Comparatively slow-growing planted features like arborvitae hedges take YEARS to size up - how long are you willing to be "killed" while you wait for this to happen? For instance let's say to get what you are visualizing a planting needs to be 20 ft. tall in at least part of the area involved. If the kind of plant chosen averages 1 ft. per year in height increase on your site you will be waiting 20 YEARS (minus the height of the plants at planting) before the desired level of screening is produced. This was the solution: >Trellises, pergolas, outdoor shades and curtains, and/or shade sails will get you want you want<

"... Goldspire Ginkgo, very columnar variety that is yellow in the fall and should mature to 14' - 16 tall and 5' - 6' wide." Oooh ... I don't think that's gonna happen. It will become much larger. Whenever size information comes from selling sources, it's 100% of the time going to be wrong. And they're stating a size after only a few years of growth, where the tree will not stop. Figure at least double size of whatever you're told. A fat clump of lilac in the tree form sounds like a great solution to the back right bed. You need some groundcover there, too. consider lily of the valley (so long as there's shade.) It does great there. Gotta be some Hosta somewhere, too. And daylilies in the sun. (From DeKalb originally.)

For privacy in 5B, I've done a mix of arborvitae and privet, strategically placing the evergreens where privacy is needed year round. Specimens or anchors with spruces. For 15'ish high used "Techny/Mission" arborvitae, but "Emerald Green" is popular and sold everywhere. "Fat Albert" blue spruce. "Cheyenne" privet (seems hardier with long cold spells). Higher than that then "Green Giant" arborvitae and "Columnar" spruces.

(we have a large dog and the big maples planted in the middle of the yard already reduce area) ==>>> i dont understand this part at all ... at most that tree is 18 inches wide ... how does it take up space over what look like an acre??? imo.. give up more space.. and plant a couple redbuds in the lawn ... they are near bulletproof .. if you get the plain old green ones.. can deal with shade on some level.. and will be much smaller than the maple.. plus spring flowers ... and.. they will grow much faster than anything you can plant at the property line.. and accomplish your goal much faster ... the close to the house they are.. the faster your goal is accomplished ... the second to last pic.. from the upper deck beautifully shows what i mean ... one tree covers everything ... go figure ... of course it dosnt help its all downhill from an elevated house ... ken