I should say that I am also considering Evan's cherry, but am worried they may get too tall. I read mixed estimates on the web of how tall these will get.

it seems.. you are wanting a monoculture ... dont ... or you may end up losing all to one problem ...

become a collector of shrubs ... choose by flowering date ... foliage color ... etc ... throw in a conifer or two ... for evergreen ...

ken

Okay, thanks for the advice. One thing my husband reminded me of last night is that we have a few neighborhood moose that roam the area all winter so they would probably munch down anything cherry pretty badly too.

Hah! About time we moved on from deer!

Yes! Check out this trick-or-treater last fall. This was actually on Halloween and I heard some noises outside thinking trick-or-treaters where coming to the door, but this is what I saw!

Xty, by your zone...and the presence of this trick or treater^...you must be in either Minnesota or Maine, huh? We had some moose wonder through very near to our area recently. Shawano, Wisconsin, pronounced shaw-no, is well outside of what had been considered modern-day moose range. Yet there they were! I'd like for this to become a thing. We've got the habitat but too many deer for the most part. Lots of deer equals tough going for moose, with some disease being carried by the deer that can then be transferred to moose, where it is more deadly.

Love the moose photo, though I'd be happiest with them at more of a distance! They scare me more than the black bears since at least the black bears are afraid of people, whereas the moose seem troubled by nothing.

You said "I have narrowed down my choices" but it seems that you are considering a somewhat narrow range of choices. I agree with others who are suggesting some diversity with a mixed shrub border and a few small trees. If you have room, plant staggered or in a couple of rows for better coverage. Here are a few additional plants to look at that I have found do well in my shrub border that should grow for you. I can't say how any would do with moose . . .

Look at some of the hardier, smaller crabapples, making sure to choose one that is disease resistant. Flowers in spring and fruit lasts into winter.

Cornus alternifolia (pagoda dogwood) is a small tree has a few variegated cultivars that grow slower and in my garden stay smaller than the 15' or so of the regular ones. Delicate but short-lived spring flowers, berries that go from green to red to deep purple over the season and then are quickly eaten by birds, and nice though not spectacular fall color. Good winter silhouette as well.

While we are on dogwoods, some of the old-fashioned red-twigged shrubs get to 8'-10' and there are ones with green or gold or variegated foliage. The red twigs look striking in the cold season.

Hydrangea paniculata is fully hardy for you, and several types such as 'Limelight' and 'Pinky Winky' get to the size range you want. PW in my garden is about 8' tall x 12' wide, and I leave the dried flowers on in winter for interest. These are some of the longest blooming plants in my garden (2-3 months) and make great bird habitat for nesting and shelter.

Physocarpus/ninebark has an arching form and late spring flowers followed by persistent seed pods. It has several varieties with dark reddish leaves where the seed pods have great color and the fall color is deep red. My Diablo reaches over my head, but may not be quite 8'. There may be some selections a bit taller.

Look at some of the shorter selections of spruce, hemlock, juniper, and pine for evergreen interest since in zone 4 winter is about half of the year. I enjoy having the contrast with the snow.

Let us know what you end up with. I love seeing projects as they are planted and continue to grow.

I am actually in WY :). This guy was an orphaned yearling that has been hanging around our neighborhood for more than a year. So far he has been harmless, but has gotten irritated with dogs now and then. Poor thing has gotten so habituated to our neighborhood that I think he is here for good unless things get out of hand, that is. Then Fish and Game might have to get involved. There is actually a neighborhood watch for this guy on Facebook, where people post sightings and encounters.

NHBabs, thank you so much for all your suggestions! I have had my heart set on a long consistent hedge of one type of shrub for this spot. We have a lot of variety everywhere else on our property, but I like the visual impact a consistent hedge makes from a design standpoint. I know there are some big naysayers in this forum to monoculture and I do understand the reasoning behind it, but I can't quite get myself to change my mind (yet). Hedgerows of one kind of plant have are often used as a landscaping element by professional landscapers. It gives the eye a resting point when the other parts of the design are full of interest. It creates a soothing backdrop to other focal points.

That being said, I have been considering the down side of a monoculture and may be swayed to move away from it. For now, here are examples of my vision:

this last one being more formal than I want, but is another example of only one kind of plant being used.

Wisconsintom, thanks for the info on the cherry family. That is quite helpful in my decision. I don't think I will use the cherry family.

My husband and I discussed this quite a bit the other night. We took some measurements and realized our hedge can't be higher than 8 feet. If we build up the ground a little before planting, then we might be able to get away with a 6 foot hedge.

Now the list includes a few varieties of viburnum (Trilobum, Arrowhead, Juddii or Mohigan, or a mix); or instead, Vanhoutte Spirea; black chokeberry; or perhaps serviceberry...although I am getting mixed information about how tall 'Regent' will get. I think the Spirea may be the only species in this list that the moose might not munch.

And, yes, I will keep mulling over the mixed hedge idea ;). Thanks again for your responses!

Ah...my eastern US bias showed up there! Wyoming, of course!

If a single kind of plant is what floats your boat, then go for it. I might plant a couple of the same type of plant somewhere else on the property so that if something happens to one or two, you can substitute in plants of a similar age. I think I would be less likely to plant the spirea since it's sort of a one-season wonder, while most of your other ideas have more than one season of interest such as fall color and/or berries in addition to the spring flowers. The Vanhoutte spirea I grew up with never developed any fall color.

Thanks, NHBabs, I was actually wondering if the Vanhoutte would have fall color. Good to know.