Plant suggestions?

[stephm0188]

We're on a corner lot, and our neighbors patio and breakfast room faces the rear of our house. I'm kind of over their kids constantly staring at us and coming over uninvited, so it's time to plant something for privacy.

We're in an area with very heavy clay, and the spot where I want to plant is in a low area of our yard. Our neighbor's downspout drain right into that area, and it does not drain well.  I need something that will provide privacy but still do well there.

We're in zone 5, and the area we'd be planting in is full sun.

[mrs.jacinthe]

I have no suggestions for an actual plant, but my first thought was that if you want to prevent the neighborhood kids from trotting over, something spiky would be a good idea.

[ssmjlm]

I would get something that will be green year round.

If you go to a local nursery, the people there are pretty helpful with suggestions.

[treedimensional]

Not Rhododendron. They need good drainage and can't tolerate wet feet.
You could easily fix the grading and drainage problem now, and open up all the plant possibilities. Till or break up the soil, add composted organic matter like leaf litter, grass clippings, and organic mulch, maybe even a little sand, and re-slope the area to prevent pooling. Then plant a Cryptomeria or something that tolerates poor, moist soil.