Establishing privacy for your backyard and home is important for creating a secure and tranquil environment where you can relax, entertain guests, and enjoy outdoor activities. Not only do privacy features help enhance the sense of personal space and promote a peaceful atmosphere, but they allow you to fully feel at ease within your own property. Additionally, incorporating dense foliage that incorporates a variety of plants adds value to your home. If you're planning to sell in the future, keep in mind that a secluded outdoor space suggests increased livability and desirability, especially in a busy neighborhood.
"When selecting the best trees and shrubs for backyard privacy, there are a wide range of factors to consider from foliage thickness to how fast plants grow," shares Blake Watkins, Certified Master Arborist and Operations Partner at Monster Tree Service. "Some species will grow very quickly, while others take years to reach their full height, so it’s important to consider your ideal timeline and ease of care as several species require more pruning and maintenance than others."
Whether you're looking to create a divide between new not-so-nice neighbors, block your yard from street view, or are looking to quickly enhance privacy in a newly constructed neighborhood, these recommendations are for you.
"The Leland Cypress and Arborvitae are your most common, tried-and-true screening trees," notes Watkins. "These trees (or privacy hedges) can quickly and efficiently provide extra privacy within your backyard. They are fast-growing, making them an ideal fit if you need to get something out of sight quickly. For those with a little patience and a bit of a green thumb, there are more elegant options to create a secluded environment that you can enjoy year-round."
Pay close attention to the expected growth of your plants. While both green giants have species that can reach upwards of 40 feet at mature height, the Arborvitae are available in narrower widths – even as narrow as three feet wide – which would affect the spacing of the plants for privacy.
"Native trees are an excellent choice for privacy screens as they support native birds and insects which can be beneficial to your entire yard. Personally, I like native trees for their wildlife value and their ability to fit in seamlessly with the landscape," shares Watkins. "While these evergreen trees are native to the East Coast, as their name suggests, they can also be successfully sourced and grown across the country."
One perk to his recommendations: They're all evergreen shrubs and trees, meaning that their year-round foliage will look great and promote privacy in all seasons. He adds, "They also look great strategically planted alone, in a cluster, or in an informal row for screening and privacy."
"The above options are best maintained without hedge trimmers," recommends Watkins. "Shape lightly into a natural form. All can be left with lower branches to screen from the ground to the top of the tree, just raise the canopy at least 1’ off the ground to provide good airflow. When planting in groups -- give them space to grow into their full shape. I also advise homeowners to plant them at the proper depth and keep in mind that trees can settle after installation. For those planning to install irrigation, I recommend keeping it well back near the dripline to avoid overspray on the trunk."
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