We don't actually need full privacy - we just need something that breaks up the uninterrupted view into our yard and into theirs. The property line runs pretty much north/south, so even if we have something with a little height, the trees should still get plenty of sun. But I'm thinking that plants no taller than 4-8' would do what we need, maybe with shorter things interspersed? (again, we don't want a "wall" effect)

If left to my own devices, I would probably end up with a hundred different plants along the line, because I can't visualize the "whole picture" and end up just picking things out at the nursery that look nice. This approach has never turned out well - my hodge-podge beds look junky.

I'm thinking it should probably be a mix of deciduous and evergreen, and not something super formal, but that's about as far as I can go without being stumped.

In order to give meaningful advice, one needs to understand not just the location where the actual planting would occur, but also the areas that surround it. Since a camera won't capture the total area in a single picture, one must capture it in slightly overlapping pictures that can be reassembled into a larger scene. You could pretty much return to any of the locations from where you took the above pictures, then shoot the adjoining left and right pictures that attach to and extend, the pictures you already took. You would want to extend far enough right and left such that yours or next door neighbor's house shows in the picture so we can see the relationship between the house/patio and the potential 'work site.' (For a given scene, all pictures would need to be taken while the photographer stood AT SAME SPOT, rotating camera for each shot.)

Won't the fruit trees themselves serve as screening for the section of property line where they exist ... once they become large enough?

Yardvaark, I will take more pictures and post them. I know about the "stand and pan" rule from reading many other posts, but I assumed that was primarily for the front of a home. I guess it would be helpful here too :-).

You make an interesting point about the fruit trees providing some screening - obviously they are bare now, and that's what I've been staring at for the last few months. They are all dwarfs, and I'm trying to keep them pretty short.

I guess I should have specified that our ultimate goal for our property is to have it fully landscaped into multiple areas/zones. We know this will take many years, but eventually we want it to look like those landscape design books, with every area having a purpose and something "neat" to find around every corner.

So... we wanted to start by getting some kind of "border" planted along the left property line, to keep all those balls from rolling down into our yard, give us a backdrop for our "food production" area, and frankly, so our neighbors don't have to stare at our bare vegetable garden and empty fruit trees.

So now that I'm thinking through it, this border should be more utilitarian and somewhat low maintenance, since it will serve more as a backdrop than a focal point. But we still want it to look nice, and we don't want anything "solid".

Like your overall goal for the yard. I'm sure you'll get there.

I don't see how the proposed "screen/divider/border" will serve to "keep balls from rolling into [the] yard..." unless it is solid at grade level.

What is your expectation of size for the fruit trees?

Some of your concerns (... so neighbors don't have to stare at ... empty fruit trees ...") seem like they will be temporary at best. Once the trees attain some size and form, they will be artistic statements in and of themselves. Even in the winter, without leaves, they will be attractive, and form some degree of screening and "filtering" of the view. Even the empty vegetable garden in winter can be an attractive feature if it's clean and orderly. This takes a little time to develop.

One thought that occurs to me - if this is the 'productive'(edible) part of the garden, I'd be inclined to plant shrubby fruits along the border - e.g. currants.

woodyoak, I will look into the idea of currants. My husband said the entire property line should be one big row of blueberries! (he thinks the only things worth planting are edibles)

I'm not opposed to having edibles in there, I just don't want one solid row - perhaps blueberries, currants, etc. but mixed in with something else, or some evergreens for structure? This is where I get stuck not being able to visualize (and internet image searches have been no help either).

Any guidance on how to make these things look nice when planted together?

How about a split rail fence dotted with some edible plants/vines? Always seems to be the most friendly kind of divider, and can be made as opaque as you want with plants wherever you want..

What is the deer situation there? It will become VERY important.

A split rail fence is a nice idea, especially for growing vines, but I think the HOA won't allow them (pretty relaxed HOA, but they do have a few rules).

Luckily we don't have many deer - they sometimes walk along the other side of the tree line at the back of our property, but only during early spring or fall when they're "moving". Otherwise the only wildlife issues are a very large grumpy groundhog, a couple of bunnies, and a few squirrels. But nothing bad enough that we've had to fence our garden in yet. Saw a bobcat once, and a black bear, but luckily not in our yard!

If a deer trail passes that close to you, and you plant something they like, trust me they will eventually find it and devour it. If the HOA does not allow any kind of fencing, how do people contain their dogs or their children?

Ditto to what kitasei says. As soon as deer discover your edibles, they'll come in droves.

Kitasei and Laceyvail, I wouldn't say there is a deer trail near us. I may have given a false impression. We actually live in the heart of deer country here, but during the growing season, the deer seem to stick to the wooded areas, which are a couple miles from us on either side. In fact, I don't think I've seen a deer nearby in... 3 years? It's just that they will sometimes come by in very early Spring or late Fall, when there is nothing else to eat - but by then we have nothing growing for them to eat either.

The HOA allows "vertical" fences (rails going up and down), but no solid fences, no tall fences, no chain-link fences. And most people don't put up fences anyway - the kids tend to run free (but they are considerate and mostly careful), and the dogs are generally on leash. It's a nice place :-). But unfortunately most yards are just that - empty yards with lots of grass. Which is what we're trying to change!

If you have fruiting shrubs/trees, they'll eat them in winter. That's how they eat. And they'll eat favored woody ornamentals as well. Once word gets out to the deer population, believe me, they'll come.

Sounds like the split rail is just the kind of friendly fence the HOA would approve. Picture kids perched on the rail, with some rambling roses here and there.