If you want your garden to offer privacy, there are a few evergreen shrubs that can be used for this purpose. Azalea, Hicks yew, Japanese holly, and Skip laurel are just a few of the popular choices. Regardless of your climate, there’s a variety of plants to choose from to ensure your privacy. Keep reading to find out more about which plants work best in your yard.
Azalea
There are many reasons to choose azalea for your home landscaping project. Azaleas are easy to grow and can be pruned to shape and height. They have shallow roots, so they are easy to transplant. During the first few years, you should water your shrub twice a week, although some cultivars grow much smaller. Once the shrub is established, water it less frequently. To keep your shrub healthy, fertilize it with a slow-release plant fertilizer, preferably made specifically for azaleas. The recommended amount can vary by manufacturer, so be sure to read the instructions carefully.
When planting azalea, make sure to choose one that will grow in your climate. Azaleas grow best in full sun, but they also tolerate partial shade. In full shade, they may not bloom at all. If you live in a tropical climate, you can plant them in the shade. Azaleas like moist, warm conditions, but avoid full shade unless you live in a hot climate.
The Delaware Valley White Azalea is a non-finnicky variety that will flower for decades. This shrub is easy to grow and will adapt to most soils. It requires minimal pruning after flowering. It grows well in containers, borders, and containers. Azaleas will provide a good hedge for privacy, and it requires little care. It is a hardy shrub and can grow in a variety of soil conditions.
Skip laurel
If you are looking for a privacy hedge or screen that grows quickly and can tolerate a wide variety of soil, Skip Laurel is a great choice. These shrubs do not require a lot of care and thrive in dappled light. Skip laurel is relatively pest-free once established. While it does have a high risk of vine weevil infestation, this is not as common as with many other palms. Typically, skip laurel trees are resistant to deer damage.
A skip laurel is a beautiful plant with white flowers in summer and dark berries in winter. This dense, columnar shrub is a great choice for privacy hedges and windbreaks. It grows well in full sun to partial shade and tolerates urban pollution. A skip laurel’s glossy foliage makes it attractive year-round and is also low-maintenance, with a low water requirement and a relatively high lifespan.
The foliage of skip laurel is leathery and glossy green, with a pointed apex. Leaves are 2″ (5 cm) wide, with a petiole measuring four inches (10 cm). Skip laurel flowers are small and white, with a fragrance of nutty and citrus. The drupes are 0.4 inches wide and ripen in late summer.
Hicks yew
If you want to protect your privacy from prying eyes, you may want to consider planting a hedge made of Hicks yew. This evergreen tree grows slowly, but it still provides excellent privacy. You can plant it alongside your property’s perimeter, or beside a pool. Space the individual branches about 18 inches apart, or you can plant larger trees closer together. Despite its slow growth, Hicks yew will grow beautifully in nearly any soil. The only drawback is that it doesn’t tolerate standing water, so make sure you don’t place it in an area where it will get too much moisture. Also, it will need shade in the afternoon, which is good for you if you live in an area that gets too much sun.
The Hicks yew has a moderate growth rate, so you can maintain a dense hedge with just a few plants. Although it will reach a mature height of 18 feet, you can easily maintain a smaller hedge of eight to twelve feet. It responds well to pruning, so you can keep it in a desired shape for many years. Depending on the desired shape, the Hicks yew will become a great privacy hedge.
The Hicks yew is a beautiful evergreen plant. Its columnar habit and glossy, dark green foliage make it a great choice for privacy screening and mass planting. The Hicks yew can reach a height of eight to ten feet, and it can grow into many different shapes. It is great for creating a soft barrier between the house and the neighbors. It is also relatively drought-tolerant.
Japanese holly
If you want to plant a tree that will provide your home with lots of privacy and beauty, you might want to consider using Japanese holly. These hollies have dense branching and a distinctive white flower. In the spring, they produce tiny black fruits. Japanese hollies like slightly acidic soil and will only need a spring feeding. They come in many varieties. Here are a few of the best ones to choose:
First, Japanese holly grows best in full sun to partial shade. It needs three to six hours of direct sunlight each day to thrive. In warmer climates, it can tolerate partial shade, although it will be happiest if you can give it a few hours of partial shade. Japanese hollies do best in loose soil that is slightly acidic. Those who live in cooler climates should plant Japanese holly in a sunny location.
Another option for privacy is a dwarf Japanese holly. These are small trees with a dense, rounded habit. Their dense growth habit and black, glossy leaves are perfect for a foundation hedge. They grow between four to six feet in height and 120 to 300 cm in width. When trimmed to a smaller size, these plants make great privacy hedges. They are also deer-resistant. If privacy is your priority, Japanese holly is the ideal choice for you.
Arborvitae
Depending on the variety, the Arborvitae can grow from ten to fifteen feet tall and three to four feet wide. It can tolerate light shade and is naturally pyramidal in shape. It grows two to three feet per year and can reach a height of 30 feet. Dwarf Arborvitae will grow to about five feet tall and three feet wide, but retain color throughout the winter. The Arborvitae is a great choice for privacy.
When selecting an evergreen shrub, consider choosing one with thick leaves. These trees can form a dense, privacy hedge when planted close together. These plants can tolerate most soil types, are cold-hardy, and don’t require shearing. Choose a variety that will fit your climate and add to your yard’s curb appeal. In addition to Arborvitae, Rosebay Rhododendron can be used to create privacy.
The American Arborvitae is one of the most commonly used trees for privacy and landscaping. Native to the U.S., this tree’s narrow pyramid shape is perfect for a natural windbreak and privacy hedge. Both dwarf and miniature varieties of arborvitae make excellent accent plants. They are easy to grow and maintain. They prefer full sun and can be planted in early spring or late fall before the ground freezes.
Inkberry
Inkberry is a small, evergreen shrub known for its glossy leaves and berries. Its leaves are glossy, dark green and alternate. Inkberry berries are edible and attract birds and deer to feed on the leaves. Inkberry bushes are excellent privacy hedges and make excellent plants for rain gardens, pollinator gardens, and wetland gardens. It is also a deer resistant shrub and can tolerate -30 degree F temperatures.
Inkberry is a native shrub and grows well in a wet, cool climate. Other hollies do better in a drier climate. Inkberry is a self-propagator, and can overtake an area if not controlled. To prevent this from happening, you should prune suckers each year. Another form is compacta, which has a tighter growth habit than the rest.
The silver-gray foliage of the Inkberry makes it a great ground cover for your yard. Its foliage is also drought-tolerant, which makes it an excellent choice for a privacy hedge. It can grow eight feet tall, and its leaves are a lovely color. Native people in North America used inkberry leaves for tea. It is a good choice for a hedge if you want to ward off prying eyes.
The boxwood is another perennial evergreen that has been used for centuries. It can be pruned to maintain a desired shape, or left natural. It is a hardy plant and does not attract deer. Boxwoods can be left unpruned and are cold-hardy. This shrub produces red berries in the summer. Syberian cypress is a hardy, cold-tolerant shrub with a creeping form and lace-like foliage.
