The Best Trees & Shrubs for Backyard and Home Privacy
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.
Leland Cypress and Arborvitae
"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
"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."
Eastern Redcedar: The Eastern Redcedar is a great option for those seeking a dense evergreen screen. Despite its name, it is actually a juniper. The Eastern Redcedar grows well in full sun and many cultivars are available with different foliage and maximum heights to suit your preferences. Expect it to grow upwards of 30 to 40 feet tall.
Carolina Cherry Laurel: The Carolina Cherry Laurel is a broadleaf evergreen that can grow over 30 feet tall. It’s an excellent choice for creating shady areas within the backyard, as it offers dense, glossy foliage year-round, and small fragrant flowers in spring as an added bonus.
American Holly: Another native to the Eastern USA out to Texas, this plant averages between 15 and 30 feet tall. It can be planted across the country in full sun or part shade. Its dense, dark, evergreen holly leaves and red berries make striking year-round screening.
Little Gem Magnolia: A dwarf cultivar of Southern Magnolia, its evergreen waxy leaves provide year-round privacy. White flowers in early Summer are large and fragrant. For larger spaces, the full-size cultivars grow large and dense enough to screen a multi-story home — 20 to 30 feet should be expected.
Related: Winter is the Best Time For a Tree Evaluation—Assess For Damage and Disease Today
How to Maintain Your Privacy Trees and Shrubs
"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."
