MOST CONIFERS .... will not sprout from a cut stump ... definitely picea pungens ... i doubt on thuja ... regardless ... was just reading the generic roundup tech info ... and it is labeled as a stump killer at 50 to 100% .... concentrate.. not pre-diluted ... just apply it to the edge of the stump.. which would be the cambian layer ... when to remove.. is all a function of you and your saw.. and physical capabilities.. and available space. .. my goal is to remove it one season short of paying to have them removed ... with a ladder and hand saw.. you should be able to take down a 15 foot tree.. and with some rope.. make it hit the ground and nothing else .... but i cant really tell you what is within your capabilities ... i do NOT think techy is very aggressive... i do NOT know why you would go with the extra cost of a named variety.. when the straight thuja species are more likely to be native and faster growing .... check out the growth rate on thuja occidentalis ... a quick call to your county soil conservation district will get you more info than you need FOR YOUR AREA.... and they MIGHT have a fall plant sale.. for VERY CHEAP plants .... and i THINK mine offered a larger version of arb .. compared to the normal 12 inch plants .... good luck ken

Jollyrd, your storage doesn't have to have as short a life span as you are thinking. It does take a little planning ahead though. For example, if you want hooks that your kids can hang their coats on, and you want to use those hooks for as long as possible, then maybe you hang them a little higher than you would ordinarily do so. That way the hooks aren't too low in two years. The kids maybe have to use a step stool for a year or two. And don't choose babyish-looking or cartoon-themed hooks that the kids will outgrow in no time. Just get plain, ordinary hooks. OR You can plan an alternative future use for the hooks. They will be used for coats for the kids now, but sports equipment when they get older. You can then install new hooks up higher, and hang a net bag for baseballs and tennis balls, etc.

A friend of mine has stored belongings for her adult children at different times, outside, over long periods of time in a somewhat similar manner. Their method is to pack everything into lidded storage tubs, and then cover the tubs with a good tarp. Apparently this has worked quite well for them. No idea what storage tubs are running these days, but moving boxes aren't that cheap either if you have to buy them. Wherever you end up storing your stuff, toss a box of mothballs around the base to discourage critters.

I don’t have issues with deer or rabbits, even though both live here, so you will need to look up my suggestions. You didn’t mention desired height, so my suggestions vary considerably. Beyond plants with spring flowers, you can consider plants with nice foliage that bloom whenever, such as the variegated Caryopteris divericata Snow Fairy (fall bloom) or some of the variegated or gold Carex. They would provide interest even when not blooming, so particular bloom season would be less significant. Look at some of the smaller and tidier Iberis/perennial candytuft. White spring bloom, and all year clean, dark green foliage. Some of the taller ones can look somewhat sloppy. Veronica Georgia Blue which is one of my favorite plants. Short, and rambles happily around other plants in either sun or shade. A lot of the low growing Dianthus look great all season. My favorite is Greystone for the crisp white spring flowers and the frosty gray foliage, but there are ones with other flower colors, and leaves range to deep green. You are in a perfect general location for heather/Calluna or Heath/Erica. They flower, but out of flower look almost like delicately needled evergreens and have a range of foliage color, including some that are gold and orange, particularly in winter. Heights vary from about 6” to a couple of feet. I don’t know how they would lookwith that plant grouping. Consider some of the really small shrubs such as some of the under 2’ tall evergreen rhodies or Deutzia such as Chardonnay Pearls or even one of the really small Itea such as Little Henry or Merlot.