We are replacing a board-on-board fence that was damaged last winter with a black chain link, so I want to get some shrubs in front pretty quick. The fence is on a steep hill at the back of our property. The upper part gets more sun than the lower part. I have thought of trying climbing hydrangea on the fence, but the dogs trampled the one I tried to start last year. I am planning to plant a mixture of things including H. tardiva. I am wondering what you all think of mixing those with fothergilla, maybe ninebark, Snow Day Surprise Exochorda, maybe a rhododendron (although I never have much luck with those)or two, Euonymus manhatten... I am looking for ideas on shrubs that will look great together because left on my own, I usually end up with a hodgepodge rather than a lovely cohesive garden!

The hill I want to plant is 76 feet long, so I do have space. I know I need to vary leaf sizes and textures, but I often don't get it quite right. I would love to have some evergreen plants mixed in and would like things that get at least 5-6 feet tall in the back of the border. I might even try a couple of camellias if you think that would work in any possible combination. We are in northern Virginia, so summers are hot and humid and often dry, although I do water.

Any thoughts are welcome. I can post a picture once the new fence is in to give you a better idea, but I figured all you brilliant folks could make suggestions nonetheless. It is a hard spot to plant because the incline is about a 30-45 degree slope-ugh. I will probably actually plant in the fall, both because that is smarter and because the area is heavily weedy right now! Oh-and our new neighbor on the other side has just planted a row of evergreens including leyland cypress and three or four pines, all of which are about 7 feet tall at this point. They won't have a huge impact on the amount of sun in the area I am planting because they will be to the east-could lose some of the early morning sun, though.

Thanks!

Cynthia

google 'wind breaks' ... that is a key word for what you are trying to do.. even though you are doing it for sight breaks.. but no one uses that term ..

contact your county or state soil conservation district office ... here in MI .. they are the wind screen peeps ... and they actually sell cheap small stock at the proper planting time ... local peeps will also have recommendations on stock favorable to your area ...

also ... at that distance and with the hill.. invest some money in real irrigation.. something 85 feet long.. and engineered for use on hills.. that can be attached to a hose ... it will be the difference between failure and success ... i could do it for under about $100 ... plus the hose to attach it to the house ...

you might also want to add soil type ...

no more leylands ...

i will bet.. if you get 2 foot pines ... in 5 years .. with the irrigation.. they will outgrow the 7 footers the neighbor planted ...

good luck

ken

Your irrigation idea is excellent. I will run it by DH who is not a gardener, but might enjoy the challenge.

Love your suggestion of the county/state soil conservation office, too. Oh and we have clay soil here. Where I live they usually refer to it as marine clay. Not the best, but not the worst soil either. I have some parts that I have tried to amend, but no way can I redo the whole yard-too old and achy these days. Working on that while I'm on vacation this summer though, so maybe I will be back in heavy-duty gardening mode by fall!