Gcreek, I laughed when I read your post about creating a long-term plan, because, if you ask my husband, he will tell you that I am the QUEEN of design plans. I have been working off of the original master landscape plan that I created for our original lot for 10 years now. I even gave a speech once on the importance of having a master landscape plan for your property! There's no way you could have known all of that from my above post, so please don't take offense (I'm laughing at myself, no one else), but it did make me giggle. :) I do have a working master plan of the "new" property; the addition onto the house, the shop, the possible apartment above the shop, and the main landscaping features (including how the new and the old will combine to look like it was always one garden). So, when I say it will eventually be garage, shop, & vegetable garden, I mean it! I was at one point contemplating a formal sheared hedge to hide the veggie garden from the street, in which case I would simply plant it now. But I decided I would rather have a pretty privacy fence facing the street, with low landscaping in front of it. I don't want to put that in until the buildings are in; hence the need for something temporary. I like the Ninebark idea, though! See, this is what I mean by a mental block - I've never grown it (mostly because I never found a good place for it in my yard). The cultivars would probably be too expensive for the number I need, but the plain ol' Ninebark could be a good option. I will definitely be researching that, thanks! Butterfly4u, I thought about a temporary fence of some kind, but it's hard to put something 12' high up 'temporarily' - metal stakes won't hold it through our winters. I know, as a gardener, it seems like a waste to grow something knowing it will be torn up. That was actually something I struggled with, because I am normally one to plan for the long-term in my plant choices. But my philosopy is a bit different than yours, I'm afraid. I will try to explain myself without making anybody mad. . . The bamboo was grown naturally, but was made into a fence in a factory, was probably shipped from China (where most things made from bamboo originate), then had to travel from some American port to my little town in Indiana, where I purchase it. It does not increase in value as it ages. It does not contribute to it's site other than screening a certain view for a few years. Then it will be rolled up (or whatever) and put out at the curb. If it looks natural enough, and there is no wire used in the fence (some do, you know), then MAYBE the guys that pick up the yard waste will take it. Or, more than likely, they will not see it as suitable material for the city's compost program, and it will instead be picked up on trash day and end up in a land fill. I might find another use for it until it disintegrates, but if I don't, it will just be in the way without a use, and if it has wire in it, I will still be left with that to dispose of. OR, I could plant something. I can find most plants at growers within a 4 state area (one of my favorites for tree and shrub seedlings is 2 states away in PA), and yes, I mean GROWERS, not people that buy them already grown to re-sell. The plant increases in value the larger it grows. While it is in my yard acting as a screen, it will also feed and shelter wildlife (perhaps even attracting different species to my place), help clean the air with it's "breathing", produce shade, create a microclimate that will reduce the urban heat coming off the road and sidewalk, and provide something interesting for my neighbors and I to look at during all four seasons. And if I choose the type of plant correctly, it will do all of this with a minimum of work on my part (do keep in mind that I am requesting LOW-maintenance plants, because there is no such thing as a NO-maintenance plant). When their job is done, I have options for their disposal. They could find new homes in my landscape or someone else's (at very least, they could provide cuttings for new plants). If they are woody, they can be shredded and used as mulch. If they are leafy, they can be composted. There might be a wildlife organization that needs a brush pile for habitat reclamation (large shrubs are good for that, I hear). One thing I can absolutely promise you is that they WILL NOT end up in a landfill. And look at all the good they did while they were here! It's just a different way of looking at things. To me a throw-away plant is better than a throw-away product, because at least the plant contributed something while it was growing. I am very lucky that my little town has an excellent composting program. They pick up all of my yard waste, tree branches, whatever, and take it to a huge, steaming compost heap at the edge of town. They also chip tree branches, etc., and compost them for mulch. This material is then free for the town residents to use. Believe me, it is a happy day each spring when they open the compost pile up to the public for the season! Sorry for such a long reply post. I guess I felt a need to defend my decision. I am off the soapbox now and still looking for plant suggestions! Jill

Copy/paste of original post: Ok. If you look at my pictures, you will see my problem. I am in terrible need of landscaping around my new home. I know there are tons of problems, but my main concern is a privacy hedge. I am located in zone 6 or 7 (borderline). There are many deer that constantly roam my yard, which is, by the way, about a one acre lot. My first and most important project is a privacy screen. I really want an evergreen screen to run along side the creek, which is about 350 feet. Now the hard part. Here are things i have to consider. 1. deer, pests, diseases 2. cost must be low 3. really want it to grow fast, at least the first 150 feet that is near my house. the rest could grow slower. I can even use a mix of slow, med, and fast growers, i just want some screening now.... 4. I kill plants. not on purpose, but they always seem to die. 5. There are power lines that could interfere with tall trees two sets, estimated at 30 feet. 6. At one point, the space between my house and the creek is only 22-23 feet. This is the same area where the power lines are. I could put a shorter variety here, but would still like it to be taller than me. 7. Good hedges = good neighbors. I really really thick, thick, possibly multilayer and staggered. I would love to be able to use my back yard, but at this point, i really can't until I have some screening. 8. I am probably going to plant seedlings from arborday.com or my states nursery. I also have a home depot that I could purchase plants from. 9. I would like the plants to at least live as long as I do, preferably longer. 10. I do not mind having a mix of different types of trees, but I would have no idea which ones to place beside each other. 11. This area is full sun, but i have no idea on the type of soil. I know there is some asphalt chips sprinkled in the front (contractor used for fill dirt). Regulary dirt is about 5 inches or so down. I know that no one plant will probably fit my needs, but after all my research, i feel more confused than ever. Here is what i have been researching, perhaps in a mixed screen. I just do not know how to place them for a nice 5-6 yr down the road outcome. Green giants, leyland cypress, willow, nellie stevens holly, different pine types - white, austrian, scotch, red, spruces,arizona cypress, white and douglas firs, cryptomeria, and even thought about blending in some deciduous like maples, empress tree, willow hybrid, and dogwood. I have more on my list, but i thought i would toss these out for some opinions. In the pictures, when you are looking at the front of the house, the creek is on the left. I would love some suggestions. I really am clueless about planting things. Just in case anyone has an idea for the road side hill (which is about 5 feet high, quite steep in some places)let me know.. I wanted some ground cover that spread fast so that we wouldnt have to use the weed eater for hours every week in the summer. I was considering juniper or ivy but im not sure on their spread rate. Also, if you notice anything that you think would look good in another part of the yard, let me know that as well. In my backyard, close to my porch, (not on creek side) I have a septic system. I understand I have to be careful what i plant there. Any way thank you for reading! I welcome any comment to point me in the right direction

Almost all sweet oranges, true grapefruit, lemons, limes, pure mandarins (other than King and Clementine), most tangelos, hybrid tangerines and tangors (except temple) come true from seed. Most pummelos do not. Your blood oranges and lemons will be true from seed. While most grapefruit come true from seed, those types with pigmented flesh, but white albedo, (eq. Thompson Seedless & Burgundy) don't. They produce seedlings which are Marsh Seedless (white). Pink and red grapefruit which have at least some blush of pink in the albedo will come true to type. Silica

Sorry for the small image! I will attach one with larger font below: Thank you Ken and Lane for the advice. To Lane -- I will reconsider my choice of blue spruce based on the humidity in our region. I do plan to cut down a lot of the hybrid poplar and willow stuff as it grows and as the more sturdy evergreen trees grow taller. To Ken -- I love oak trees, but I don't want more trees that are close to the house, and I mostly want to stick with evergreens as I love year round color and not dealing with leaves. I would consider planting them further from the house though. As for the soil, there is definitely a lot of clay (we are actually near Westerville) but I'm hoping that all the excavation will loosen some of the top soil. Also, I am fine with the planting ending up being a bunch of tall trees -- in fact, that's what I prefer. Basically, in 20 years (we hope for this to be our forever home) I would love to look out our front door and practically see a forest of mostly evergreen trees separating us from the road. I just want to make sure that I do it in a way that ends up crowded in a good way as quickly as possible without hurting the trees. I too worry about the lifespan and strength of "fast growing" trees, but I do prefer to have at least part of this planting growing as quickly as possible. So my thinking was to mix in 3 different species of these fast growing trees so that I don't have to worry about losing them all at once to disease, and surround them with better long-term trees so that as they die/loose limbs, I'll still be left with a little mini forest of evergreen trees. I hope this helps give a little more detail into what I am looking to do. I am definitely open to different species than the ones listed above, and I am fine with planting further apart if I can still achieve a dense, forest-like area in the future.