Seven years ago I planted a 3 row windbreak along my north and west property borders, but it is still too short to do much good and I've had to replace a number of spruces that couldn't handle the spring run-off conditions some of those years. My house is still buffeted by winds along those sides. I have no shrubs planted along the north or west sides of one wing and want to put a focal small-growing tree, shrub or grouping at the corner.

The main problem is in the spring. We often have overly warm periods in April and May where leaves start unfurling. Then, inevitably we get a cold, frost or freeze combined with high winds which blackens and kills the leaves. This may repeat 2 or 3 times before the weather stabilizes.

I don't know what to do about this situation. I suppose I could try to put up a physical barrier near the young tree/shrubs, but what happens when they top that barrier? They will still be subjected to the same killing conditions in spring when leaves emerge too soon.

Advice?