Hi there,

I very much want to plant a tree between my house and the neighbour's house for privacy. In particular, I want to screen out their back door/stairs and the area immediately above (which I see everytime I go out my back door). Their house is currently 1 storey but they are adding a 2nd story dormer later this summer.

Here are relevant details:

- Spot in question is between east side of my house and west side of neighbours. Southern exposure. Sunny.

- Ground in this spot is often saturated during our wet PNW winters. Summers often have drought conditions.

- There is approximately 10 feet between the side of my house and the fence, and equal distance between fence and house on neighbour's side.

My requirements:

- minimum 15' tall - no higher than around 30'

- prefer a columnar habit or narrow spreading (15ish feet or so)

- lighter shade preferred so no dense canopy - don't want to totally shade neighbour's existing veggie patch, though some shading is inevitable

- minimal mess as it will be near our side walk and the neighbours

- winter interest is a bonus

- deciduous okay

I have considered Japanese snowbell, katsura, serviceberry, redbud.

Anyone have any comments on these or other suggestions for me.

Thanks for your help!

K.