Inkberry holly does not have sharp leaves; also Japanese holly.

Advantage: price and they grow fast

^^ landscapers hate them because they are so popular. They want something more artistic. But do you?
Also I had a hedge Of photinia at my previous home. Much more fragile and prone to problems than the arborvitae. That leave on top bare on bottom is a problem and I had to replace them several times for disease.

OP I would go back to arborvitae. They are very hardy especially if you set up a watering system in the summer. They are thick and green and very hardy unless you live on top of a dry and windswept mountain. They are everywhere around here as privacy hedges. They do need water in summer when young though.

I just chopped my photinias because they grew from being bushes to trees. Each was probably about 25 feet high after 20 years and had such a large, dense top that the leaves at the bottom died out, leaving only exposed trunks. Nice waxy leaves though.

The flowers stink so you'd need to make sure you trim them before they bloom. I just planted a bunch of Picea pungens 'Ruby Teardrops' Colorado Spruce and they are gorgeous. I also have two mature Cherry Laurel bushes - they are very dense and the flowers smell wonderful. Home Depot and Lowes have Cherry Laurel cheaply and it's also available at any nursery.

If you have space (eg a little depth so everything doesn’t have to be planted in a tight row) I think a mixed/layered hedge is a much better option. No matter what you plant, if one dies in a few years you’re going to have a hole you can’t easily fill.

In a mixed hedge you can have a holly or two maybe with berries and some deciduous shrubs in the front for interest. And if something dies along the way, you’ll be able to replace it.

Anonymous wrote:Foster holly is a really nice holly and not sharp like a typical holly. I don’t like the enormous size of the photinas and they get bare at the bottom. If you have room cryptomeria are nice. Plants only provide a psychological sound diminishment-they truly do not mitigate noise at all

We recently cut down a row of old red tipped photinias that were ailing with leaf spot fungus and were not providing much privacy because of their bare lower halves.

I think your landscaper is wrong. Once the fungus sets in, it's nearly impossible to get rid of without a significant amount of poisonous fungicide. I have always been a big fan of red-tipped photinias. I had a very hearty one next to the house that thrived for many years. Suddenly a couple years ago, it was near death. It turns out that fungus is pretty much the only thing that kills them and once it sets in, you're better off just planting something else that isn't affected by the fungus.

I have never like holly because the leaves are so thorny. I do like waxleaf privets. They are sturdy and provide privacy.

Photinia will hardly make it through the winter. You may want to choose a shrub hardy to zone 4 or 5.

Foster holly is a really nice holly and not sharp like a typical holly. I don’t like the enormous size of the photinas and they get bare at the bottom. If you have room cryptomeria are nice. Plants only provide a psychological sound diminishment-they truly do not mitigate noise at all

for me the leaf spot would be a deal killer. he is correct it won't kill the plant, and it treatable, but it just another thing that you have to do to maintain the shrub and keep it looking good.

Think about winged euonymous

Choosing a thick privacy hedge to block sound from and view of heavy street traffic 2 blocks away. (So more substantial than simply providing privacy between neighbors.)

After looking at lots of examples, we decided upon Green Emerald Arborvitae, but when landscaper came, he said he personally did not like Arborvitae because they are more pysically delicate and prone to damage from wind and rain and snow.

He recommended holly or red-tipped photinia. We don't want the sharp leaves of holly.

I like the look of photinia a lot, but someone else in our neighborhood has them and they have leaf spot fungus.

Landscaper said leaf spot is not a deal-breaker, fairly easy to treat and won't actually kill the plant.

Please tell me about your experience with red-tipped photinia! (esp wrt leaf spot and powderey mildew).