Hello! First time here. I am looking for advice on selecting the perfect hedging plant for my needs/preferences (had some trees removed and the vacant lot behind my place is a real eyesore). Here are my details:
Essentials
-Zone 6b
-10 ft height absolute minimum, prefer 15-20, 30+ acceptable
-5-8 ft wide, 10-12 maximum
-Evergreen
-Little to no maintenance
-Not disease prone (I am way amateur)
-As moderately priced as possible, I need to screen 130+ feet and have minimal resources (although for the perfect plant I could try to make something happen)
-At least moderate growth speed
Preferences
-Deep dark green color preferred over bright or emerald shades
-Fast grower
Plants I am currently considering most seriously are Foster's Holly, Oak Leaf Holly, and Dragon Lady Holly. I prefer the Foster's because I have a young son and I don't want him to be playing and get scratched by the leaves and Foster's are a bit softer. I have been informed the berries from holly could give him a tummy ache if he ate them but are not seriously dangerous to him or our small dog and cats.
I have also been considering the Nigra Arborvitae but it seems like those are more prone to disease and might have a wider spread than I am looking for. I also considered Taylor Juniper and Leyland Cypress but those appear to be way out of my price range considering the number I would need to purchase to densely screen 130 feet.
My main question is regarding holly breeds - are there any other breeds anyone is aware of besides Foster's that meet the above specifications and have nice soft leaves like the Foster's?
Also, do the Oak Leaf and Dragon Lady leaves feel as spiky to the touch as they look in the pictures?
Finally, are there any other hedging plant options that might be worth considering that fit the above? I am not married to the holly idea at this point, although I do love it, but I like to consider every option I have, sometimes to excruciating detail. I was just born like that :)
Thank you so much for any advice anyone has to offer!
