Question
QUESTION: I have recently relocated to SW VA, zone 6.  We are in a high wind area with no breaks to protect our property. As a result we have had much damage to our home.

 We are looking for two types of breaks.  One will run directly alongside a driveway between our home and a neighbors.  The trees or shrubs will have to be planted within 6-8 inches of the driveway and in the most narrow stretch there is approximately 2 feet of width between our property and the neighbors.  We would like to plant something that will be about 15 feet high or so.  Is this do-able without root damage to the asphalt.  Can you recommend varieties that will work?  We prefer something evergreen or at least something that will keep it's leaves.

The second break will be across the street from the property and will run parallel with an existing pasture fence.  For this we would like something very high and fast growing.

Look forward to your comments.
ANSWER: The two foot area is not suited for any tree planting it is too small. Anything planted there will have roots problems either not getting enough water or causing problems the drive.
On the other space I would recommend green giant.
Thuja Green Giant is becoming more and more popular among landscapers, growers, and homeowners alike. This hardy, fast growing, conifer makes a perfect privacy screen in just a few short years.   

Green Giant will grow from 3 to 5 feet per year and will eventually grow to 50 feet or more with a fairly narrow spread. The color is a deep lustrous green and is pleasantly fragrant.

Green Giant  will grow in a wide range of soils in zones 5 to 8 and prefers a deep well drained fertile soil although it adapts well to frequently saturated clay soils. This is a tough tree and will not easily suffer damage from high wind or heavy ice and snow loads.  

Green Giant is drought tolerant after it is well established, exhibits no significant pest or disease problems, is deer and bagworm resistant and is hardy to -25F.

This new USDA US National Arboretum release as Green Giant has been evaluated since 1967 and will become the outstanding alternative screening-evergreen to the disease prone Leyland Cypress in the south and to the Hemlocks that are dying throughout New England.  Plant 5 to 6 feet apart for a really fast privacy screen, otherwise 10-12 feet apart. Green Giant can be trimmed to any height and width.






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QUESTION: Do you think some sort of shrub might work in the more narrow area?  There are probably about 4 feet in the wider sections, the narrow area is near a flower bed.

What sorts of problems might we encounter with the drive.

BTW, thanks for your fast reply.

Answer
Tree roots would grow under the drive and left it up. A shrub that you can prune may work in the small area. I would check with a local nursery and ask them for a recommendation as to what should be planted in that space. They can give you names of shrubs that do well locally.