I have a new bed on the north side (has a 4' wall to protect) I want to plant fast growing evergreen shrubs for screen. I don't want to do a lot of maintenance and the shrubs cannot be too wide, so I will be able to plant in front of them. Wax Mrytle and Abelia have been suggested. The bed has good drainage and is organically prepared.

You may wish to consider dwarf holly--burford & youpon are my favorite two. However, if you have an infestation of grasshoppers like we did a few years ago, they'll strip the burford.

Nandinas do not get as wide as these other mentioned shrubs and are very low maintenance.

Pat Akin

Go with Wax Myrtle. There is also a dwarf species that will max out around 4ft by 4ft (in North Texas.) No trimming necessary. No synthetic chemicals, low water-user. Great natives.

Wax Myrtle is Myrica cerifera and Dwarf Wax Myrtle is Myrica pusilla. You could probably find them at Shades of Green in Frisco, Rohde's in Garland, North Haven in Dallas or Green Mama's in North Richland Hills. Of course, both are gaining popularity in The Trade so you might find them at your neighborhood garden center.

Rosemary, while not native, is a terrific evergreen shrub to use in the landscape. Very drought-hardy, nice fragrance, lovely blooms, culinary properties. Do not clip or shape, except to use in recipes. All around fabulous adaptable plant.

Other suggestions: Dwarf Palmetto (Sabal minor) is native to parts of Texas. In fact, there is a preserve in Dallas County (closed to researchers only currently) that has a vast natural stand of palmettoes. Evergreen, low-maintenance, drought-hardy. No you don't cover it in winter -- it's native and accustomed to our climatic conditions.

Soft Leaf Yucca (Yucca flaccida) is also a great evergreen. It's the yucca that won't implale you! There are other yuccas that are 'safe' and native right here to N. TX but they won't fill in the space you described.

Instead of a shrub you might consider a native ornamental grass. Big or Lindheimer's Muhly (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri) or Gulf Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) would be suitable. Little Bluestem might not be tall enough but I would still recommend using it. The great thing about grasses is they are four-season plants. Unlike evergreens -- which are lovely but pretty much stagnant -- grasses change throughout the year. They progress from green to tan or bronze, they bloom, they emerge again the next spring. Maintenance is up to you. By that I mean everybody has their own opinion about whether or not to cut back these native grasses. We have found best results when we cut them back 4-6" above ground every other winter, usually around Valentine's Day.

Hope these suggestions help!