When deciding on a privacy tree for your backyard, you have several different options. First, you should consider your USDA Hardiness Zone to choose the right tree for your area. This will help you choose a hardy species that will survive our region’s winters. Next, consider the size of your yard. While a small backyard might call for tall Italian cypress trees, a larger plot of land may require the wider Weeping Willow. Since many of these trees are fast-growing, you will want to space them apart and prune them often.
Weeping Podocarpus
Weeping Podocarpus is an excellent choice for a variety of reasons. It is a moderately slow grower that can reach 30 to 35 feet in height. It can survive in a wide range of soil types and can thrive in a moderately acidic, sandy, or silty soil. Depending on your climate and soil type, you can plant this tree in full sun, partial shade, or a combination. In addition to being a drought tolerant tree, it doesn’t require trimming and requires no pruning. You can leave the low foliage on the young tree.
Another popular tree for privacy in Utah is the Eastern Redcedar. This large woody evergreen grows about five feet a year. Its thick leaves and aromatic wood make it a popular choice for homeowners in hot climates. As a bonus, this tree attracts wildlife and is popular in southern California and Florida. When planted correctly, this tree will provide you with a natural privacy fence that will not only provide you with a beautiful, mature tree but will also attract birds and other wildlife.
Hybrid willow is another privacy tree to consider for your property. This fast-growing tree grows to around 40-60 feet in height and five to six feet wide. It can tolerate a range of soil conditions, and will grow up to six feet a year. It can be planted in a row or in two staggered rows. It has dense, leafy branches that can block the view of your neighbors.
The southern red oak is another great choice for privacy trees. It requires regular rainfall and cool breezes to thrive. However, if you are unsure about the tree you want to plant, be sure to consult your local forestry extension office for more information. Another popular choice is the northern red oak. It is a fun and valuable tree for Utah homeowners. If you’re looking for a shade tree, look for a variety that is able to cope with these climate conditions.
Weeping White Spruce
The Weeping White Spruce is native to northern climates and is an excellent choice for the home landscape. It is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones two to seven, and requires medium soil moisture to thrive. It prefers moist soil and is not fussy about pH levels, but avoid dry conditions. Keep the soil moist with a layer of mulch. This tree will grow to over 100 feet tall and cover a wide area.
The Weeping White Spruce is a stately evergreen that grows to about 50 feet tall and is a good choice for homes with modest privacy needs. They are moderately slow-growing and can live up to 50 years in ideal conditions. Weeping White Spruce is somewhat hardy and does not need excessive sunlight. It will require light pruning to maintain its desired shape. The Weeping White Spruce can be difficult to plant, so you should consider the right location for planting it.
Although the Weeping White Spruce has a long history, it only recently was rediscovered by Jean Iseli of the Morton Arboretum in Illinois. Known for her love of dwarf conifers, Iseli was able to bring the Pendula variety to home gardeners. Despite being a newcomer to gardening, it’s a wonderful choice for privacy and species diversity in urban and suburban settings.
The Weeping White Spruce has an extremely elegant appearance, thanks to its pendulous branches and central leader that reaches up to the sky. This tree will have a dramatic effect in large gardens and landscapes, but it’s relatively small in comparison. However, its sculptural form makes it ideal for gardens with a limited space. However, it doesn’t grow fast, and requires a year to establish itself. It is also important to give the new tree the proper winter water to help it grow strong.
False cypress
If you want to plant a tree for privacy, false cypress might be the best choice. These evergreen trees come in a variety of shapes and colors. Most species are slow growers, making them ideal for partial shade or groundcover. Their foliage is a feathery blue-green and bright green, which is a great color for privacy. You can choose between dwarf and full-sized plants depending on the space you have available.
If you have a small garden, you can try ‘Flagpole’ Japanese flowering cherry. This small columnar tree is a beauty. It blooms in April and has mid-green foliage. It grows fast and can grow as high as 60 feet. Leyland cypress is also tolerant of salt and is a great choice for windbreaks and privacy trees. You can plant a clump of these trees eight feet apart to create a dense visual barrier.
The Black Hills spruce is another great option for privacy trees. This tree is native to northeast Wyoming and southwest South Dakota but does well in many other areas. It has bright green needles and a compact design. It thrives in partial or full shade and grows to about 60 feet tall. This tree requires little pruning and grows at a moderate rate. In colder climates, it may experience winter burn.
Another popular choice for privacy trees in Utah is ‘Moonglow’ Juniper. This species is a dwarf evergreen conifer with a narrow columnar growth habit. Its blue-green foliage makes it a great choice for a privacy screen. It has a compact growth habit and is drought resistant. It is also cold-hardy and requires minimal pruning. The Blue Arrow Juniper is also a good choice for privacy trees in Utah.
Flowering Dogwood
Native to the southeastern U.S., Flowering Dogwood grows up to 300 feet tall. Its leaves are lanceolate and alternate and the petals are showy. It likes a medium amount of moisture but will tolerate some drying. It also has a conical shape. Its bark is thick and dark. This makes it an excellent privacy tree in Utah. Its flowers attract butterflies and other insects, and its foliage is a good backdrop.
A dense hedge, the Flowering Dogwood shaded by tall, shady Cottonwoods is a great option for privacy. Its cottony seeds release in late spring. The dogwood has been called the dog tree since the 1500s. While most are shrubs, some grow to be small trees. Dogwoods are native to mid-Atlantic and northeastern US forests.
Another great privacy tree is the Kousa dogwood. Native to eastern Asia, Kousa dogwood is slightly harder than the flowering dogwood. It grows up to 25 feet, and can resist pests and drought better than flowering dogwood. This fast-growing shrub makes a very attractive and beautiful display. Its berries are red and draw attention to its fleshy orbs.
Another privacy tree suitable for Utah is the Flowering Dogwood. The beautiful flowers of this tree can provide a beautiful fence from a distance. Flowering Dogwood grows to 70 feet and is one of the best privacy trees for Utah. Flowering dogwood is very low-maintenance, and can be grown in zones six to 10. It thrives in sunny or partially-shaded sites, and requires well-drained soil.
Japanese Lilac
Choosing a Japanese Lilac Tree for your landscaping project is an excellent choice for privacy. It is a multi-trunk tree that can grow to a height of 25 feet. They are suitable for full sun areas and can tolerate sandy soil. They prefer moderate moisture but will tolerate occasional drought periods. You can also choose multiple varieties to maximize flower production and fragrance. They are a good choice for privacy trees, hedges, and a backdrop for weddings and other special occasions.
Red Butte Rose is a medium-sized tree or shrub native to the southeastern United States. Its twigs are green and its leaves are narrow-elliptic to lanceolate. Its flowers are showy and it produces fragrant white seed pods in the spring. The bark is thick and dark. It is very ornamental and is excellent for landscaping. However, if you want to block the view of your neighbor, the Japanese Lilac may be a better choice.
Although this species is not common in Utah, it does grow well here. You can find it in some nursery stores. However, it is not yet widely available commercially. So, you may need to consult a professional or local nursery for more information on this species. If you can’t find it locally, you can try to order it online. You can also visit the website of the Utah Tree Council to learn more about the Japanese Lilac and its uses.
When selecting a Japanese Lilac for your landscaping project, keep in mind that it is an excellent choice for full sun locations. Although it is a shrub, it can grow to a tree shape when properly pruned. Because it’s hardy and resistant to disease, it should be planted more often in areas with a high pH. This species can survive in both urban and suburban areas. However, it is not native to Utah.