you
may find something there which you prefer.

You will also have the job of removing the remainder of your
unfortunate laurels, including the roots, and digging the soil well,
along your boundary. Add some compost to improve the soil for
your new planting to ensure healthy (and quick) growth.

Hope this helps, and Good Luck with your new fence!
(I hope your neighbour respects it, too.)

Screening Trees and Shrubs For the Northeast