Adding Privacy to Your Yard with Trees

Looking to add a little more privacy to your yard? What better way to do so then adding some lush green trees! Planting trees around the perimeter of your yard is commonly known as a living fence, a living fence is a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to a hardscape privacy fence, and that’s not the only positive. Living fences are both beautiful and functional, while plants remove dust and carbon dioxide from there air, they continue to emit oxygen and even absorb some noise!

When it comes to finding the right trees for privacy, there are many options and factors you’ll want to keep in mind. Traditional fences can be installed almost anywhere, but a living fence requires adequate sunlight and water to thrive. In order to find the best trees for your yard, it’s important to understand what you’re getting before planting.

Check out our guide below to some of the most popular choices, we hope this post will help you choose the best trees for your own yard!

Top Living Fence Tree Options

1. Eastern Redcedar

If you want a large, rugged privacy tree that provides full coverage, the Eastern Redcedar is for you. These trees are generally a good choice for year-round effectiveness. Their durablbility and thick foliage will give your yard the privacy you’re looking for, and will also attract local birds and other wildlife!

What You Need to Know:
Height Range: 40-60 feet
Width Range: 10-20 feet
Sunlight: Full to partial (3 to 6+ hours of direct sun per day)

Planting Guidelines:  Eastern Redcedar’s can reach 60 feet high and 20 feet wide at maturity, so they’re best suited for larger backyards. If you have the space, make sure to plant these about 20 feet apart and away from power lines or neighboring homes.

2. Hybrid Willow Tree

Looking for a quick fix? Hybrid Willow Trees are a great option, they’re fast-growing and will have you covered. With a growth rate of 6 to 12 feet per year, this disease-resistant plant typically reaches its mature height in just five years. They grow well even in cold environments and their dense foliage makes them great windbreak trees. They’re also great for drying out swampy soil.

What You Need to Know:
Height Range: 35-45 feet in rows, 75 feet alone
Width Range: 20 feet
Sunlight: Full to partial (3 to 6+ hours of direct sun per day)

Planting Guidelines: Hybrid Willows require a lot of water but can withstand periods of drought with the right maintenance. These plants do best in large to mid-sized yards. If spaced incorrectly, they can reach a towering 75 feet in height, so to create a manageable Hybrid Willow tree privacy fence, be sure to plant them about 5 feet apart.

3. Leyland Cypress

Leyland Cypress trees are one of the most popular options for privacy. A beautiful, fast-growing evergreen that is great for full coverage in large backyards. These trees have been known to reach heights of 50 feet in just 15 years. If you’re looking to build a wall around the perimeter of your property these trees are a great choice. When planted in a row, they’ll create an impenetrable mass of branches that will keep out noise and any nosey neighbors.

What You Need to Know:
Height Range: 40-60 feet
Width Range: 15-20 feet
Sunlight: Full (6+ hours of direct sun per day)

Planting Guidelines: The Leyland Cypress can handle droughts, pests and even air pollution, and their high tolerance to salt makes them good privacy trees in coastal areas. However, due to their shallow root system, they are not well-adapted to hot summers and are susceptible to root rot, so they do best in large, well-drained yards with mild to moderate temperature highs.

4. Spartan Juniper

If you have a smaller yard that can’t accommodate some of the larger privacy trees then the Spartan Juniper is a great option for you. When planted in a row, Spartan Junipers provide a uniform look and tons of privacy to any backyard.

What You Need to Know:
Height Range: 15 feet
Width Range: 3-5 feet
Sunlight: Full (6+ hours of direct sun per day)

Planting Guidelines: Spartan Junipers prefer dryer soil and lots of sunlight. To prevent root rot and other ailments, make sure not to overwater them and plant them about 5 feet apart. These trees don’t do well with heavy pruning, so be sure to plant them in spaces they will fit naturally at their full size.

5. Sky Pencil Holly

If you’re looking for trees that take up very little space but still provide privacy then the Sky Pencil Holly is the right plant for you. A mature Sky Pencil Holly can stand at 8 to 10 feet tall with a width of just 2 feet. Sky Pencil Hollies act as the ultimate space-saving privacy fence trees while still providing solid protection from wind, noise and wandering eyes alike.

What You Need to Know
Height Range: 8-10 feet
Width Range: 2 feet
Sunlight: Full to partial (3 to 6+ hours of direct sun per day)

Planting Guidelines: Sky Pencil Hollies are able to thrive both in the ground and in decorative containers, and unlike their thorny cousin the Holly Bush, their foliage is soft to the touch, making them perfect trees for privacy on patios, urban decks and small backyards. Like many evergreens, these plants can develop root rot if overwatered, so just be sure to give them a well-drained environment.

Asking a Local Landscaper for Help

When choosing the right plants for your yard it’s important to take into consideration the specific region of the country where you live. If you’re unsure about a tree’s fit, just ask a nearby landscape expert. They’ll be able to assist you in selecting the best trees that will thrive and still provide privacy in your local climate. Before consulting, take measurements and a few pictures of your yard on hand so they have some idea of the space your working with.

With this guideline and help from your local landscaper you’ll be well on your way to a great, natural living privacy fence in no time. Remember, when doing a large landscaping job you may find yourself with a ton of yard waste debris that needs to be disposed of. Call us at Waste Solutions 123 for an affordable solution to any debris issue you may have.