When it first arrived, the chemical smell of the plastic was overpowering.  However, it has been in place on my balcony as a privacy screen for three days now and the smell has almost gone.  The hedge itself is really lovely and looks like a living hedge!  It is a little fiddly to attach to the railings using the ties and I hope the ties are strong enough to hold it in place.  Use all the ties!  I did not and we had a storm with strong winds which disengaged one of the panels.  I have now used all the ties that were sent.  My only suggestion would be to include two packets of ties with this product so that replacements are included if any break.  The hedge is exactly what I wanted to create privacy in one corner.