Anything in pots will need much more water than it would planted in-ground. A layer of mulch over the top of the potting soil will help. I would try to feel the edge of a mature leaf of any of the bigger grasses before I planted one in a pot - some of them will give you pretty good cuts, pampas among them. I wouldn't try to use them in pots next to a patio. Another shrub to consider is butterfly bush. They get cut back hard in the late winter/early spring, and aren't evergreen, but they make huge growth over the summer, can be cut to whatever size or shape you want, and will produce flowers for most of the summer, into the fall. They come in all the blue/purple colors, as well as white, pink and yellow, and are scented. And, they shouldn't be expensive - I have friends who have given me a number over the years! If you can make it to one of the plant swaps - coming up soon - you should be able to get some - you don't HAVE to have plants to swap - and you do have your started vine seeds so maybe a few of them are spare? Any of the smaller conifers would do well in pots, although I am not sure how much screening power they would have - they don't grow fast. BUT, they would make great accents for a trellis, planted in big pots at the corners, etc., although they may be pricey. If it were me, I would put up a trellis, either digging the posts into the ground - double check with your land-lord - he might want to keep it after all, and might pay for materials. If not, you can either anchor it with biggish pots half filled with cement (filling the rest with potting soil, and plants, making holes in the side above the cement for drainage), or with brackets that you drive into the ground - I've not used them, only seen ads for them so am not sure whether or how they would work, but as a starting point... You could make a narrowish bed for planting annual vines along the bottom, or just plant the annual vines in pots too, and grow them along the trellis. If you wanted, you could also grow more perennial vines in pots - roses, clematis, etc., etc. and have the trees and shrubs as accents along the edges and corners. This may also run into more money than your budget can stand this year..., but, as perennials, you can take them with you when you move. For less expensive pots -try places like Garden Ridge, etc., and get the cheap foam and/or plastic ones. They will maybe need anchoring, although with potting soil and plants in them, they get heavy fast.

I love my black chokeberries. They were planted in much the same way- wet, yet dry mid-summer. They love it. Books may say that they only groe 3-5 ft. However, after the 3rd year, I need to trim at least 11/2 ft. You could easily hedge them or be more informal. They get white flowers in spring and sugar maple color in the fall with big black berries that stay put. I don't know about the deer, though. I also have a traditional large cotoneaster that likes that soil. I have seen those in many a farm area while traveling. So deer must not care much for those.

You'll smell root rot and see actual rot if it's present. It's just like rotten food. When the drainage is poor the hole needs to be dug larger and you should have a "drain" hole at the bottom of the hole. Typically folks fill a drain with rock. It should go below the hardpan of earth so the water has a place to go. Unless absolutely necessary, your soil should never be amended but there are circumstances where it should be amendment. Never use more than 1/3 amendment to your native soil. A good amendment is sold at home improvement stores and it's called something like "tree and shrub amendment." It has bark fines and peat moss, basically. You should be using a pick axe to do your plantings. Also, when your hole is opened up, you should drive the pick axe all around the sides of the planting hole creating "pockets" for the roots to go into. To drive thru the hard pan you may need more than a pick axe. I'll provide you with a link that will help you. Dax Here is a link that might be useful: Preparing Hardpan For Plantings

Laurel Rhododendren - not all all evergreen Azalea - not all all evergreen Viburnum - not all all evergreen Hydrangeas are not evergreen, but come in different sizes/colors. Clumping bamboo should work, but please avoid the running variety, unless you want it coming right through your foundation. Shade makes things difficult. It rules out most evergreens and grasses. If you buy from the big box stores, keep your receipt. I have ~ 60% success rate.