What part of USDA 7? As in where, geographically? Knowing that will help people make suggestions here. Otherwise you should be able to shop local outlets and come home with suitable plants based on what you see there. This has the advantage over asking on the web first of you knowing you can get what you like the look of. Whereas you may find some suggestions made here are not present where you buy, even during peak local availability in spring-summer.

As far as the side yard is concerned it looks like you could simply make a grass-free strip* along the fence, move much of the existing foundation planting - which appears to be crowding the house, will presumably interfere with re-paining the wood siding at some point if nothing else - over to that side. Resulting in an instant screen and barrier (to blowing) of some size.

*If you have access to a truck and ramp, local rental agency that has one you can use a sod cutter to do this

Between house and chain link, I'll echo above. Run your privacy screen near the fence, rework foundation planting...or take it out. The concern about splitting...look for plants with single leaders as much as possible, regardless of cultivar.

In front of house with rude neighbor, I'd run evergreen viburnum. You may like the fence, but the concerns with the neighbor would in my mind be the foremost priority. On the other side, work your mixed border, however you want.

I have a similar issue in the back of my 3/4 acre property in zone 7b (beach, sandy soil).

I did tons of research before we moved here about a living privacy fence.

I decided that I didn't want a straight row of trees or whatever. And, I have the patience to watch things grow.

I decided on Thuja Giant planted in a staggered pattern for a backdrop. In front of that and mixed in, Forsythia and various flowering shrubs. With all of that, numerous Crape Myrtles and Knockout Roses. All very hearty to my zone, deer resistant.

I agree that going to a bog box would probably do you well, but research first and get a general idea want you want your end project to look like and what your ultimate goal is.

You have tapped in to a wonderful resource here for ideas and plant sources that won't break the bank (I found a wonderful supplier for 80 Forsythia plants I need in the spring, Thank you Ken!)

I approach gardening as going the path of least resistance and re purposing what I already have and go from there. I have also learned the hard way to take my time with new projects especially in the planning department. It saves tons of time and money.

I also always have an open mind to what I'm doing. I'm always looking around for new ideas and perhaps changing them to fit my needs.

Above all, have fun!

Mike

if hapypaws meant thuja green giants .... be clear.. that you do not have room for those .... period ... [your welcome hapy]

if you want to throw in some vertical aspects.. look into degroots spire .... comparatively thinner in the years to come ....

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Thuja+occidentalis+%27DeGroot%27s+Spire%27&t=ffcm&iax=images&ia=images

my first thought.. along the garage.. was also ... drag those ugly bushes toward the fence.. and make the walkway along the building ... though im not sure as to ID .. and the cost/benefit of moving those things .... the spires might look better along the fence ... and give you a wider walkway ..... you probably have to get the lawnmower thru that space???? .. is it a rider???

as to general planting.. see link ... note the timing aspect .... planting is an early spring thing.. not the heat of summer thing .... so either get it done early.. or wait until fall ... for best chance at success .... or bifurcate your your plan ...

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub

why are you fixated on holly??? .. nothing wrong with them.. you just mention them many times ...

plz give us a more specific big city name .... if you plan on joining us more often.. its best to go to your members page and add you location.. as you note most of us have ... it matters ... you too hapy!!!

is snow load damage really a zone 7 issue????

lastly ... do not plant so far down the driveway.. that you have problems with seeing down the road when backing out ....

ken

ps: whats the tree out from the porch toward the monster tree??? ... how far is it from the porch??? .. and while your are at it.. whats the totem pole tree and whats the deal with that?????

Hello,

Yes I was referring to Thuja Giants, as an example for my situation. Thanks for clearing that up.

Mike

Thanks for all of the feedback, guys!

I'm on Long Island, NY.

On the side by the garage/chain link, my intention is indeed to remove the plantings along the home and plant a screen of a similar width along the fence...so I have grass along the house...the opposite of how it is now...and the screen needs to be tall enough to give privacy when in the home and when out. I definitely need a vertical screen there that fits in my 12 foot space...leaving perhaps 1/2 of that area long the house clear to walk/mow through.

I mention holly as an option a lot for several reasons...they seem more resistant to snow loads than most arborvitae species (I see many splayed open emerald greens in the area)...and there are various flavors of wild hollies in the woods across the street and behind them home..seems like they would tie in nicely. But I'm not against other similarly sized evergreens...or mix and match a few.

I definitely won't plant all the way down the driveway to the street for safety's sake. The fence itself stops about 8 feet short of the street...

The tree by the porch is a Japanese Maple...Youngblood perhaps? The "totem pole" tree is the lower part of a oak tree.

Thanks!!