The right choice of trees and shrubs for privacy is very important, and the selection of a specific tree or shrub is key. Here are a few popular choices: Goldspire Ginkgo, Flowering Dogwood, Cherry Laurel, and American arborvitae. Each tree has its own benefits and drawbacks, and there are numerous hybrids, too. In addition, they all tend to look great together. Which ones should you avoid?
American arborvitae
An American arborvitae is a dense, evergreen cedar that is perfect for blocking out nosy neighbors. Its dense foliage is low-maintenance and keeps its pyramidal shape without trimming. An additional popular variety is the ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae, which forms a dense, low-maintenance privacy hedge. Baby giant arborvitae trees are a cultivar of the ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae and grow in a compact habit. These low-maintenance trees make great privacy hedges for a small backyard.
There are several varieties of arborvitae available, including dwarf and weeping forms. The dwarf varieties tend to keep their color throughout the winter. Golden globe arborvitae is the most widely grown and can grow up to 50 feet tall. It prefers well-drained soil and is tolerant of most soil types. However, it is susceptible to salt. It is best grown in partial shade or full sun. It has a low growth rate, but is tolerant of most average soil types.
The native American arborvitae is hardy, drought resistant, and easy to care for. Their dense branches can conceal a windbreak and a fence. Arborvitae are low-maintenance and require little pruning or shaping. Because they grow to a point at the top, they have a natural silhouette. While the dwarf arborvitae is great for foundation planting, the taller varieties make for great accent plants.
Goldspire Ginkgo
While ‘Goldspire’ is closely related to Ginkgo, it has different traits. While both are dense and pyramidal, the latter is non-fruiting and is a male tree. Despite this, Goldspire is hardy to -20°F and tolerates a variety of environmental stresses, such as air pollution and heat. If you want to keep your yard private, consider planting one of these trees.
The sky pencil holly is another good choice for privacy. This tree requires minimal care and is happy in containers. It grows well in partial or full sun and is easy to move from one area to another. It also tolerates cold temperatures and can be grown in containers. However, this privacy tree is not suitable for areas with very little sunlight. It is best grown in moist soil, but it also likes afternoon shade.
The foliage of this fastigiate tree is golden yellow in the fall, which is the best time to plant it. Its foliage stays green for a few weeks even after it turns yellow. This fastigiate tree grows to be between 16 and 20 feet tall at maturity. Its foliage is dense and shiny, and is pest-free. The foliage turns golden yellow in the fall, and it makes an excellent screen when used as a privacy tree.
Flowering Dogwood
The Flowering Dogwood is a perennial tree with a variety of bloom colors and attractive foliage. This tree grows to be 15 to 25 feet high, and spreads similarly to a front yard. It grows in part shade or full sun and can be planted in foundation beds. While flowering dogwood trees do not tolerate cold weather, they are great for privacy and aesthetics. Flowering dogwoods are a great choice for front yards.
Its flowers are small, star-shaped clusters of green bracts on the upper side of its branches. The bracts change to a pink color in the fall. The foliage turns deep purple before falling. The Flowering Dogwood does well in full sun or part shade, and it tolerates acidic soil. Its flowers are borne on branches spanning about 20 feet. Its flowers are fragrant and last until September.
This species of Dogwood provides a beautiful backdrop year-round. This tree is suitable for zones 5-8, and boasts glossy green leaves in the summer and crimson berries in the fall. It requires weekly watering and needs partial shade. It can grow to be up to 16 feet tall, and grows at a rate of a foot per year. Despite its low growth rate, it produces plenty of flowers every year.
Cherry Laurel
If you are looking for a plant for privacy, consider Cherry Laurel. This attractive upright evergreen shrub grows to 15 to 40 feet tall with a spread of 10 to 35 feet. It has small white flowers in the spring and is very easy to maintain. Cherry laurels can be grown as shrubs or as trees, but they both need regular pruning to keep their shape. Here are a few reasons why cherry laurel is a great choice for Southern California property:
Cherries are among the best-selling trees in the world. They are popular as hedges and are excellent screening plants, and they can grow to five metres. They are an excellent plant for privacy and have a beautiful fragrance. Cherry laurels are also popular among birds because their black berry fruits attract them. It is also a fast-growing shrub, which makes it a great choice for shady areas.
To maintain a healthy cherry laurel, prune the limbs twice a year. Prune it in the fall after it has finished flowering. Ideally, you should prune the shrubs in early June, but you can also prune them in the spring. To prune the branches, cut them back evenly to just above the leaf. Pruning a cherry laurel tree will create a dense hedge over a longer period of time.
Taxus shrubs
Taxus x media is a variety of yew. Its upright habit makes it an excellent privacy hedge. It grows to a height of two to four feet and spreads up to six feet wide. Its green foliage and red berries make it a distinctive privacy plant. Although Taxus plants can be poisonous, they are easy to grow in containers, make excellent privacy hedges, and provide year-round aesthetic appeal.
The green-leafed euonymus is a popular privacy plant. It comes in a variety of colors and can tolerate poor soils and all types of weather. It is drought-tolerant and can be pruned to a hedge shape. It’s readily available at Home Depot and other gardening centers. While euonymus isn’t a good choice for cold climates, it tolerates heat and humidity well.
Other choices for privacy are the Japanese cedar, Canadian hemlock, and the azalea. The last two are fast-growing and low-maintenance trees. While most trees need full sun to partial shade, they also tolerate part shade. Choose a shrub that suits your climate. Most conifers need full sunlight or partial shade to grow well. Most Taxus shrubs are low-maintenance.
The golden yew is a slow-growing evergreen with fernlike needle leaves. The mature height and width of this shrub are approximately four to seven feet. In ten years, they’ll grow to eight feet. If you’re looking for a shrub that will provide privacy and beauty, consider the Japanese yew, which will grow to be around 10 feet tall. The leaves are dark green but turn red in winter.
Blue Ice Arizona Cypress
Planting a Blue Ice Arizona Cypress in the yard can be rewarding. It’s a great choice for privacy screening as well as a beautiful specimen. Generally, the Blue Ice cypress should be planted 7-8 feet apart and 15 feet or more apart from the road. Once mature, the Blue Ice cypress can grow up to 30 feet tall and 15 feet wide. This tree is a hardy tree that can grow in USDA zones 7-9.
The Blue Ice cypress, also known as the ‘Arizona cypress’, is a conical evergreen tree with smooth, silver-blue leaves. The tree grows slowly and is suited for hot, dry climates. It maintains its silver-blue color year-round. It will grow to approximately 15 feet tall in ten years when planted in the landscape.
The Blue Ice cypress does not require shearing. Pruning is best performed when the tree is three to four feet tall and requires only trimming out three to four inches of growth. It’s important to prune out any dead or diseased limbs as well as the top leader. It’s also important to prune out straining limbs to encourage thick, bushy growth. This tree is a good choice for privacy.
If you want privacy and beauty, a blue ice arizonia cypress will work well. It’s a specimen evergreen with bluish-gray foliage and red bark. It grows quickly, reaching fifteen feet in ten years or so. Its leaves are a brilliant silver-blue color. It’s easy to care for, so you can easily clip or prune it. It’s great for landscaping, and can be grown in a large pot.
