When it comes to landscaping around your property, trees are a great way to create a visual boundary between your home and your neighbor’s property. You can choose from Leyland cypress, Laurel, Rocky Mountain juniper, and Euonymus. Each has different traits, so you should decide which is best for your property and your neighbors’ property. Then, plant them along the fence line for privacy and aesthetics.
Leyland cypress
Leyland cypress is a fast-growing tree that can grow up to 30 feet tall. Its feathery needles are found on flattened branches. It prefers partial shade and full sun, and is hardy in zones six to ten. If you’re looking for a tree for your fence line, this is a good option. If you’re not sure whether Leyland cypress is right for your fence line, try planting a Green Giant instead.
Another good choice for a fence line is the Leyland Cypress. This fast-growing tree grows up to 60 feet tall with feathery branches. It thrives in partial shade or full sun, and its leaves last all year long. It is hardy to -10 degrees Fahrenheit and is easy to maintain with pruning. A Leyland cypress will require approximately 6 hours of direct sunlight a day, and is easy to grow on a fence line.
When choosing a tree for a fence line, it’s important to consider a few factors. First, a Leyland cypress can grow to 30 feet, but it’s best suited for certain parts of a property. A Leyland cypress will be more effective if it’s planted in two staggered rows. Two staggered rows will give you more privacy and reduce the possibility of crowding. Secondly, Leyland cypress contributes to the landscape as a whole.
Euonymus
If you’d like to plant a hedge of Euonymus trees for your fence line, be sure to research spacing requirements for each variety. Most species are prone to a variety of plant diseases, including crown gall and powdery mildew. They’re also susceptible to diseases and pests such as aphids and spider mites, so contact your local county extension office for help diagnosing potential problems.
Decided varieties of Euonymus can be planted in the fall, while evergreen types can be planted in spring. It’s important to dig a hole at least 1.5 times wider than the container. In addition to the evergreen types, plant breeders have introduced a number of variegated euonymus varieties. Plant breeders select “sports” – unusual growth patterns on the parent plant – and propagate them as rooted cuttings. Successful breeders produce multiple clones.
Deciduous euonymus varieties range from small, groundcover-type shrubs to vigorous shrubs. In addition to fence-line planting, euonymus trees are ideal for landscaping in woodland borders or lawns. Euonymus trees can handle moderate pest pressure, but if a disease or pest attack occurs, the whole tree may be destroyed. In such a case, you may want to consider another species, such as a different genus.
Laurel
You can plant Laurel trees for fence line in shady areas but make sure to plant them a little further apart than you would normally. Despite their tolerant nature, laurels do not grow well next to a fence, and in fact, they can become encroached upon after a few years. Laurels are a good choice for fence line planting, especially if you have a wooden or chain link fence.
Laurel’s growth is dependent on the amount of moisture in the soil. If you have a dry, low-fertility soil, they will grow much more slowly than other trees in your area. Laurels grow best in full sunlight, but they will tolerate partial shade as well. If you’re planning on planting a fence line, choose one with a shallow root structure and plant a few laurel trees.
Another option for a fence line is the English Laurel, scientifically known as Prunus laurocerasus. These plants are often used as a border for a driveway or to hide unsightly utilities. English Laurel is a close relative of the true Laurel, but is a bit smaller and less ornamental than the English Laurel. It grows to a height of about 30 feet and has a much wider canopy of leaves.
Rocky Mountain juniper
The Rocky Mountain juniper is an extremely adaptable and hardy species. It is slow-growing and long-lived, with a Jardine juniper estimated to be more than 1500 years old. It grows well at altitudes up to 10,000 feet, making it a great tree for a fence line. This tree is also a strong windbreak, which is one of its best qualities.
A good candidate for a fence line is a low-water-require shrub such as Rocky Mountain juniper, a native of the southern Rockies. This tree can grow up to forty feet in height and fifteen feet wide. It is widely used for hedging and foundation plantings, and is very hardy. It can grow as large as fifteen feet long if it is grown in the right conditions. Juniperus scopulorum ‘Skyrocket’ has blue-gray foliage and a columnar habit. It is one of the most adaptable urban landscape trees.
The Rocky Mountain juniper is a popular pine tree and is widespread throughout the United States. Its narrower foliage is better suited for wetter soils, and it will provide good shade. Red Maple trees are also popular because they grow quickly and provide lots of shade. Their fall color is a great bonus. Choose a dwarf variety of Red Maple, like Bowhall Red Maple, for a fence line tree. These trees grow quickly and have a smaller crown than Spartan juniper.
Sky Pencil Hollies
The slow-growing Sky Pencil Holly is the perfect tree for a fence line. This shrub grows between four and ten feet tall and about three-quarters of its width. Its convex leaves are a deep green and it produces black fruits in the fall. This tree can be pruned to keep it small, and it requires little maintenance, making it a good choice for fence lines.
When planted along a fence line, Sky Pencil Hollies make the perfect privacy screen, but other bushes will grow much faster. This plant will frame a doorway or driveway entrance, as well as hide AC units and rain gutter downspouts. It can also liven up a drab fence. This shrub is an excellent choice for fence lines. Its evergreen foliage is attractive to both wildlife and homeowners.
The Sky Pencil Holly does not require pruning during the first few years. It grows slowly, so it can be easily transplanted into a larger container. Once it grows, it will need to be moved to a larger container. Once it reaches its full size, you can transplant it into the ground or pot it into a planter. It will grow in a few years, and will grow in the ground.
Crepe Myrtle
The iconic crepe myrtle is probably the most popular ornamental tree in the South. Its showy blooms, attractive bark, and colorful fall foliage make it a popular choice for planting along a fence line. There are three species of crepe myrtles, each with different foliage sizes and bloom colors. These trees are usually drought-tolerant and hardy. Their flowers are edible.
The common ‘Crape Myrtle’ is Lagerstroemia indica, which naturally grows in Asia. Its foliage is small and dark green, turning a stunning array of colors in the fall. In winter, the leaves die off leaving bare branches. Flowers are rosy-red. The ‘Crape Myrtle’ is commonly grown as a fence line tree, but it is also a valuable ornamental plant that complements gardens, patios, and other outdoor areas.
There are two common species of Crepe Myrtle: Lagerstroemia indica and Lagerstroemia x fauriei. The common variety is the ‘Crape Myrtle’, with small round leaves. Known for its susceptible to powdery mildew, this disease results in curling leaves and stops photosynthesis. Powdery mildew attacks these trees in the spring and fall, and it requires several applications of fungicides to keep the tree healthy. National Arboretum Hybrids are resistant to powdery mildew.
White pine
This massive evergreen has soft, white, needle-like foliage. They’re suitable for screening and shade, and grow quickly. Although they’re not ideal for the humid south, white pines are very resilient. They also bear beautiful red berries. White pines can grow to 60 feet high and 30 feet wide. They’re also hardy enough to withstand a lot of pollution. While they’re not the best tree for a fence line, they’re very beautiful and can make a good addition to any backyard.
Eastern white pine is a fast-growing tree with soft, blue-green needles. It can grow to be more than 25 feet tall and is ideally suited to the climate of eastern Pennsylvania. It grows best in full sun or partial shade and thrives in acidic soil. Its needles are long, soft, and drop periodically. This tree also doesn’t like very hot climates or urban environments.
A white pine can grow to be as tall as 60 feet and 30 feet wide. If placed in an acidic environment, it needs at least four hours of direct sunlight daily. It also needs a rich, well-drained soil with a pH level of 6.5 or lower. If grown in a temperate climate, this species is easy to transplant. However, be aware of the many diseases and pests that it can succumb to. A white pine blister rust, for example, is one of the most common pests and diseases that can affect the tree.