This is still a good time of year to move the pears. It is not so much
whether the ground is frozen or not that deterimes winter to be best time
to plant.move trees, but the fact that there will be both a reduced
workload on the root system ( no leaves to feed) and consistant moisture
in the ground ( no as much worry about constant watering).

So far as good screening shrubs, there are literally dozens to choose
from, including the ones that Presly mentioned.

Arborvitae are wonderful, but since they are a tall NARROW shape, you will
need more to cover the same amount of fenceline. Spruces (Picea) are good
.. they cover more fenceline BUT they will take longer to fill in. I have
seen White Pine used for very long hedges, but they get HUGE ( as well as
do the spruces).

There are many Hollies that will do well... i.e. Illex Merservae ( i
know.. poor spelling) Var. "Dragon Lady" can grow to 20 ft tall x 8-10
feet wide and has these really SHARP needles on the leaves to deter
trespassers.

With all these choices, you have to ask yourself these questions:

How FAST do you want the screening effect?
How BIG do you want the screen to ultimately get?
How much are you willing to SPEND?
How much TIME are you willing to invest in maintaining the screen?


Think about those questions and We in the group will be better able to
make more accurate suggestions.

Anthony B. Zone 6
Ky. Certified Nurseryman
Ky. Nursery Landscapers Association


On one side of the yard in particular, fast growth is the most important
consideration. My side yard slopes away from the house, so a taller fence
is not an option at the bottom of the slope. An ultimate height of 30 feet
or more would be ideal.

This is an interesting link. If you scroll down, you'll see pictures of
Green Giant Arborvitae when they were planted at a height of 7 feet, and 2.5
years later when they were 12 to 13 feet.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/l...458162113.html

Is 7 feet a reasonable height for Green Giant Arborvitae at most nurseries,
and how expensive are they? Could they be planted now, or will I need to
wait until after the danger of frost? I've read that they are relatively
maintenance-free, and I find that appealing, as I won't have a lot of time
to invest in pruning them.

I did a search on Dragon Lady holly and it looks like a possibility for
other parts of the yard. How fast does it grow?

I don't know how much to budget because I don't have any experience in this
area. I suppose the first step is to determine how many plants I'll need,
and I'm still working on that.

Thanks for the information on moving the pear trees.

Thanks,
SW