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Best Privacy Trees For Backyard

Jade Waves Fernspray False Cypress

10 Best Trees for Year-Round Privacy in Your Backyardð²ð? ð³

Jade waves are another great backyard tree for privacy.The branches of this tree arches, and the green foliage brings a fresh feeling to the garden. You can plant an entire row of these Jade waves and enjoy privacy. The fern-like foliage creates a beautiful look in the garden. As time passes, these trees will grow up and may reach about four feet wide and as tall as eight feet. You can easily place around 4 to 8 fern sprays in a row.

Which Are The Best Evergreen Trees For Privacy

The type of evergreen trees you plant depends solely on your situation. If you need broad coverage, you might want to go with a gigantic tree such as a Concolor Fir or a Douglas Fir. If you want an accent piece, or only need to cover a smaller section, then the Norway Spruce or the White Pine might be a better option.

The benefit to using evergreen trees for privacy is that they provide color all year and do not lose their leaves like deciduous trees. You will have some green in your otherwise barren landscape in the winter and your privacy screen will not diminish with the change in seasons.

Types Of Evergreens To Plant For Privacy

A line of evergreen trees or shrubs can provide year-round seclusion even better than a fence. Here are some of the best and fastest-growing evergreens to consider planting in your yard.


If you cherish your privacy and want to ward off noise pollution from your street, planting evergreen privacy trees and shrubs around your yard is a great way to create a barrier between your home and the outside world.

A line of evergreen trees or shrubs can provide year-round seclusion even better than a fence, because there are no municipal restrictions on how high they can grow. However, if there are power lines above your screen, you don’t want trees so big that they’ll grow into the wires. Also pay attention to their width at maturity the spacing between trunks when you plant should equal mature width.

While the ideal growing conditions vary by species, one thing all these evergreens have in common is a love of the sun. Give them at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day and their foliage will remain full and keep your privacy intact.

Read on to learn about some of the best evergreen trees and shrubs that are low maintenance, beautiful and easy to plant in your yard.

Shown: For more information on the Green Giant arborvitae shown here, see the next image.


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Thuja Green Giant A Fast Growing Privacy Tree

One of the most resilient trees, the Thuja Green Giant is one of the most popular privacy trees for backyard landscaping. A fast growing privacy tree, the Green Giant Arborvitae creates a seamless tree fence along your property line thanks to their growth rate of three to five feet a year and the mature height of 30 to 40 feet.

The Green Giant is also cold hardy and resistant to most botanical diseases, so it thrives in almost any climate setting. However, if you live where there are deer, this may not be the plant for you because the leaves of the Green Giant are soft, and deer tend to devour them.

How To Choose The Best Privacy Trees

3 Gorgeous Trees for Privacy

One of the many benefits homeowners enjoy is the outdoor living spaces that come along with property ownership. However, many of these yards lack privacy as they are too open and exposed to both neighbors or passerby. Without this sense of sanctuary and needed privacy many homeowners and their families may feel less inclined to spend quality time using in their yards.

On the other hand, when a yard is private and welcoming, a family can make full and wonderful use of their outdoor spaces throughout the entire year no matter what the season. Homeowners and their families can enjoy their yards year round without feeling like their activities are on display.


There are numerous trees that make an excellent choice for privacy while softening the outdoor space with what is in effect a living green wall. Besides adding greatly to the sense of privacy to your home, a privacy tree buffer is naturally aesthetic way of framing outdoor rooms with lush green foliage while minimizing sound and encouraging healthy biodiversity.

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Ilex Crenatasky Pencil Holly

Sky Pencil Holly is a popular, versatile evergreen tree. Especially since it can be planted as an accent on the corners of your exterior, or in rows for a narrow hedge, or alone as an ornamental.

You can achieve optimum performance with this tree if you are in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9. A mature sky pencil grows to a height of 8-10-foot-long and 2-foot spread.

Furthermore, you must choose a planting location with ample sunlight and protection from harsh winds.


Although the partial sun is tolerable, we recommend full sun whenever possible. For best-growing results, make sure the soil drains well.

What Trees Make The Best Privacy Screens

Choosing correctly your privacy trees will ensure your screen trees look beautiful for a long time

Choosing the best type of privacy trees for your backyard depends on several factors.

Lets look at some of the things to consider when identifying suitable trees for privacy in your garden:

Privacy screen heightThink about how high you need your privacy hedge to grow. Some dwarf and compact evergreen trees grow to about 5 or 6 ft. and are ideal for privacy in a backyard.


FoliageThe best types of privacy fence trees should have evergreen, dense foliage. These trees will offer protection throughout the year. Many columnar evergreen trees can be planted in rows and will quickly grow into a thick hedge that you cant see through.

Size of the backyardIf you have a small garden, then choosing tall, skinny evergreen trees will offer the best privacy. The compact nature of fastigiate trees where their branches grow vertically means these types of trees dont take up much space.

Maintenance requirementsThe best kind of privacy landscaping trees are columnar evergreens that have a conical shape. These trees keep their neat shape without much pruning or maintenance.

Growing needsYou also need to consider the climate where you live. Some privacy trees are suitable for full sun and withstand frost. Other types of border columnar trees are better for drought-prone landscapes.

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What Are The Best Privacy Trees For Your Backyard

When selecting plants for a fence, its important to take into consideration the specific region of the country where you live, says Henriksen. If youre ever unsure about a trees fit, just ask a nearby landscape expert. They have extensive knowledge of trees that provide privacy and that will also thrive in your local climate.

Take measurements and have a few pictures of your backyard on hand so they have some idea of the space youre working with. And always remember that good tree fences make good neighbors.

Going for a whole new look outdoors? Check out these articles for more landscaping makeover tips:

Privacy Screen Height And Width

Backyard Privacy! 10 Best Plants for Backyard Fence Line That Provide Extra Privacy! ð?

When choosing the right type of privacy trees or shrubs for your home, you must consider the full mature size of the plant. Youll want to make sure that the plants reach the right height for your desired screen when theyre fully grown. On the one hand, youll want your plants to be tall enough to hide particular views. On the other hand, you dont want them to be so tall that they may reach overhead power lines and endanger your home.

Width is another important consideration for your privacy trees and shrubs. If youre planting along neighboring property lines, youll want to make sure your screen isnt encroaching on your neighbors yard. The full width of the plant at its mature stage will also help you determine the spacing between each one. The screen may initially have large gaps between each plant, but this will fill in overtime.


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What Are The Fastest Growing Privacy Trees

Almost every tree here is a privacy tree has a relatively quick growth rate. While some are faster than others, you will see progress quickly with any tree you choose on this list.

However, some of the fastest on this list are the Leyland Cypress, Thuja Green Giant, and Wax Myrtle, all growing at 3 to 5 feet per year, and the Willow Hybrids as much as 12 feet per year.

What Are The Different Arrangements Of The Best Trees For Privacy

With so many privacy trees and plants at your full disposal, it can get tricky to find a proper plant arrangement for your backyard.

Fear not, for we will go over the different tree setups you can try out at home. Here are some ways you can arrange your plants and trees for a more vibrant privacy screen.

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Best Plants To Grow For Privacy In The Backyard

Disclaimer | This article may contain affiliate links, this means that at no cost to you, we may receive a small commission for qualifying purchases.

Isnt it annoying when your neighbors constantly try to make conversations across the yard? Especially when youre kicking back after a long day at work.

We understand your frustration, and since moving to a deserted island sounds a bit extreme, we offer you a practical and modern solution privacy plants. While its not the newest idea on the block, it sure is a great way to keep those peepers off your property.

So, if youd rather go down the green route, check out our collection of the 15 best plants to grow for privacy in the backyard.

Take a look now!

Concolor Fir The Best Evergreen Trees For Privacy For Large Areas

best privacy trees for small backyard best privacy trees for backyard ...

The Concolor Fir has a lot of similarities to the White Pine. It is also adaptable to almost any environment or climate, ranging from cold to hot and wet to trees for dry sites. As long as the soil that the tree has proper drainage, the Concolor Fir will thrive.

The Concolor Fir can grow as tall as 80 feet at mature height. It is also a reasonably full tree, thus making it an ideal selection for those with larger yards.

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Quick Tips For Choosing The Best Privacy Trees

Firstly, lets get on the same page about what makes a particular tree good for privacy. There isnt a one-size-fits-all solution. So, the trees that work well for one person might not be as helpful for your household.

The four elements you should consider when choosing the best privacy trees are the size of the tree , growing zones, maintenance requirements, and growth speed.

When you find a tree that checks all four of these boxes for you, then youll know that youve found the right one. Lets take a closer look at each of those considerations.

Factor The Living Privacy Plants Into Your Style

You should also keep in mind how those plants will fit in with the style you are going for in your yard. For instance, well-trimmed hedges work best for yards that have a classic and neat appearance. Flower hedges work well with larger romantic garden spaces. Trees can offer a good option for more rustic yards that keep things on the natural side. You might even look into partial designs that can work for conceptual and artistic spaces, such as placing unconnected panels of fence alongside patches of evergreen trees. You can see an example in the photo above.

And remember to take into account the level of upkeep the living privacy fence will require. Though all living fences will need some upkeep, options like shrubbery will need regular trimming to maintain a clean look. If youre not willing to spend a lot of time with your yard, you might choose options that dont require regular trimming seasons, like willow trees or cactus.

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Thuja Green Giant Growing Zones

Thuja Green Giants will thrive well in hardiness zones five to nine. Seeing as how there are only 11 hardiness zones throughout the country, that means theres a fair chance these trees will do well in your yard.

Even if they dont, theres no need to worry. We still have four other privacy trees for you to check out.

So, keep reading!

Why Plant Privacy Trees

16 Narrow Evergreen Tree Suggestions For Year-Round Privacy In Small Yards (+ Growth Rates)

It depends precisely on why you need the coverage. If you want to build a natural perimeter, then plant the trees just inside your property line. If you have a large yard and plan on using more significant trees, make sure you allow for the appropriate space in between each tree.

If you want to cover a few open spots in your yard, there are several smaller trees for landscaping, such as the cypress trees or holly trees listed in this article. There are dozens of varieties of privacy trees and shrubs that provide the necessary amount of coverage you need to feel completely secure in your yard.

There are also some trees with far-reaching branches that bud and bloom in the spring and summer when you are more likely to be spending time outside.

If you dont want to create a definite barrier, but want to have a little more privacy in those warmer months, choose one of the seasonal trees and enjoy their colors and scents when you relax or barbeque on the patio or deck.

One of the uses of palm trees is to add privacy to a pool area in your yard. The fronds add some tropical elegance and shade to this popular summer spot.

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Choosing The Best Evergreen Trees For Privacy

Before we dive deeper into the list of the best evergreen trees to plant for privacy, lets cover some basics.

If you want a thick privacy screen, plant the evergreens in a zig-zag pattern. It will allow the trees to spread and give them more sun, as well as air and water. The zig-zag pattern is necessary if you live in a windy place. It will prevent the wind from breaking the trees or branches.

Now that we got that out of the way, it is time to select the best evergreen trees for your yard.

Find The Right Privacy Plant

Make sure that you find the proper plant not only for your zone but for your privacy needs. For instance, a Euonymus plant alone will not grow higher than four or five feet. These are perfect if you want to still see some of your surroundings while maintaining a subtle sense of privacy, but not if you are after full enclosure. In this instance, purchasing a Holly variety or Arborvitae makes more sense.

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English Yew Or Common Yew

The English yew also known as the common yew ‘is probably the classic evergreen tree. It is elegant and long-lived, and rejuvenates itself remarkably well if pruned in the early spring,’ explain the experts at Practicality Brown .

One of the best trees for privacy, and planting en masse to create hedging, Taxus baccata can grow to about 40 feet tall. It thrives in free-draining soil and can tolerate sun to shade. Some varieties also produce small red berries loved by wildlife as a food source.

Grow it in USDA zones 5-7.

Columnar Arborvitae Trees For Privacy Hedges

47 Cheap Privacy Landscaping Ideas

There are many other types of columnar trees in the genus Thuja that are ideal for planting as privacy screens. Lets look briefly at some of the most common thujas homeowners plant in backyards for privacy.

  • American arborvitae This dense evergreen cedar is a standard privacy tree to block views from nosy neighbors. Even without maintenance, the columnar tree keeps its pyramidal shape.

The columnar tall Thuja occidentalis is a popular tree for a living fence or privacy screen

  • Arborvitae Emerald Green This evergreen tree is popular for creating privacy screens due to its narrow pyramidal shape. Its also a species of tree that requires little maintenance. Use for windbreaks, borders, hedges, and sound barriers.

Pictures of thuja emerald green tree its considered as one of the best trees for privacy

  • Baby giant arborvitae tree This is a cultivar of the popular Green Giant arborvitae. This species has a more compact growing habit that makes it perfect for privacy hedges in small backyards.

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Best Trees For Privacy That Grow Fast

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Everyone loves the idea of having a large and open backyard, whether its for barbecuing or just sitting quietly with your loved ones. Still, one thing that can spoil all of that is the lack of privacy and having other people be able to watch you during those intimate moments. Thankfully, you can prevent that with some of the best trees for privacy.

The best trees for privacy are also the ones that grow fast, so you dont have to sit around waiting to enjoy the benefits they offer. They include trees like the Thuja Green Giant, Leyland Cypress, and Steeds Holly. Youll also get the same benefits by planting Emerald Green Arborvitae and Wax Myrtle too.

Suppose youre interested in using trees to create a more private backyard. If thats the case, youve come to the right place. The following sections will explore some of the best trees for privacy that also grow relatively fast.

But before that, well share a few quick tips for choosing the best privacy trees to help you decide which ones are the best for your yard in particular.

Lets get to it!

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