Climate area?

UK

How much width do you have to work with?

I would probably opt for something other than a conifer. IMO, most dwarf conifers lend themselves to more of an individual or specimen planting rather than a hedge. The exceptions are junipers or something like Hick's yew (Taxus x media 'Hicksii'). The yew can get taller than your dsired 4-5' but very slowly and it is probably the single conifer most amenable to pruning. If your winters are mild enough (not all of the UK enjoys a similar climate) and the siting offers sufficient sun, I'd consider a hebe or rosemary. Or a whole plethora of dwarf broadleaved evergreen shrubs.

If a conifer is 5' tall and 10 year old, that means it has grown approximately 6" per year. Then next year, it will be about 5.5' tall or dead. They don't reach a certain height and then stop. Some can be kept pruned to a certain height, at least for a while. But don't get the idea that they are going to top out at 5'.

I agree with Gardengal. I wouldn't use a conifer, other than yew. And I wouldn't use hebe unless you live in somewhere like Cornwall because, because although they will grow in most areas, they tend to be short lived. You don't want a hedge that dies after 6 or 7 years. Berberis darwinii would fit your size requirement although the flower colour is a bit hard to live with. Escallonia could work if you live in a relatively mild area. Both are evergreen.

conifers are trees ...and basically .. as noted.. trees never stop growing ... many websites have size estimates at ten years ... and you can double it for 20 years etc .... and then.. you can search out a latin name and find forest of said conifers ...

you use the word evergreen as describing conifers ... [other peeps call them shrubs] .... there are many other plants that are evergreen ... that might work ... and in fact shrubs are such a type ... but even a lot of those.. left for years or decades will grow taller than your need ...

which simply means you are down to trimming shrubs once or twice a year .. to keep them as you desire ...

i am sure you want what we all want.. a plant that you can plant and forget forever.. and fulfill your every desire ... we have all been looking for that plant.. forever.. lol ..

if you give us a big city name ... we will be better able to make suggestions ...

ken

Geeze, do we have to go through this discussion every single time?? Not all conifers are trees!! Period. End of discussion! There are groundcover conifers that will never, ever exceed a foot in height. What the heck is tree-like about that? And there are shrubby or dwarf conifers that grow only a few inches a year that will remain at a reasonable height indefinitely. Something like Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Kosteri' would take more than a lifetime to much exceed the 5' desired height....not that I would recommend this for hedging purposes.

I have health issues and have good years and bad years, I don't want my neighbours to complain if what ever I plant becomes too large and my poor health means I can't cut them. Also with ill health comes the responsibility of planning for the future and thinking long term about the cost of maintaining my garden especially if I have to give up work and live on state benefits. I live in the UK South Wales. Thank you for your comments.

I also refer to ever greens as a means of not having decidious borders and neighbours having leaves in their gardens from my garden. Many thanks

Lush, how long and how wide is this space you want to plant? How much sun does it get?