Before anyone can offer helpful suggestions, we need to know your general location, USDA climate zone, soil type and issues, and the amount of full sun in a day.

Why? Because plants tend to have specific requirements. It's best to understand what your site has to offer, and THEN select plants from those that are best suited to the location.

I live in northern Georgia, zone 7, between Atlanta and the mountains. The area I am working with for the barrier is about 40 to 50 feet long and about 6 to 8 feet wide. At the far end of the barrier there is a large oak tree but that is the only shade cast on that side of the yard so the front of the barrier will have little shade. I'd like the tallest part of the barrier to be about 6-8 feet tall.

I planted a hedge row of a similar length and exposure (oak tree and all). It is very much in its infant stage, but I used limelight hydrangeas and winter gem boxwoods. We have deer issues, and they picked the limelights bare when I planted them in the fall, which is what prompted the boxwoods. The boxwoods should help to limit the deer's reach when they mature (they're just plugs I picked up for $1/each). For the backside of the hydrangeas I am planning a low 2 post fence that will also limit the deer's reach.

They say that good fences make good neighbors... and this holds true with living barriers, too. Have you tried discussing this with your neighbor, who will inevitably share the view and privacy (and possible problems) this barrier will provide? It's a good way to make friends, and share the labor involved, too, as well as learning about what might do well in your area.

weedwitch is giving you very good advice because barrier's can get out of hand, width-wise and your neighbor is going to have to contend with the pruning back, raking up dropped blossoms etc.

Is the area you speak of along your neighbor's driveway?

Do your neighbors have any allergies to plant blossoms or pollen?

Do they have any shrubs or trees that will be growing near your barrier shrubs.

Do they have an inground lawn irrigation system? Their sprinkling could drown your new plantings.

Are your yards both on the same level or does one yard drain rainfall (and lawn treatments) into the other?

Sometimes, what looks great on paper and planted young grows into a bone of contention between next door property owners. Plan well, choose carefully for growth habit and , by all means, involve your neighbor and get their advice and opinions.

If these neighbors say they don't care..don't believe it. They will suddenly care when your barrier gets to be a pruning issue on their side.