Poison ivy isn't an exotic invasive so you might not want to let the authorities know you're planning on replacing that. âº

If you start very small with mail order seedlings or seedlings from a forest service you can probably get it all done this year with a tight budget.
Are things like American Holly, Virginia and shortleaf pines native there? Then how about american beech?
The nice thing about the holly and the beech is that they tolerate sun for now and shade for later.
The beech isn't evergreen but holds it's leaves through the winter season and could provide a little bit of a barrier.
That reminds me. Hornbeams?

Wax myrtle is good for both birds and screening and it's native. Another idea is Carolina Cherry Laurel (Prunus caroliniana)- the 'Compacta' cultivar is more dense, but not any shorter than the species.

Try checking out the Maryland natives site:

http://www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/nativesMD/pdf/MD-Piedmont.pdf

If you aren't in the piedmont, they have a mountain zone or coastal zone list as well. We are zone 7 in northern VA and have many of the same natives. I have currants, Kalmia latifolia (Mountain Laurel-evergreen), Magnolia virginiana (Sweetbay Magnolia-evergreen), Ilex opaca (American Holly-evergreen), Amelanchier canadensis (serviceberry-deciduous), Virburnum dentatum (southern arrowood-decid.), Decumaria barbara (native climbing hydrangea), vaccinium corymbosum (highbush blueberry-need two different to cross-pollinate-I have Jersey and Hannah's Choice), native azaleas (deciduous), and pysocarpus opulfolius (common ninebark). I tried pines, but found them to be poor barriers/screeners, although mixed with other plants they are pretty and feathery. I decided that the screening was most needed for only three seasons, so I have a variety of trees (oaks, river birch,redbud, and native dogwood) and shrubs which offer depth and great screening when I need it. Lots of food and habitat for the birds, also. Hope this helps some. And do check out the website-lots of good information there!

Cynthia

Thank you all for this wonderful collection of suggestions! I'd love to have lots of evergreens with a mix of deciduous and shrubs, as you all suggest.

To iforgotitsonevermind -- I did tell the people in the County I live in that I got rid of the poison ivy and oak, and they were happy about it. You are right -- they are not exotic invasives, but they are sure native, noxious ones! According to one publication, any of the following can be gotten rid of: poison ivy (Rhus radicans or Toxicodendron radicans),poison oak (Rhus toxicodendron or Toxicodendron quercifolium ), poison sumac (Rhus vernix or Toxicodendron vernix), ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) or similar vegetation.

thanks again for all the ideas.

Of course anything deciduous will be leafless for potentially 6 months of the year, which means you'll see your neighbors.

I'd go for broadleaf evergreens, things like -- American holly, Southern Magnolia, Sweetbay magnolia 'australis', Carolina Cherry laurel. I could never limit myself to 'local natives', not even variety!

dave -- are all the ones you mention natives? I'm legally bound to only plant natives...and actually would prefer to do that. I've got the rest of the yard for all those "foreigners!" Thanks

Yes, dave's list is all natives. Sweetbay magnolia is Magnolia virginiana. American holly is Ilex opaca - 'Savannah' is a good cultivar, it is a hybrid with Ilex cassine, another native.

orchid_ladycats,
your post is very timely, you're in Baltimore County right? Be sure not to miss the native plant seminar & plant sale on Saturday the 29th. It's our 18th year.
Get there early before everything gets picked over.
Sam

Here is a link that might be useful: Irvine Nature Ctr, Seminar & Plant Sale