Maybe a Wax Myrtle. They can be a shrub or tree depending on how you prune them, and they are fast growing (not flowering though).

Dogwoods are kinda thin for privacy. And not evergreen.

Wax myrtle might work, like Bama said.

Other ideas might be Nellie R. Stevens Holly. Or any of the American Holly varieties.

Magnolia grandiflora makes a wondeful privacy fence and grows faster than people think. But they get big and leaves may end up in your pool if close by. "Little Gem" works for smaller locations. Your neighbors young magnolias, combined with some planted staggard on your side of the line, might be your best bet. Much depends on how much room you have.

Perhaps some clumping bamboo?

I have cherry laurels too and I do love them, but those seeds go straight through the birds ; )

Thanks so much! I'll take a look at these ideas.

Sandy

Skip Laurels produce white flowers in the spring and do not drop their leaves. They can grow tall enough to provide nice privacy, if you plant them close enough all across the area you want screened.

Be sure to get them from a good nursery, and to purchase ones which have grown to at least 4-5 feet tall.

Just be sure to plant them where they will not suffer from sitting in soggy soil which does not drain properly.

Will the skip laurels do well in shade? Under pine and magnolias that are very tall?

Thanks,
Sandy

Skip laurel is sort of the European version of Carolina cherry laurel. It is Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis' (there is another cultivar called 'Otto Luyken'). The Carolina one is Prunus caroliniana. Both can attain tree height, but cultivars like 'Otto Luyken' and 'Zabeliana' tend to remain more shrub like.

Ok, I think thats what I want. I really think those would be pretty along the fence line for privacy. It also won't scream privacy if you know what I mean. I hope I am able to find some.

Thanks,
Sandy

Otto Luyken is very commonly available in major stores/nurseries.

How close together should these be planted? Would these look good all by themselves lining a fence line? It's about 40 ft I suppose. Too many Cherry Laurels for this purpose??

Thanks,
Sandy

You need to look at the mature size. One source says Otto Luyken gets 6 to 8 feet wide. So that is 3-4 feet per side and you have the side of one plant facing the side of another. So ideally that would be about 6 feet apart (or 6 feet "on center" so that the planting holes are 6 feet apart). I just checked Monrovia's site and they say only 6 feet wide.

P. S. Buck Jones nursery catalog says they have these in 3 gal, 5 gal and 7 gal sizes.

Here is a link that might be useful: monrovia