Are you looking to purchase the larger size screening plants (along with the focal points) this year?

Perhaps start there and work on the rest latter.

Have you googled key words "chicago nursery"? It will likely give you hits outside of Chicago as well.

Personally I'd work out a plan for scale and placement then worry about which plants. You are getting ahead of yourself and will get overwhelmed quickly.

Have you considered working a plan out with a nursery or designer?

Are you planting for screenign and the look or do you want to get into gardening?

Give us key facts here as its too opened ended right now.

Not sure how many will read through the 50+ posts in the design forum.

I got ahead of myself with that post!

Are you touch with the microclimates in your yard? This will be critical in selecting plants. Note as much if you plan to go native or select the tried and true. If anything be sure to diversify.

Whitch areas are wet or dry?

How does the house effect sun exposure?

Do you notice certain areas of snow drifting?

Do you know what kind of soil you have or if it is consistent throughout your yard?

didnt i refer you to foxwillow in another post??? .. if so.. get there first.. and budget a couple conifers to star in your future scape ... they will be expensive.. but they will make an immediate impact ... and dont forget.. you can look at conifers in winter .... so there is no reason to wait until summer to go to this nursery ...

as for trees ... i find that 2 to 5 footers ... max.. transport easier [presuming you are a one man work force] ... plant easier .. recover faster.. get established faster.. and will outgrow something twice as big [and 4 times as expensive] within 5 years .. IMHO ...

planting in your z5 chicago .. should be around 4/1 ... giving your trees 6 to 8 weeks before the real heat of summer hits ...

your trees should be fully dormant ..

and no matter which type you get.. i would bare root them at the size i suggest.. and plant them in native soil ... [with special rules for bad clay] ...

i am not in your BANG FOR THE BUCK club ... i want a tree that is easy to deal with and easy to grow.. all factors become increasingly complicated.. the bigger your bang is ...

and.. as to your dream for that upnorth feel .. that cracks me up ... but you better have a ten year plan for that look.. or a multimillion dollar budget ...

below are some pics of what took 10 years in my former horse pasture[not counting the giant trees] ... and all but one of the conifers were under 2 foot when planted ... and the trees 4 to 6 foot bare root ...

its great that you have a long term goal of that upnorth feel ... but please put it in the proper decade long perspective ...

good luck

ken

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that redbud was 4 feet tall 10 years ago
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Thanks for the responses. We ideally are looking for a screening/privacy affect, but understand it may take years. We also are realistic that a true northwoods feel is impossible, but would like that type of "flavor". Hopefully we can achieve some privacy with conifers and shrubs while the decidious trees grow.

We are on a budget and can't spend hundreds of dollars on one tree. That being said, we don't want to cut corners and buy damaged/weak plants. We are looking for a happy medium between quality and price.

Most of the yard is high ground with a storm drain in the southeast corner (back right corner when facing towards back) and another in the neighbor's backyard to the north (front left corner when facing to the back). We never have any issues with standing water even during periods of heavy rain.

Our soil is mostly clay below the layer of topsoil (no sand). I remember how difficult it was to dig the wholes for the back porch!

We aren't looking to garden all the time (it would be impossible with the kids) but aren't afraid of hard work and maintenance.

Hopefully that helps clarify a bit!

Let's back up. Contrary to opinion, smaller trees actually grow faster than larger trees. IMHO you don't need anything over 2 - 21/2" caliper. Now price them according to how nice and healthy they look, and purchase the healthiest ones.

All this, of course, comes after the plan is complete.

My experience has been similar to ken's in that I've have found trees in the 3-4' range, typically in 5 gal pots seem to establish and grow the quickest.
I've gotten 61 trees established in 8 yrs, but typically only planted ~7-8 trees a year. Watering/caring/planting for 15 trees at once, along with 25-30 bushes is a bit daunting. Might want to divide that into a 2 yr. project.
Remember planting is the easy part. Routine watering goes on for 2 yrs or so to get them established, week after week.