dbltree
Super Moderator
Not as many cedars as the other goodies you listed. Sparse cedars on a south facing slope in winter is dynamite bedding. Dogwoods, plum and elderberry will provide good browse and cover to I would go heavier on those than the cedars. :way:
I agree with Phil but there are a couple options to consider...
1) Plant the cedars a little thicker and then thin them later as they grow to leave plenty of "grassy" or brushy space around them. This gives a little more cover during the growing years is all and if thinning them might not be possible..skip this idea!
2) Plant rows that are thicker but lot's of space (for shrub plantings) between the cedar rows. This gives some thermal cover and screening but plenty of open space on either side of the row.
3) Scatter cedars thru out your shrub planting keeping them perhaps at least 20-30 feet a part in alternating rows with shrubs planted between them.
Wild cedars tend to pop up in thickets that eventually become a wasteland with nothing under them and that's not good habitat.
We learn from that and adapt plantings to create the kind of habitat we see whitetails using such as in this picture.
Deer use the cedar as a backdrop/thermal windbreak and lay in the native grass around it. Shrubs give them further screening and protection that they can see under/through creating ideal bedding habitat....:way: