Hi, I want to grow an evergreen tree about 15-20ft in our backyard to give us some shade and blockage from our two story neighbors. I was considering italian cypress. We prefer to have fruit trees however any dog friendly tree will do. We live in Los Angeles where the weather is pretty fair. I greatly appreicate any suggestions. Thanks, Kyle
Italian cypress will soar well beyond that short height cutoff--barely above the level of shrubdom--unless you plant one of the smaller cultivars. To begin investigating these, see monrovia.com. For lists of trees and shrubs for screening, with Sunset climate zones indicated for each see Guide to Plant Selection near front of Sunset WESTERN GARDEN BOOK.