Posted by: Byron 4a/5b NH (My Page) on Wed, Apr 14, 04 at 9:28 "Whitetail can clear a 16ft fence." ------------------------ Where did you get that bit of information from?? I believe it is incorrect. Here are several links stating that 8 to 9 feet is the maximum, which is 50% less then what you mentioned. http://albertadeer.com/library/articles/general.htm "The minimum height requirement for the perimeter fence of a deer operation is 9 feet. There are no regulations for interior fences, however 8 feet is necessary to stop deer from jumping the fence. " http://www.bennersgardens.com/info_deer_deterrents2.asp "Whitetail deer can make a standing jump as high as 10'. However, in most instances, deer will not risk jumping fences over 8' in height."

The fastest evergreen vine would be some kind of ivy. I have plenty if you want to give it a try. Just keep in mind that anything fast will want to creep into your yard, devour your garage and anything within 100 feet. I think that climbing hydrangeas are slow growers and clematis need some sun to do well. Some native vines can take a lot of shade. I've been trying to grow a screen as well, in 90% shade, dry, and haven't found anything which works well yet. I will not grow the thugs, such as ivy, since I have spent too much time controlling and eradicating them already.

You're not going to get that look from passionflower. It's going to be rangey and wilder looking. Creeping fig is the first plant that comes to mind for the kind of look you're after. After it gets established, you'd need to trim it like a hedge, but it can be kept tight looking that way. Is the aversion to ivy for all types of plants with the word ivy in their name? Or just one specific ivy? Pretty much all the plants that can do as you want are going to require trimming like a hedge and dealing with a rambunctious vine.

Thank you all for the comments and suggestions. No volcanos: the maples were planted high, which I don't like, because I'm constantly resetting mulch when it washes off. I will definitely be adding some form of beds around the maples, to even things out a little, as well as give new plants better soil to root in. The ground is fairly dense with clay here. We already have a locus tree at the base of the deck. You can barely see the edge of it in the pic above, but it's there to someday give afternoon shade to the deck. Will be raising the canopy on that one soon. Included another pic, showing the locust tree. Don't think we have room for another full tree. We haven't started trimming the maples higher, because they are still by themselves. Nothing to compete with. I'm open to gradually raising the canopy if we start growing other things below them. A solid hedge of Hicks is the best solution to hide the fence, but would like to soften that wall up with less formal plantings in front of it. My wife specifically said "no hedge", but then she's given me no other ideas. :) Trying to add an 8-10' evergreen between the first 2 trees is the real design problem. I would never think to put a tall-ish evergreen there for any other reason, and I'm not willing to plant something stupid/inappropriate/ugly just for a little privacy. I would really love for our neighbor to plant a few arborvitae next to his hot tub. That would solve multiple problems!