Landscape Plants for use in Borders and Screeens
Reprinted from Landscape Facts, Cooperative Extension Service, 1979

Plants used for borders and screens serve several important design functions such as blocking undesirable views, separating areas in the yard, creating vistas, adding vertical dimension to an area, among others. Properly located border or screen plants will buffer highway noise and dust, deflect wind currents away from home, cast shade in summer for cooling and allow sun penetration in winter for heating a structure.

Always properly prepare the planting site, space plants at least one half their mature size apart, water during dry periods and control weeds, insects and diseases as needed.

The plants listed below represent some of the major plant groups that can be used for borders, screens, hedges and wind-break purposes.

Borders and Screens:
Deciduous species Shrubs

Aronia Berberis, Barberry,Clethra, Dogwood, Burning Bush, Pyracantha coccinea (Firethorn), Hibiscus syriacus (Shrub Althea), Hydrangea, Lonicera (Honeysuckle), Philadelphus (Mockorange), Rhamnus frangula (Buckthorn), Ribes (Currant), Rosa species (Rose), Spirea, Viburnum
 

Shrubs - Evergreen

  Boxwood, Chamaecyparis (cypress),   Holly, Juniper, Rhododendron P.J.M., Taxus (Yew), Ligustrum (Privet), Thuja (Arborvitae),
 

Deciduous species Trees-
Acer (Maple),Betula (Birch), Carpinus betulus (European Hornbeam),Ash, Honeylocust, Willow, Linden.

Trees - Evergreen
 Chamaecyparis,  Spruce, Arborvitae,

Windbreaks:

The most effective windbreaks are evergreens. However, since they grow slowly, fast growing deciduous plants are often planted in front of evergreens and should be removed as the evergreen matures.

Deciduous Shrubs

Kolkwitzia amabilis (Beautybush), Ligustrum (Privet), Philadelphus (Mockorange) Rhamus frangula (Buckthorn) Viburnum Willowwood, Syringa (Lilac), Viburnum

Shrubs - Evergreen
Arborvitae,

Deciduous species Trees

 Maple, European Hornbeam,Cornus mas (Cornelian Cherry Dogwood), Tulip Tree, Poplar, Oak, Tilia (Linden), Ulmus (Elm), Amelanchier

Trees - Evergreen

Juniper, Spruce, Pine,  Fir,  Arborvitae,

Thorny Barriers:

Trees and Shrubs with thorny stems, useful as more permanent barrier plants.

Shrubs

Barberry,Chaenomeles (Flowering Quince), Pyracantha (Firethorn), Rosa (Shrub Roses)

Trees

Hawthorn,  Gleditsia triacanthos (Honeylocust),Eleagnus (Autumn Olive),