If you are looking for plants for privacy on your property, you’ve probably already tried ‘Little Goblen Red’ holly, Euonymus, Boxwood and California lilacs. But what can you do if you want even more privacy? Here are some tips to help you select the perfect privacy plants for your property. After you decide which plants you’d like to add to your yard, you’ll need to keep an eye on them and prune them as needed to keep them in shape.
Euonymus
If you want to create a private oasis, you can choose to grow euonymus as a hedge. These plants grow fast and fill in neatly. They reach an average height of 4 feet, and bloom with tiny flowers in late summer. They do best in zones 5-8 and require regular watering. You can buy them at most home improvement stores and online for over $86. Euonymus is also drought-tolerant and can tolerate drought conditions.
Another evergreen shrub for privacy is the burning bush, also known as the euonymus. Burning bush has fiery red fall color and a low-maintenance, elegant habit that makes it a perfect choice for hedges. The shrub is very adaptable, growing well in either full sun or partial shade. It is also a classy variegated winter creeper. Its upright branching habit allows it to climb walls and is incredibly disease-resistant.
A few foot-tall shrubs can provide an excellent amount of privacy. For a small enclosure, a Euonymus will be perfect. These plants don’t grow much beyond four or five feet. If you want to complete the enclosure, consider buying a Holly or Arborvitae variety. Most of these can be found for under $100 on Amazon. Boxwood, on the other hand, is another great choice for privacy. They grow slowly, and are easily pruned and trained into privacy bushes. A bonus: they can be deer-resistant and will grow in zones 5 to 9 as well.
Boxwood
Boxwood is a low-growing evergreen shrub with many different types and styles. Highlander boxwood will grow about two feet a year to reach a height of six feet. It produces small white flowers in spring, and its foliage is dark green. Highlander boxwoods should be fertilized with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, so they do not get stunted. You can also plant the Hicks yew in a container, which will naturally grow upright and is low-maintenance.
Boxwood is an excellent choice for privacy hedges. They are relatively disease-resistant, and take a lot of shaping. Make sure you plant them far apart to prevent overcrowding. The Japanese variety is especially hardy and resists winter burn and boxwood blight. It has a dense globe-like form that provides year-round interest. Japanese boxwood grows quickly and is resistant to winter burn.
Boxwood can be pruned. While the Korean cultivars can be pruned, they are best for foundations, edging pathways, formal gardens, and low hedges. Nana has a narrow, low spread and lime-green foliage in spring. The leaves turn a lighter color as the plant matures. Nana is a smaller Korean cultivar and has a relatively fast growth rate. It is increasingly popular due to its high tolerance for leafminer and blight.
California lilacs
There are several five and six foot evergreen shrubs that are perfect for providing privacy and screening. Some of them can even be grown in containers. Inkberry, for instance, is native to southern New England, but is often grown for its beautiful spring flowers. Its flowers are rose to white with purple markings and bloom from May to June. This shrub grows in a ball shape with good branching to the ground.
American Arborvitae, scientific name Thuja Occidentalis, grows fast and forms a dense screen when maintained. It is also hardy in zones two through seven and grows well in full sun to partial shade. This fast-growing privacy shrub can also be used as a wildlife habitat due to its fast growth. Moreover, it provides shelter and food for pollinating insects and other wildlife. These reasons alone make it a good choice for privacy.
American Arborvitae, also known as the eastern arborvitae, can reach a height of 10 to 15 feet. This plant is tough and adaptable and can survive winter storms. Deer tend to browse on it, but it can be protected by wrapping it with burlap and applying a deer repellent. Yew, a variety commonly used as a foundation planting, has dark green leaves and red berries. Yews also provide a habitat for birds and are good privacy shrubs.
‘Little Goblen Red’ holly
‘Little Goblen Red,’ a dwarf winterberry holly, is a striking addition to any yard. Its bright red berries create a stunning contrast with the surrounding vegetation. This fast-growing, low-maintenance shrub is great for border planting, mass planting, and residential landscapes. ‘Little Goblin Red’ holly is highly adaptable and can tolerate a variety of conditions, including shade, dry conditions, and drought.
‘Little Goblin Red’ holly is a compact tree that is a Proven Winners Color Choice selection. The red or orange berries are extremely showy and persist into early spring. It’s easy to grow and maintain, and it attracts a wide range of birds, including songbirds and butterflies. The plant’s dense habit makes it a desirable choice for landscaping in urban areas.
‘Little Goblen Red holly’ is a winterberry evergreen shrub that grows to three to four feet tall. It is suitable for part-shade or full shade, and is also tolerant of average soil moisture. It is easy to grow and does not need much pruning. The female ‘Little Goblin’ Guy’ holly is a good pollinator for this shrub.
Columnar Norway spruce
The elegant columnar selection is highly valued as a specimen, perimeter, or accent plant. Its dense branching to the ground and slender, uniform growth habit create an impressive windbreak or privacy wall. Best grown in cool climates with short growing seasons, this selection grows up to 30 feet tall. It also tolerates heat and humidity better than other evergreens. Its uniform, dense branching to the ground makes it a popular choice for privacy walls.
As a columnar tree, the Columnar Norway Spruce is perfect for creating an attractive windbreak. Its dense branching and dark green needles give it an upright, columnar appearance. The Columnar Norway spruce can reach heights of more than 30 feet and has low maintenance requirements. A single-file row of this beautiful tree makes a dignified property boundary. Like Cypresses in an Italian formal garden, it adds privacy and structure to the landscape.
If you’re looking for a dense privacy screen, a Columnar Norway spruce might be the perfect choice. A mature Columnar Norway Spruce will grow up to 30 feet tall, so it’s best to plant it in a sunny location away from any power lines. It’s fast-growing, so be prepared to prune it every year. If you don’t mind occasional snowfall, this tree can last as long as 50 years. It prefers moist, evenly layered soil that’s not too wet. It doesn’t like standing water and is highly tolerant of urban pollution.
False cypress
For your landscaping needs, consider planting a hedge of False Cypress 5-6 foot evergreen shrubs. This evergreen shrub has blue foliage and is slow-growing, reaching 5-6 feet in 10 years. Its branches are thin, and its leaves are soft and pliable. You should choose well-drained soil and protect it from windy conditions if you want it to stay small.
The height of the false cypress 5-6 feet will vary depending on the species you choose, but they can be as tall as 20 feet if they’re grown in a sunny location. Regardless of your personal preferences, this shrub can easily grow in containers. You can purchase Koster’s false cypress, which is an imported Japanese species, in a one gallon container. If you’d rather grow your own, Nature Hills Nursery sells live plants in one-gallon pots.
As a 5 or 6-foot evergreen shrub for privacy, False Cypress is an excellent choice. Its soft, feathery foliage adds year-round interest to your landscape. You can plant them in either full sun or partial shade, depending on your preferences. These trees tolerate shade well, so they’re suitable for shady spots. These shrubs are also good for screening.
Leyland cypress
Planting a living wall with 5-6 foot Leyland Cypress shrubs is a great way to create a barrier against unsightly views or sounds. These trees will grow to be about 60 to 70 feet tall, and will require full sun. They can be planted close together or at least 6 feet apart for privacy. Leyland Cypress accepts trimming and can make a beautiful grouping.
Although some people prefer to plant tall trees, a 5-6 foot Leyland Cypress will give your yard more privacy and is much easier to maintain. While Leyland Cypress can reach a height of 100 feet, it usually grows to a maximum of three to six feet per year. Planting too close to structures or other plants will prevent the interiors of the trees from drying out. Too close to each other can lead to fungal diseases, so be sure to space your planting areas apart.
When planting your Leyland Cypress trees, remember that they require adequate watering to stay healthy and grow properly. You can water them by hand or with an irrigation system, but be sure not to over-water them. Then, fertilize them in the springtime, while the trees are dormant. Don’t forget to prune the trees every year to remove dead wood and thin them down to manageable size.
Yew
When considering 5-6 foot evergreen shrubs for privacy, look for ones that are fast-growing and fill out neatly. These plants grow to be about four feet high and wide, and can be pruned to a desired shape. Euonymus can tolerate all types of soil and weather, and can make a lush hedge or tree. The shrubs are easy to find at home improvement centers or on the Internet, where you can pay over $86 for one.
You can also choose one of the many varieties of mountain laurel. These trees can reach six feet in height, and are very easy to care for. They are dense and produce large flowers. They are native to the eastern US and southern Canada. However, they can be trained to grow into multi-stemmed shrubs as well. If you’re worried about your neighbors, try mountain laurel. It’s the perfect choice for those looking for privacy.