Question
We inherited a nice border of arbor vitae and cypress with our Victorian, which nicely screens most of the neighbor's view (and our view of THEIR house). But there is a lovely old Norway maple, great for shade and the arbor vitae get shorter and shorter under it's leaves.

We want to extend the border and keep the maple, but what evergreen would be best to plant that would grow relatively fast and do well in shade? I was thinking of Leyland cypress, but many have said they don't do well in the North (Mass.) and have shallow roots.

Answer
Susan,
Growing anything under a Maple is difficult, due to the extensive root systems that Maples develop, but I think I can make a few suggestions.
Witch Hazel, Viburnum, Mountain Laurel, Mahonia, Fetterbush and Rhododendrons will all thrive in dense shade conditions. I would recommend going to a nursery and looking at the plants to see which ones that you like.
Good luck.
Ed Gulliksen