How to choose the right plants for your garden this spring

Some labels only give a height. For evergreens, it’s usually the height that the plant is likely to reach in 10 years. “It’s easy to forget that evergreen trees and shrubs will get wider as they grow taller,” she said. “You can plant a row of small arborvitaes, expecting they will grow tall to provide a privacy screen. But they will grow wide, too, and may take up a lot of space in your yard or block the sidewalk.”