Questions

looking for a shrub that has small pink flowers that appear before the leaves

I have been advised by a local nursery to plant dogwoods instead of alder for a wet part of my garden. I want to form a hedge /screen . What in you opinion is the best and which would look the best?

I am planning to replant my patio beds in the coming weeks - do you have any suggestions for fairly hardy and relatively small shrubs (up to 2 ft)?

I would like advice as to some of the most suitable shrubs to use to give me an evergreen hedge that could be maintained at about 60cm x 150 cm.I am replacing existing Thuja hedge as it is impossible to keep it at a reasonable size.

I would love to get a Cornus kousa "Satomi". Do you know who supplies them? ( I have enquired locally without success) Also, how far from a wall should it be planted, and how high is it likely to grow?

I want to plant fast growing deciduous trees to act as screen and wind break but dont want roots to damage old barn that is 5.0 metres away. Can you recommend suitable trees?