Norway, Colorado and Serbian Spruce are Evergreen trees that will get quite large over time. The pine family has not faired well in the tri-state over the last 25 years. It’s the same story with Canadian Hemlocks. All of the above varieties when planted in suitable soil get larger by the year. The height usually is not a problem, but the spread is. Each year, these plants take up one or more feet of yard. Remember they are all wider at the bottom than the top. Trimming is not an option. They only maintain up to two years of growth at a time. Keep trimming and you run out of needles. Many of these spruce, pine and hemlock are being planted on 6 to 8 ft centers. They should be planted on 15 to 20 ft centers realizing the yard will be reduced considerably and the trees at close spacing will be growing into each other within 5 to 8 years and now you have a jungle. You’ll have to start cutting off the lower branches and there goes the screening. Great evergreens that only take 4 feet of your yard (for years) would be Taxus Hicksi, Emerald Green Arborvitae, and upright junipers. Evergreens as a group grow slower than deciduous shrubs making the entire evergreen family more expensive than those leaf droppers, but they are green twelve months of the year.

Ninety percent of Mother Nature is leafless in the winter. I believe we put too much emphasis on evergreens. Nobody, including yourself looks at yours or anybody else’s landscape in the winter. We mentally tune out the yard during the cold months. Add to the fact that a lot of shrubs still provide screening without the leaves due to the massive amount of twig growth. Deciduous shrubs also provide spring and fall color, most do well in sun to shade, are faster growing, and most importantly can be maintained in limited spaces. Most shrubs should be planted on 5 to 6 feet centers for screening.

You can use several different groupings of 3 to 5 flowering shrubs of a variety to give your landscape a mix of color and bloom time. Adding a well placed flowering tree or two can also provide additional privacy and interest.