Consider Austin's Molineux. It is a bit more upright than Carefree Sunshine (that isn't true for many, maybe for most, Austins, by the way) and thus might work better as a hedge. It is a blend of yellow/gold/apricot--sometimes looking very yellow/yellowish white, but at other times the golden and apricot tones predominate. I love how it changes color combinations. It is quite floriferous and good on disease-resistance though it may need an occasional fungal spray. Mine have never had any serious fungus problems, however. It has a fuller bloom than Carefree Sunshine does. Lots of people prefer Carefree Sunshine, so go with what looks best to you. Kate

andrea, I believe Newton Sentry and Monumentale are two different cultivars. Pictures of Newton Sentry are much more like a Lombardy Popular than what is on Whitman's site for Monumentale. I read somewhere along the way that Monumentale is difficult to find due to the fact of propagation problems. This is due to the difficulty of obtaining scions from the almost total lack of branching. So assuming that is correct, then it would be easy to see why some grower(s) would want to use another narrow cultivar as a sub. All of which adds up to being very careful about where you acquire the tree from. As for the root control bags, they are very helpful for preventing circling roots. The ideal is that fine roots start to grow through the bags, but are chocked off, forcing new roots for sprout further back. The nursery industry as a whole seems to be slowly moving in that direction due to the reduction of circling roots, and the fact that these are better for producing trees with tap roots (i.e. white oak, scarlet oak) that can be difficult to transplant otherwise, as the root control bags force a more fibereous root system on those. Lastly, I bought a dogwood recently from Whitman's, and I am happy with what I got from her. Check her feedback on Garden Watch Dog. Also if you want to call her on Sunday, I don't think that's a problem. Before I ordered the dogwood, I asked when to call, and she said "anytime". Let us know how it goes. Arktrees

Some smaller magnolia grandiflora cultivars might suit that location. Plant descriptions usually say full sun, but they will grow in partial shade, they'll just be less dense and may bloom less or not at all. Look for 'Little Gem', 'Baby Doll' or 'Teddy Bear'. 'Little Gem' is planted a lot in my area as a columnar evergreen small tree, and does well in a variety of conditions. I don't know anything about its deer resistance, sorry. Edited to add: have you considered trellis panels and some climbing vines? There are lots of shade-tolerant climbing vines to choose from, though they can require a little maintenance.

Hi Ritholtz - Leylands are beautiful trees. If you want to trim them that short, they may be more prone to disease over time. It's better to find a plant that you can prune a bit closer to it's mature height. Maybe other can weigh in on this? Neil Sperry says never to "top" a tree. Because I read recently that Neil Sperry (or Howard Garrett) no longer recommends Leyland Cypress for Texas, I marked it off of my consideration list (arborvitae's are prone to a lot of insects?). Because of that, I am focusing more on junipers. You can google evergreen plant nursery for dimensions, "mature" rate, etc... If you are interested, I would do some further research. Last night I was looking at some videos of Wax Myrtle on youtube. I recommend checking the videos and google "wax myrtle trees" images. Yes, they do need to be pruned and trained as a tree (some people want them to grow more as a shrub). They take really well to pruning so it is possible to make them look like a nice tree. I found some really nice ones. Right now, I'm looking at the Majestic Beauty Indian Hawthorne; It grows to the right dimensions, is evergreen, drought tolerant. I would have to find a larger size since it is only moderate growing... Here's what I'm doing - a combination of spartan juniper, Nellie Steven's Holly, Blue Point Juniper, Majestic Beauty Indian Hawthorne, and Cleveland Pear (hardier version of the Bradford Pear - a bit larger and still very dense). I know some people hate the pears but I think they are "well-groomed" and provide good density. Cleveland is less prone to blowing over in an ice storm. Also, according to Neil Sperry, they have a moderate lifespan (25-50 years) and fast growing. In all these trees, I'm taking into consideration - hardiness, drought resistance, density (for privacy) and beauty. I've been reading Neil Sperry's gardening book to help narrow down choices; I recommend it! Hope you can find some answers!