There are several different types of tall privacy trees to choose from. The types discussed in this article include Leyland Cypress, Blue Point Juniper, Green Giant Arborvitae, and Neighbours-Be-Gone Trees. However, there is no single type of tall privacy tree that will work best for every situation. Read on to learn more. And don’t forget to check the maturity of your chosen tree before you plant it.
Green Giant Arborvitae
If you’re looking for a fast-growing evergreen, consider the Thuja Green Giant. This fast-growing tree is the go-to choice of architects, municipalities, and landscapers. It doesn’t get the typical diseases that can befall other evergreens. Plus, it grows so fast, it forms a thick privacy screen. The benefits of this fast-growing tree are obvious.
This arborvitae is very hardy, surviving even very warm summers. They have virtually no disease problems and require little to no pruning. Once they reach their mature height, they’ll grow into a thick privacy hedge, requiring only moderate pruning. However, if they are starting to turn brown, that’s a sign of a bigger problem. When in doubt, contact a local arborist.
The Thuja tree can withstand heavy snow, ice, and wind. It can also block chilly winds, making heating your home easier during the colder seasons. This hardy tree is also disease-resistant and rarely gets eaten by deer. Those seeking privacy should consider a Thuja, as they’re among the toughest trees around. Compared to other options, Green Giant Arborvitae are more affordable, offer natural beauty, and take care of themselves.
The most notable advantage of this fast-growing tree is that it can thrive in either partial shade or full sun. It can be planted every four or five feet for privacy, and will quickly fill in to form a dense barrier. In fact, it can grow up to 40 feet, depending on how big you want it. There are several different species of this tree, so you can select one to fit your needs. They’re great options for privacy hedges and wind screens.
A fast-growing tree, the Green Giant Arborvitae has great vigor and tolerance for heat and humidity. Because of its fast growth rate, it can reach 50 feet without pruning. Even if it grows too big, you can prune it regularly to keep it in the desired range. It’s also quite hardy in humid and warm climates, which makes it a good choice for homeowners in the South.
Leyland Cypress
If you are looking for a screen plant that can reach a height of 30 feet, consider Leyland Cypress. This fast-growing privacy tree can be planted in rows or as an accent evergreen. This type of tree grows best in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 through 10. It is not as successful in the upper Midwest, upper central United States, and in the northern areas of the Northeast. However, it can be used for screening purposes and can add a beautiful touch to your landscape.
A great choice for a tall privacy tree, the Bluespire Ginkgo is drought-tolerant and can thrive in areas with very little moisture. The leaves on this privacy tree are dark green in the summer and golden in the fall, creating an elegant screen. This type of tree grows a consistent 3 to 5 feet per year and requires little maintenance. If you want to give your privacy a traditional European look, you can prune it occasionally. Otherwise, you can leave it untrimmed.
The Leyland Cypress is a popular privacy tree because of its fast growth and attractive appearance. This evergreen can reach up to 50 feet in less than 15 years. Its narrow conical shape makes it a good choice to create a privacy screen. It can be planted in rows to provide a barrier between a house and street. The Leyland Cypress is easy to grow and maintain, which makes it a convenient row plant.
The height and width of a Leyland Cypress depends on the environment it is planted in. It needs six hours of sunlight a day to grow to its full height. This tree is best planted in zones 6-8. Planting it in fall or spring will ensure that it doesn’t overgrow or become too wide. It is recommended to space the trees at least ten to twenty feet apart. When it grows to full maturity, Leyland Cypress will reach a height of forty to 60 feet.
If you are considering planting a Leyland Cypress, it will grow quickly and densely. It can serve as a privacy screen as well as a Christmas tree. Planting Leyland cypress trees in the fall is recommended, six weeks before the first frost. Once planted, they can be easily pruned to maintain the desired shape. They will also grow rapidly when planted in a sunny area.
Blue Point Juniper
If you’re looking for a tree to envelop your entire property in privacy, you can’t go wrong with a Blue Point Juniper. This upright conifer grows to be about five to ten feet high. After 10 years, it can be considerably taller. Although slender when young, it will eventually grow to be three to six feet wide. When young, it has a single trunk that reaches the ground, which is followed by many branches that rise above it. The resulting shape is a broad pyramid.
The Blue Point juniper is best planted in full sunlight, but it can survive in some shade as well. This tree needs well-drained soil, but it will tolerate a bit of clay. Plant it at least three to four feet away from walls and foundations. Make sure to plant it at least four feet apart from any other plants, as they are most susceptible to diseases and pests. Regardless of planting date, blue point junipers will grace your landscape for many years to come.
You can prune the Blue Point juniper spirally for greater impact. This shape works well in a flower garden or in front of a porch. It’s easy to spiral prune a blue point juniper, and the process isn’t difficult. To prune the blue point juniper spirally, you need a bypass pruner, a long-handled shear, and a pair of topiary shears.
The Blue Point juniper is a good choice for a high-quality privacy screen. It grows to about twelve feet tall and six feet wide. It’s easy to maintain, with only minimal pruning required each year. If you plan to use the blue point juniper as a privacy screen, plant it six to eight feet apart. The best spacing between the plants is about eight to ten feet.
The Blue Point juniper is a fast-growing evergreen with a pyramidal habit. This evergreen also has drought-resistance traits. It’s a perfect choice for windscreens, privacy borders, and accent plantings. Despite its high-maintenance profile, it retains its blue-green foliage color throughout the winter. It’s also deer resistant.
Neighbours-Be-Gone Trees
While visiting Los Angeles, Chris saw many Neighbours-Be-Gone tall, privacy trees, hedges and topiary plants. He was amazed at how dense and lush these trees were. He spent most of his holiday snapping photos and marvelling at how beautiful they were. He was also pleasantly surprised to learn that these trees can live decades. And, best of all, they’re easy to maintain.
The Neighbours-Be-Gone is hardy to zone 7, so it grows well in zones 8-10. It can tolerate drought conditions and even be tolerant of moderately salty soil. It is a great choice for urban and semi-urban settings, and is available in both natural and hedged varieties. It is also a great choice for gardeners who don’t want to risk having neighbors overshadow their property.
When selecting a tall, privacy-friendly tree, consider its size, shape and location. A large evergreen tree provides privacy year-round and is great if you want to block out the sun and glaring streetlights. The foliage of an evergreen tree is thick and attractive, and the tree itself doesn’t spread across your alleyway. However, keep in mind that evergreen conifers grow quite large and can easily overwhelm a small garden.
Another popular choice for privacy trees is a Leyland Cypress. This fast-growing evergreen will grow up to 50 feet within 15 years. Its feathery-soft foliage will keep curious eyes from your property. Moreover, it is drought-resistant once established, and will block out the view. A tall Leyland Cypress can be planted in a center 8 to 10 feet apart. A Leyland Cypress is fast-growing and is an excellent choice for a privacy screen.