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"   Download and print out this garden plan \u00BB  Is the lot next door an eyesore? Instead of complaining, why not plant a screen of evergreens to hide the clutter, enhance your property and provide privacy year-round? This plan is intended for sunny gardens in Zones 5 to 8. Prepare the soil thoroughly prior to planting: Remove any rocks and perennial weeds, then break up the soil to a depth of at least a foot to ensure good drainage and incorporate several inches of organic material. After planting, apply a 2- to 3-inch mulch of bark (shredded or nuggets) or pine needles. The measurements given approximate each plant&amp;#039;s ultimate height, but growth will be slow. Purchase large plants for the background if you want to create an instant screen; to soften the hardscape, allow low plants in front to trail over the wall.  To ensure season-long interest, plant groups of spring-flowering bulbs such as squills, snowdrops, crocus and species daffodils and tulips among the newly planted evergreens. Interplant with later-blooming columbines, wild hyacinths (Camassia), foxgloves and hardy geraniums to extend the display. Consider liriope, hosta, astilbe and low-growing mums to round out the season.  Key to Plan  1. Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis &amp;#039;Degroots Spire&amp;#039;) 5 plants set 6 feet apart; 12 feet tall and 2 1\u20442 feet wide. Slender upright grower with dark green foliage.  2. Dwarf Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa &amp;#039;Nana Gracilis&amp;#039;) 2 plants set 6 feet apart; 10 feet tall and 3 feet across. Very slow-growing; irregular growth with fans of very dark foliage.  3. Montgomery blue spruce (Picea pungens &amp;#039;D. H. Montgomery&amp;#039;) 2 plants planted singly; 4 feet tall and wide. Compact globe-shaped plant with silver-blue needles; becomes broadly pyramidal at maturity.  4. Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis &amp;#039;Daub&amp;#039;s Frosted&amp;#039;) 2 plants planted singly; 2 feet tall and 4 feet across; feathery foliage, bluish green in the center with new-growth tips of light gold.   5. Siberian carpet (Microbiota decussata) 2 plants planted singly; 12 inches tall and 4 to 5 feet across. Spreading with feathery, slightly bluish foliage; dark bronzy winter color; tolerates sun and shade; slow to establish.   6. Shore juniper (Juniperus conferta &amp;#039;Blue Pacific&amp;#039;) 1 plant; 1 foot tall and to 6 feet across; wide-spreading, trailing habit with soft texture and blue-green foliage. Excellent for tumbling over a wall or rock.  Garden plans courtesy of Country Living Gardener.   lllustration by Michelle Buchard "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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