If your still looking for a maple, try the "Trident maple" or an Amur maple

In your zone 6 you should have so many more selections to chose from. The only one I'd get from the list would be the flowering dogwood depending on the species and cultivar.

You may need to give more specifics on soil type, moisture, exposure to winds and sun.

Couple other possibiilites...

acer triflorum
Maackia amurensis
Aesculus. x 'Homestead'
Acer griseum
Heptacodium miconioides

As mentioned above I'd like to grow a trident maple as well.

Sweetbay magnolia (magnolia virginiana) would be perfect in that zone for any conditions short of deep shade. It's the right size and the leaves persist late into the fall. The flowers are beautiful and sweet smelling. It will achieve a screening size long before dogwood does. I love crabs, but even the disease resistant cultivars are far from bullet-proof. A disease defoliated crab isn't much of a screen.

More details.....the spot is FULL sun....soil is slightly acidic.....good moisure area.

I like dogwoods but they take forever to grow dont they?

Isnt a Trident Maple too large for what I am looking for?

I do have 3 Cedars around so maybe we should stay away from the Crabapple? Closest being about 50 yards away.

Also just want to point out I'd like a faster growing tree. We want the screening from the neighbors fairly soon.....not 10 years from now.

Keep the suggestions coming! Thanks!

Also just want to point out I'd like a faster growing tree

Of course you do. So does every typical homeowner. There are tradeoffs. And many more extensive lists than boring ol' standards from the LArch/nursery trade 20 years ago.

Dan

Perhaps one of the Japanese Maples. Bloodgood, Emperor 1, among many others would be good candidates. Also one of the large viburnums, fothergilla, or Ilex decidua. There are many others.

Arktrees

Dan- Thanks for your post it was real helpful.

Now for the rest of you guys thanks for the suggestions.

Bloodgood JM may be an option. Sweetbay Magnolia too.

Trident would be too, but will that be too large for what I am looking for? The space is very open, yet i dont want a really large tree right there by the fence. Although I dont want something too small either! Ugh, picking the right tree I never thought would be so hard.

You have been given links to appropriate sites that answer a question that's been asked literally tens of thousands of times in PA - including pictures and planting instructions for the typical homeowner. You are welcome.

Dan

Sorry I didnt notice your links! Thanks.

If fast screening and a not too large a height is required, larger growing shrubs often fit the bill much better than trees. Shrubs can often achieve their mature size in around 5-10 years - trees can take 15-20 years or more.

I'd look at some of the taller growing caning shrubs - lilacs, beautybush, mock orange, privets, etc. Even English or cherry laurel if appropriately hardy for you. I also wouldn't discount the effectiveness of clumping bamboo for this purpose.

I bought a Fireglow japanese maple, it was tiny when I got it. Six years later it is taking over the yard, but it is approaching it's mature height. It is growing in a SMALL space. It's just one example. A small to medium sized tree can be kept in line by proper pruning. Dan's links are AWESOME! They were just hidden in the note so I didn't notice them either. I got my maple via mail order, so don't rule out that option for more selection. There are some great mail order nurseries out there. Forest Farm is one I have used, and Herter's Japanese Maple Farm is where I got my maple. They are great.

Tons of great info. on all the varieties listed on the Internet, including photos.

I vote for Sweet Bay Magnolia, a multi-trunked one.

don't know if your area has winter moths, but if yes, I'd stay away from the maples. Any maple. Why buy a tree, even a beautiful one that will be defoliated in a week unless you spray. Never thought I'd say that about a maple, but it looks like the maples encountered napalm out here in MA.

Kousas are a bit overused now, but wouldn't looking down on one be lovely? Layered; the white flowers, eventually red fruit. Interesting bark in winter.
Please try to go for multiple seasons of interest: that's one reason to not buy a crabapple: you get the flowers; then you get the suckers, and the winter moths as well; the twiggyness....

So many choices, so little time!