Yes, my experience in NE Oklahoma is that they're temporary, either by leaf spot or simply ice storms taking them down. But they grow fast.

Personally, I don't have time to mess with (relatively speaking) annual trees/shrubs, and would just destroy them and plant something that would be more permanent and more attractive.

Thank you for the advice. I have already had to spray the Photinias with Fungicides for leaf spot. I discovered this problem in my research, after I planted them. Grrr. I'm not a tree/shrub babysitter. I'm in Western Oklahoma where ice storms are common as well. I planted them for the fast growth rate to hide my unsightly neighbors. Off to the nursery I go for professional advice and something different to plant.

I would argue that you will get better advise on here, we're not trying to sell you anything and we don't have a surplus stock to clear out.

I, myself, have a degree in Horticulture. But so many of us have a LOT of experience that outweighs that (in my mind). Your avg nursery worker is there for a paycheck and may or may not know a thing about any given plant.

dbarron,

I concur, I would never ask advice of a big commercial place. I'm in Western Oklahoma and lots of high winds, ice storms. My next choice is to plant Blue Point junipers (love the bluish foliage). These would be along the East side house fence line. Sandy to clay soils present. I love Arizona Cypress, but they would be much too large. The nursery/arborist I was going to visit is not really a big commercial grower. He's more of a tree expert arborist and cares about what does well. Do you have any recommendations?

I would say that they would do much better in the long run. I've only lived in the eastern part of Oklahoma, but I've driven through there. It's drier, and you may need to water.

Remember, that the junipers would probably be dead (usually takes about 6 months for damage to really show on junipers) before you can see that they need water. Conversely they hate having overly wet roots. Remember, they're a plant of mountain scree zones.

To make any good recommendation, we'd have to know your soil type, pretty exact location (Oklahoma is a surprisingly variable state), SW is not much like the panhandle, and not at all like NE or SE. If that makes sense, what you plan to do (as far as care...can you water? will they be on an irrigation line) What do you need out of the plants (just screen, evergreen or does it matter as you may not be outdoors in winter, do you want flowers, fruit, etc)?