Question
I would like to put some privacy greenery along my property line...not sure what to use...I've looked at arborvitea but not sure what is involved in keeping them looking nice, such as pruning and the average height.  I would like something about 6 to 10 foot tall with no trimming each year.  Can you give me some suggestions?

Answer
Hi Ginny

Thank you for your question.  Yes you can use arborvitae as a hedging plant, but you must choose your variety carefully as some of them will grow to 70 feet or more and others only 3 feet.  The smaller varieties will need to be trimmed in the spring and fall to keep them looking good.

Other plants you could consider are:  Berberis darwinii (dark green  leaves, orange flowers in spring); Cotoneaster (again you would have to choose your variety carefully as they come in all shapes and sizes - they have small white flowers in the spring and berries in the fall); Olearia haastii (the New Zealand daisy bush); Viburnum tinus (this particular variety would be good for your needs as it usually only grows to about 10 feet and has the advantage of having its flowers during the winter!); Escallonia rubra var. macrantha (very shiny green leaves and pink flowers in summer - can be formally trimmed or left to its own devises).

All of these shrubs only need to be pruned to remove wayward stems and keep them within bounds.  If you go for berberis remember that they are very spiky!

I hope you find something in this list to do the job - or why not go for a mixed planting?