Hedges. A hedge is effectively just a wall of plants. You get to decide what the wall is composed of. Hedges can be of purely aesthetic benefit or they can take the place of a fence for screening purposes. Hedges provide excellent coverage from unwanted onlookers and unsightly views, and they are an economical option for both uses." - How long can you wait for the hedge to grow? What happens if one of the 9ft conifers dies , can you find one to replace? Most clients want immediate satifaction and somethings plants do not grow fast enough, and then dont stop growing at just the right height. The one photo that looks like a wall of privets, ---- would you want to prune? I think you need to evaluate - how much privacy you really need, does it have to be with plants, can a fence work, how much time you have to prune and care for the hedge..... Interesting read - HGTV!

Well, the Rachwell Ashwell Shabby Chic curtain that I admired in my brother's home looks like Shabby S*** in this room. Oh well, at least it's only temporary! I spoke to the designer yesterday and she's pulling together fabric samples for me. So far she seems to favor the idea of a simple Roman shade with contrasting banded edges, and that's one idea that I've had since the beginning, so I'd be on board. Still eager to see what other choices she comes up with though. Having the fabric on the window is weird (and it doesn't fit perfectly, but like I said, it's temporary). It does make me feel a lot more secure in the room, since there's no longer that gaping black hole of a window to contend with when it's dark out.

Hi amy1234, I just want to say that, I really hadn't had many deer come into my yard until I planted my 2 Chestnut Oak trees, well, about 5-6 years after planting them, the deer just started coming into my yard much further up in the yard, they had crossed over from my yard and the neighbors yard into the field across the road, into a much "wilder" area. Those Chestnut oak trees had started to produce Acorns about 5 years after being planted, they grew so fast, and produced acorns at about 5-6 years after being planted, and then came the deer. It is really nice to see these deer come into the yard, my dad had planted 3 apple trees years ago, and these deer go and eat these apples also. They are too small and blemished for me to mess with them. One of those apple trees had to be removed, but, the deer come into our yard for the acorns from the Chestnut oak, and recently I have about 4-5 Swamp White oak trees, and they just started producing acorns this year, I'm sure those deer will be eating them as soon as they are ripe. Well, anyway, I want to say that as far as the Rhodedendrons, and any shade plant Azaleas, etc, you will need to make a little shelter, or fence. You will need to protect the sides and the top. You MAY not think so, but, deer will eat your Rhodies, unless they are close to your house. I learned this the hard way. But, thank goodness those Rhodies that were damaged were small, so there wasn't much foliage to be eaten.

and also understand ... nothing.. newly planted ... has low water needs ... you must water enough.. to get the plants established.. to grow a root mass ... to get to the point of being drought tolerant.. or low water users ... agree there is no 6 foot tree ... trees never really stop growing at some magical height .. and with your width spec at 2 feet.. you need a shrub that can be sheared ...or pruned to serve your purpose .... after that.. this MI boy has nothing to offer in the way of plant suggestions for your area ... ken ps: isnt there a xeriscape forum????