Best Evergreen Trees and Shrubs for Shady Privacy Screens in Red Clay

Q: We live north of Atlanta in red clay soil and need evergreen bushes or hedging trees for privacy and noise reduction along a road. The planting area is wooded and shady most of the year (more sun in winter when oaks lose leaves). Any suggestions?

Two excellent candidates are Carolina cherry laurel (Prunus caroliniana) and Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Both tolerate shade well and will eventually grow tall enough to screen the road. Also consider wax myrtle (Morella cerifera), 'Nellie Stevens' holly (Ilex × 'Nellie Stevens'), and a few camellias for seasonal color.

Planting tip: If planting in a row along a property line, don't dig individual holes. Instead, till a 4-foot-wide band of soil along the entire line and plant at appropriate intervals within the tilled area. This encourages much faster growth than isolated holes. If individual planting is necessary, loosen a 6-foot-diameter area for each plant.