If you're putting in a shrub border, look up the mature sizes of the plants you have, and space them accordingly. A "hedge" implies a planting that is intended to grow together and be trimmed, so unless you are planning a "tapestry hedge", I'd stick with one species. A couple of questions: Will the trees shade this hedge out? Will they overhang your neighbor's property in time? How does the neighbor feel about this? If they do, and the neighbor has other ideas for the space on his side, he can lop off any branches that extend out over the property line, with predictable results. I know I wouldn't want my neighbor to plant things that interfered with using my property as I saw fit, and I wouldn't do that to my neighbors, either. Also, I think your tree stakes are overkill. Here's a link to one of your photos so people don't have to copy and paste. Here is a link that might be useful:

I don't like Ligustrum myself. But the former owner planted 5 out on our street corner bed to block noise and view in/out from the intersection. They froze off terribly in February's Snowpocalypse, with all leaves "crispy critters". These are well-estsablished plants at 6'-7'. My husband doesn't want to take them out, so we pruned them back to 4' this morning. Just in the last couple days they are showing new leaves pushing through on the branches, but only down low on the plants. We'll seee how things fo. I just planted 5 Ligustrum sinense 'Sunshine" in a mass planting direct in the ground out at the point of that v-shaped bed, beside the Ligustrum vulgares. They are grouped behind 6 "recovering" Giant Liriopes with a newly emerged rose bush in the front/center of the mass planting. I have no idea what type/color of rose it is, as it has been one spindly sick twig for 5 years and after a tree removal, is loving the new-found light and air. I need some color there and am eager for the "Sunshine" Ligustrums to take off. Love their golden leaf color in the sunshine, their shape, and best of all, that they are non-invasive!

Hello norderney, I love the way garden web allows us to share our love of gardening with people from all over the world. My Farfugium is still alive. This summer has been drier and the temperatures have been back to normal-up near 98 or 99 degrees F. I think that converts to around 36 to 37 degrees C. We still have a couple of hot months to go. The leaf size is smaller than when I first got the plant, but it is growing. I had divided the plant, and one of the divisions flowered in the fall. I gathered the seeds, but managed to misplace them. My plants are still in containers. I water every third day or so in our hot climate. They get some morning sun, but are in shade most of the rest of the day. I would replace the plant if I lost it. I am just about ready to try some of the other cultivars. Do let us know how your plants grow for you. Here is a picture of one of the plants in 07. Here it is today.

I've lost 3 more privet. They were here 45 years ago. I have to replace them, but I need an evergreen shrub that can be kept narrow, grows in shale, tolerates drought and cold winters (not so cold the past few years--climate change), and is not poisonous to birds. It might have to be yew. It's tough. The drupes have a stage when they are very sweet and edible--birds and squirrels love them. They can be brutally pruned and come right back. I have yews that were here when we moved in. We have dug them up and transplanted them many times. I keep one trimmed in a 5 ft dome to keep it dense. This year blue jays nested there. My neighbor has junipers overhanging our garden where a catbird nests every year. One nested in the weigela (not native, but loved by bees and hummingbirds). We put a nest box high in the arbor vitae and wrens nest there regularly. A cardinal nests nearby but I haven't found the nest. When the privet was dense cardinals nested there. I'm in a town in an area overflowing with people and houses. This year we hosted painted lady butterflies, monarchs, viceroys, admirals, sulfurs, skippers, and small blue ones whose name I forget, along with the cabbage whites. My privet hides fledglings and adults, too, when they see a hawk. My lot is only 50'x100' and the house takes up the most room; an embankment limits our front garden but. it's loaded with life. The privet doesn't spread elsewhere. I live across the street from a river park. A privet has never shown up anywhere. Plants aren't good or bad. They just need to grow where they are wanted and leave other people's gardens alone. Love that privet.