The planting of trees

starlancerii

So arbor day is coming up, and I'm in the mood to plant trees. Specifically, I'd like to plant a row of trees in front of my home, to block out the noises from the road and to sort of surround my property (I don't need to see my neighbors sunbathing in their yard.

My question is, what's the best kind of tree to use? This is for northern Virginia, I've heard that the American Aborvitae is good for being low maintenance and cheap. Does anybody have tips on planting and taking care of trees while they grow?

Willeth

This is a little tangential, but check local council regulations and whatnot. There may be restrictions on what you can plant - most likely how tall it can be and how close to the road, if any.

MetroidZoid

The Arborvitae would be a good choice indeed, if that's the kind of look you like. Also, there's plenty of varieites out there besides the standard American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis). Dwarf ones and such. Also, for a quick fill, the usual is Green Giant, a very quick growing variety.

Main thing to keep in mind when putting up a screen-planting is (A) what look you're going for (formal? informal? uniform?), which also factors into (B) how much work you want to put into it (prune weekly? Monthly? Once a year?), and finally size wise, which also factors in cost (A screen of say Rhododendrons will be more costly than say the arborvitae you have in mind). Also about size, because one way or another you're going to end up pruning this thing (how often is based on your choices), some things like English Laurel and Photinia are nice for quick-growing evergreen hedges, but naturally want to get easily to 20' tall, and therefore require lots of work to keep them looking good as a 6' hedge.

Some of my favorite things for planted-screenings ... keep in mind, I'm in S. Oregon, and there may be things available in your area I'm not familiar with:

Thuja hedge, still small / kept small:

Taller:

Slightly taller, and possibly toping out at tree's natural height depending on variety. Note formal pruning ... and tools / effort required:
http://www.collierarbor.com/arborAdvisor/spring_03/Hedge_shearing.jpg
Photinia (as mentioned above, kept short):
http://media.thedaily.com.au/img/photos/2007/11/09/hedge-large_t350.jpg
Forsythia (deciduous, and more for aesthetics than functionality (a privacy / sound barrier):

Privet (Ligustrum) (note: this hedge is being pruned incorrectly. The top should be narrower, sloping at least slightly to the bottom, otherwise you get a lack of light = dieing branches, woody bottom):
http://z.about.com/d/landscaping/1/0/E/F/privet_hedge_and_fencing.jpg
Roses do work:
http://z.about.com/d/landscaping/1/0/0/F/rose_chain_link.jpg
Or do something totally awesome:

Some plant varieties just of the top of my head: Photinia, Laurel (usually English), Barberry, Mahonia, Juniper, Boxwood, Yews, Euonymous, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and Escallonia are all evergreen (a couple depend on area). Then if you want something better, there's a variety of trees (evergreen and deciduous) that could fit the bill. Leyland cypress, for example, gets huge fast, but is a nice thick easy-care conifer.

LewieP's Mummy

I very foolishly planted 6 Leylandii at the front of my house, as a screen 23 years ago. They grew like crazy, as they are wont to do. I had to clip them fairly regularly, but they still grew way too tall. I then lopped them in half (they were about 12' by then) and ended up digging them up completely, which was an absolute nightmare.
One of my neighbours planted 2 at the back of her house at about the same time. They are now taller than her house, and fill the back 16' of her garden. She's risking problems with her drains, and heave if she chops them down.
Be careful what you plant!