Shrubs for privacy provide an attractive and functional backdrop. Evergreen shrubs are a classic choice, but they require regular pruning and shaping. While they provide privacy, they require fertilizing in spring. Read on to find out more about some of the most popular varieties. You may even have a favorite among them! Here are a few shrubs to consider:
Evergreen shrubs
Evergreen shrubs are the ideal choice for homeowners seeking privacy. Although they may require some maintenance, these trees retain a classic aesthetic that enhances any home landscape. In addition to their privacy benefits, these trees also require fertilizing during the spring. For best results, choose species that are resistant to deer. You can also use a combination of shrubs to create a privacy fence. Here are some suggestions:
California Lilacs, for example, are excellent year-round privacy screening plants. Choosing this evergreen is a great choice if you are trying to block the view of an undesirable neighbor. They grow rapidly to reach a height of four to six feet and need to be spaced at least 2 feet apart. Arborvitae can be interplanted with other evergreen plants for additional privacy. Bamboo is another great privacy hedge. Not only does bamboo grow quickly, but it is also an excellent carbon capture plant.
If you are planting Evergreen shrubs for privacy, be sure to choose varieties that don’t attract deer. These plants are food sources during the winter, and proximity to the house doesn’t deter hungry deer. But some varieties are so far removed from houses that they’re almost unnoticed by deer. And even if you’re planting Evergreen shrubs for privacy, make sure to consider the type of deer that will be living nearby.
Physocarpus Darts Gold
The bright yellow foliage of Physocarpus darts gold makes it a beautiful choice for screening. It matures to a height of 4 to 5 feet with an even spread. It also has clusters of small white flowers in early summer. Unlike most other privacy shrubs, Darts Gold prefers 6 hours of sun a day, but this is a common requirement for most gardens.
This dense evergreen shrub is ideal for creating a screen or hedging hedge along a property line. Unlike many other privacy plants, Darts Gold requires little maintenance. It will flower in May and June, and produce decorative black berries in late summer. It is very hardy and can survive in many different climates. It has the versatility to act as a hedge or a focal point in your landscaping.
Another attractive feature of Dart’s Gold is its fast growth. The new growth can be used for floral arrangements, and it has attractive exfoliating bark. This fast-growing deciduous shrub is easy to care for, and it is tolerant of a wide variety of soils. Depending on your gardening knowledge, you can plant it anywhere you want. A good choice for privacy, Dart’s Gold can be grown in most soil types.
Cherry laurel
Among the many kinds of laurel shrubs, the Skip Cherry Laurel is among the most popular. This evergreen hedge will block prying eyes and filter air pollutants. It can grow up to 18 feet in height unchecked. However, it does better in trimmed hedges. It also tolerates dry soil, heat, and drought. It grows in zones three to eight, and will become a mature screen in about four or five years.
If your landscaping needs a low-growing plant, you can choose a small-growing variety, such as the Zabeliana, which only grows four to six feet high and expands to twelve feet wide. This plant can be pruned twice a year to keep its horizontal spread in check. The straight variety is a good choice for narrow gardens and small yards. It can also be trained to take on a tree-like form.
Another reason to choose the cherry laurel shrub is its hardiness. It can tolerate some shade and thrives in most soil types. It can also be pruned annually to create a formal privacy hedge. To plant your cherry laurel shrub, dig a hole approximately 1.5 times larger than the container from which it was grown. Make sure to remove all roots from the container so that they don’t become entangled in the soil.
American holly
If you’re looking for a shrub that’s hardy and offers great privacy, American holly is an excellent choice. It can be planted as a border, hedge, or even a natural fence to screen your property. Its dense foliage, which remains green year round, makes it an ideal choice for this purpose. Additionally, this plant produces clusters of berries in the fall, which are beautiful, fragrant, and last for two weeks.
American holly is a slow-growing, deciduous shrub native to the eastern United States. Its leaves have a leathery texture, and its branches have sharp tips. This slow-growing shrub is ideal for privacy gardens and other areas where you want to enjoy the view without being too visible. Growing anywhere from 25 to 60 feet tall, it will soften the edge of any fence and provide privacy. Its berries are often eaten by birds, so planting holly near your fence will provide a wildlife-friendly place for them.
When selecting American holly shrubs for privacy, make sure they’re hardy and don’t require a lot of maintenance. While the Japanese holly is the most common choice, it can also be pruned to fit your landscape. This shrub can grow to about six feet in width at full maturity, so it’s ideal for smaller yards. The size and amount of sun your plants receive will determine their size. If you have space constraints, you can try smaller varieties.
Diablo ninebark
If you are looking for a fast-growing privacy hedge, you may want to consider Diablo ninebark shrubs. This shrub can be grown in USDA zones 2 through 7, preferring rich, loamy soil. Though this shrub can grow to be large and beautiful, it is often left to its own devices. Some people choose to let it grow naturally, producing clusters of red seed pods in the fall.
‘Diablo’ is a great option for privacy gardens because of its dark foliage and elegant appearance. This shrub grows about 10 feet tall and can be cut back to the ground in early spring for a smaller, more compact shrub. The foliage complements other golden plants, such as the Gold Mops false cypress. These plants also provide good privacy when paired with other privacy shrubs or trees.
A great choice for backyard privacy, Diabolo Ninebark has striking pinkish white flowers in spring and makes a beautiful supporting shrub or a star. When trained as a patio tree, this shrub makes a stunning container plant. It is also easy to grow. If you have a sunny location, Diabolo Ninebark is a good choice. The foliage and flowers will contrast well against your landscape, and you can even use it as a fence.
English yew
If you are looking for a low-maintenance hedge with a beautiful look, consider the beauty of an English yew. They have an average growth rate of 30 to 40 cm per year and can be maintained at a height of one to five meters. These shrubs are very attractive and low-maintenance, which makes them ideal for homeowners who want privacy while at the same time still creating curb appeal.
You can plant a variety of Taxus x media for privacy. There are several varieties of this type of shrub and you can choose the one that suits your landscape the best. Although Taxus x media is poisonous, its rounded leaves and lush foliage add year-round beauty to any landscape. They also make great foundation plants. Choose a variety with a wide range of color and shape to achieve your desired effect.
While yews are hardy, they can suffer from cold winter temperatures without protection. Make sure to water it often in the fall until the soil has frozen. To avoid winter needle burn, plant yew on the north side of a building. Aside from causing winter needle burn, mealybugs and scale can overwinter as nymphs in the soil and emerge as adults in the spring. Infested plants can suffer from yellowing branches and dieback.
