Shurb ideas

I have a location in the back my yard where I would like to put a couple of short shrub but would prefer not to have to trim them every other year. I am looking for something that is 4 to 8 feet tall but no wider then 3 feet. Because I have creating a forest garden, I would like the shrub to serve a useful purpose but at this point I will take anything since I am out of ideas. The two areas the shrub will go are full shade and the other is partial (morning sun for 5 hours).

The reason why the shrub cannot be to wide is because of the drainage easement at the back of the yard put in by the builder according to grading stamped by the city. Very close to the drainage easement is a 8 foot tall fence also installed by the builder as a sound barrier to the road behind us. Originally there was sod every where but by trying to get ride of it I decided to start building a dry stream/creek this year and plan to put some plants along the back fence next year. I have attached a picture I took in the middle of a storm to give everyone a better sense.

Thank,
Kris

Anyone with ideas or tall but not very wide shrub?

Kris

You may want to look at the arborvitaes. Not useful for anything as far as I know, but they suit the spot. I don't think you could use them in the full shade area, though.

Alternately, why not make a trellis all the way around and go with a vine?

honeyberry, even a hardy kiwi against the fence coming out a bit...or black currants...if you dont have deer problems you could do lots. You can always keep the shrub pruned for your needs...I would check onegreenworld.com for ideas...I am loving the honeyberries, currants, and goumi...

I'd just get a big pot and plant bamboo
In it. If the pots three foot wide that's as wide as it will grow. It will grow to your height size needs just choose the right variety. It's an extremely useful plant that you can harvest from regularly for bean poles or other things. Just make sure it stays in the pot in areas with regular irrigation or rainfall.

Another option may be some variety of perennial grass. Some of them grow quite tall but are narrow at the base. Can be chopped regularly for weed seed free mulch equal if not better than straw.

Thanks for all the replies. Those are some good ideas which I did not think about since I already had them else where in the garden.
I had thought about putting the Hardy Kiwi for part of the fence but wasn't sure anymore after I read that they need some sun to increase the change of fruiting. Once late morning comes the sun is behind the fence and it becomes full shade for the rest of the day. Would 5 hours of sun be enough for Hardy Kiwi to fruit?

Thanks,
Kris

I definitely think the artic varieties can deal with the low light options...kolomikta I think its spelled? Onegreenworld.com has them...mine are taking off for sure.