Hello Gina, 

Thanks for reaching out to the EMG helpline! Also, welcome to Vermont! There are a few things to consider when selecting a hedge, beyond soil conditions and drainage:

- Salt tolerance
- Deer resistance
- Need for winter protection (burlap wrap)

Without knowing much about your soil and drainage condition, I would suggest looking at the following:

Holly, such as Blue Princess, because it's lower maintenance, provides year-round coverage, and is deer resistant. 

Aborvitae, such as Green Giant, because they are fast-growing evergreens that are considered deer resistant. 

If you'd like to consider native options, the Ecological Landscape Alliance has published a comprehensive list in this article, Native Hedges and Hedgerows. 

Our friends over at the Pennsylvania Extension Office have published this article, Hedgerows for the Home Garden, which gives a history as well as recommendations based on drainage and goals. 

Additionally, the extension office can perform soil sample testing to give you a detailed analysis of your new garden. This is a great way to learn about your new space and you can monitor over time for changes with regular testing. 

Please feel to reach out to us anytime, we're a short email away!