Looking for a privacy screen plant to use in front of my 6' tall chain link fence. I'm considering Japanese Privet. I have to plant everything in a wire basket because of the gophers. However, I do have a lot of rabbits and squirrels... I'd like to have something they won't eat down over night or that I don't have to use wire baskets around them until they are older plants. Trying to save a few bucks here. Can you give me any other ideas of what to plant. Oh, by the way, I'm up in the high desert. Get's very cold during the winter months, snow, ice and very hot during the summer months, dry (I drip all my plants) and sometimes windy. I would prefer an evergreen and fast grower if possible. And how close do I plant these bushes?

Thanks