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Creating Natural Privacy Screens with Trees & Shrubs
Updated: 3 hours ago
Evergreen hedges are planted for a variety of reasons: privacy, wind block, noise dampener, and even to create “rooms” within a landscape. Regardless of your reasons, we have plenty of options to help create an evergreen hedge to suit your growing conditions and needs. When planning, make sure to take into consideration the following factors:
SUNLIGHT
How much sun does your planting site get? It’s important to install plants that will thrive in the light conditions you have.
Full sun = 6+ hours of direct sunlight per day
Part sun = 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day, with some hours being in the afternoon (does not need to be contiguous hrs.)
Part shade = 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day, but most should be coming in the morning when the sun’s rays are less intense
Full shade = Between 1.5-4 hours of sunlight, preferably in the morning
DIMENSIONS
How much planting space do you have? Make sure to take measurements of both the length and the width of the planting area to determine how many plants you’ll have room for. This is especially important if you’re planting along a property boundary – be clear where the line is and how much room for growth you have, so you won't encroach on a neighbor’s space.
HEIGHT
Don’t forget to look up! Do you have power lines that run overhead, an existing tree canopy, or an awning/roofline? You’ll need to be conscious of the maximum height you can work with for the site, too.
HOW TO PLANT FOR NATURAL SCREENING
Too often screening is planted in a straight line using only one species. This planting style can be easy and economical, but it can also be problematic in the future if one tree were to die leaving a seemingly big gap in the screening. Planting in a monoculture can also be problematic if a species-specific disease were to infect the area as it can wipe out the whole stand. If your planting space’s width allows, it can be beneficial to add different plant species in a staggered, zig-zag pattern (see the above diagram). Not only will this planting style allow for improved visual interest with varied textures, but it can also quickly give the appearance of a denser screening. Finally, more diversity of plants means more wildlife benefits. (Note that if your screen doesn't need to be extremely tall, there are a lot of native shrub and tree options that are both beautiful and beneficial, though most aren't evergreen. Click here for a great article listing 15 natives for screening.)
It can be tempting to plant a dense row of plants to add “instant screening”, but it’s important to space your hedge appropriately to allow plants enough space to account for their mature width, which plans for appropriate air circulation for a healthy hedge! If instant screening is a must consider purchasing larger field-grown plants from a field-grown tree nursery. These larger plants can be dug, balled-and-burlapped, and often delivered to your residence. Another option is to install plants densely and plan to remove/cut down every other tree several years later once it’s filled in and to allow for more space as the trees mature. This article focuses on evergreen trees and shrubs, but note that screening can be accomplished in a variety of ways! If screening a small space, consider vines on trellises or large containers filled with tall grasses or flowering perennials.
TREES & SHRUBS FOR SCREENING
SHADE OPTIONS
Skip Laurel – Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’
Goblet-shaped form – plan for the height to be twice the width. A great option as a hedge in shadier areas or areas receiving dappled shade/filtered sun. Lower branches are a bit loose, if the desired effect is dense foliage from the top down, be sure to plant lower shrubs in the foreground of the planting bed. White blooms in spring. A very resilient and easy to care for shrub – tolerant of shearing.
USDA Growing Zones: 6-9
Height: 10-15’ (moderate growing, reaches 6-10’ in 10 years)
Spread: 5-7’
Sun Exposure: Full shade, part shade, part sun – very versatile with light needs!
Soil Needs: Very adaptable – tolerant of dry/poor soils, alkaline or acidic soil. The only requirement is that the soil drains well and the shrub is not in standing water. It may need more water in hot summers.
Rhododendron – Rhododendron hybrids & Rhododendron catawbiense
A great evergreen option that adds vibrant color in spring! Shorter varieties can be used in the foreground of a staggered privacy hedge, while taller varieties can reach up to 10’ in height and can stand on its own as a privacy screen.
USDA Growing Zones: 4-8
Height: 4-10’ (depending on variety)
Spread: 4-10’ (depending on variety)
Sun Exposure: Prefers dappled shade throughout the day, next best is morning sun and afternoon shade
Soil Needs: Moist soil, well-draining soil with an abundance of organic matter. Prefers acidic soil (pH between 4.5-6.0). Rhododendrons have shallow, fine hair-like roots – make sure not to plant too deeply to allow adequate oxygen for healthy root growth (and don't smother the roots with mulch).
Several varieties and hybrids of Rhododendron often available at Painters Greenhouse:
Nova Zembla – Bright red flowers
PJM Elite – Lavender-pink blooms, exceptionally cold hardy
Chionoides – Creamy white flowers with yellow centers
Grandiflorum – Long-lasting, lilac-purple blooms
Roseum Pink – Large, clear pink flowers
PART SHADE/PART SUN OPTIONS
Fragrant Tea Olive / Sweet Olive – Osmanthus fragrans
A dense shrub with extremely fragrant flowers in spring, and blooms sporadically again in the fall. Note Sweet Olive is hardy to zone 8 – it may not make it through an especially cold winter if you’re in zone 7 or below.
USDA Growing Zones: 8-10
Height: 10-20’
Spread: 10-20’
Sun Exposure: Full sun/part shade (afternoon shade preferred in hot southern climates)
Soil Needs: Moist soil with good drainage. Drought tolerant once established. Can tolerate heavy clay soils.
Prague Viburnum - Viburnum ‘Pragense’
This rounded, multi-stemmed evergreen shrub is known for its glossy leaves and fragrant blooms. It works as an excellent hedge (it's quite amenable to pruning!) or specimen plant. Plus, it is generally considered deer resistant.
USDA Growing Zones: 5-8
Height: 8-12’
Spread: 8-12’
Sun Exposure: Full sun/part shade
Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained soil.
Sasanqua Camellias
This species of camellias blooms much earlier than Camellia japonica. Blooms appear in late-fall to early-winter, giving a showy display during the holidays. Space camellias appropriately to promote good air circulation. Look at your zone when selecting camellias – some are more tolerant of cold than others. If you are on the cusp, make sure to plant camellias in part shade to allow for less drastic swings in temperatures in the winter. All camellias prefer well-drained, loose, acidic soil. Avoid standing water as they are prone to root rot.
Camellia ‘Slim n’ Trim’ Camellia sasanqua
USDA Growing Zones: 7b-9
Height: 6-8’ tall
Spread: 3-4’ wide
Known for its Deep pink blooms
Camellia ‘Yuletide’ Camellia sasanqua
USDA Growing Zones: 7-9
Height: 8-10' tall
Spread: 8-10’ wide
Known for its fiery red blooms with bright yellow stamens in the center
Camellia ‘Just Chill Red Tip’ – Camellia hybrid
USDA Growing Zones: 7-9
Height: 5-8’ tall
Spread: 3-5’ wide
Known for its light pink blooms
Nellie R. Stevens Holly – Ilex cornuta x aquifolium ‘Nellie R. Stevens’
An attractive, broad pyramidal-shaped female holly with an abundance of red berries – no male holly needed to cross-pollinate for fruit to set! Berries present in fall through winter. This selection was bred to tolerate southern summers and is heat, drought, and air pollution tolerant!
USDA Growing Zones: 6-9
Height: 15-20’
Spread: 8-12’
Sun Exposure: Full sun, part shade
Soil Needs: Prefers slightly acidic, medium-moist, well-drained soils
‘Mountain Fire’ Japanese Andromeda – Pieris japonica ‘Mountain Fire’
Japanese Andromeda is an early blooming shrub with drooping clusters of white bell-shaped flowers. Bees love this shrub! New growth at stem tips is a scarlet red and contrasts well with existing dark green growth.
USDA Growing Zones: 5-8
Height: reaches 6-10’ (slower growing)
Spread: reaches 6-10’ (slower growing)
Sun Exposure: Part shade / Part sun
Soil Needs: Prefers moist, well-drained acidic soil
FULL SUN OPTIONS
Angelica Blue Juniper – Juniperus chinensis ‘Angelica Blue’
An excellent option for low screening, windbreak, or in the front row of a staggered planting. Adds a feathery texture and a pop of silvery blue/green color. Tolerant of drought, heat, winds, and deer do not prefer to browse on it!
USDA Growing Zones: 3-9
Height: 4-5’
Spread: 5-10’
Sun Exposure: Full sun preferred; part sun tolerated
Soil Needs: Prefers well-drained soil, does not tolerate standing water
King’s Gold False Cypress (Gold Mop) – Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘King’s Gold’
A shorter and slower growing option but adds a spray of bright green and golden color with threadlike texture. Works well in areas with limited overhead height and in the foreground of staggered plantings. Relatively low maintenance, drought tolerant, and deer resistant!
USDA Growing Zones: 5-9
Height: Eventually reaching 5’
Spread: Eventually reaching 7’
Sun Exposure: Full sun preferred; part sun tolerated
Soil Needs: Prefers well-drained soil, does not tolerate standing water.
Steeds Japanese Holly – Ilex crenata ‘Steeds’
Upright pyramidal shrub with dense, lustrous, dark green foliage. The leaves of Japanese Holly are not pointy like those of a typical holly, they are rounded! Very easy to grow, virtually maintenance-free - if you’re looking for a tidy form like a boxwood this is your plant! It responds well to shearing and can work as a more formal hedge (see above) if desired.
USDA Growing Zones: 5-9
Height: 6-8’
Spread: 5-6’
Sun Exposure: Full sun preferred; part sun tolerated
Soil Needs: Adaptable to a wide range of soils, just needs to be well-draining
Fernspray False Cypress – Chaemaecyparis obtusa ‘Fernspray’
A very graceful, open, irregular habit with a lot of personality! Fern-like green foliage adds a different texture among mixed planting screenings.
USDA Growing Zones: 4-8
Height: Slow growing to 10-20’
Spread: 8-16’
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Needs: Well draining soil, adaptable to most soil types
Hiba Arborvitae - Thujopsis dolabrata
Hiba has some of the most interesting foliage – shaped like fan coral and with emerald green on the top side and contrasting silvery green on the underside. Its overall shape is pyramidal and dense with horizontal branching structure that sweeps upward at the tips. This is not the best option for windbreaks, as it can be susceptible to winter burn.
USDA Growing Zones: 5-7
Height: Slow growing to 30-40’
Spread: 15-20’
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained soil
Janed Gold Arborvitae – Thuja occidentalis ‘Janed Gold’
This is a great columnar option for narrow spaces! Beautiful golden tips and dense conical shape. If it’s planted in shade, the plant will lose its bright coloring and dense habit from stretching. Responds well to shearing in early spring. It is one of the lowest maintenance and showiest!
USDA Growing Zones: 5-8
Height: 8’ at 10 years / 20’ at maturity
Spread: 4-5’
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Needs: Average, moist, well-drained soils
Emerald Green Arborvitae – Thuja occidentalis ‘Emerald Green’
Another columnar option for narrow planting sites. Dense, tight foliage with a pyramidal shape. Slower growing when compared to Green Giants and Leyland. Tolerant of the heat and humidity of the south and can tolerate periods of drought when established.
USDA Growing Zones: 4-8
Height: 10-15’
Spread: 3-4’
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Needs: Prefer moist, but well-drained soils
Arborvitae ‘Emerald Squeeze’ – Thuja occidentalis ‘Emerald Squeeze’
This dense, compact cultivar is perfect for mid-height hedging. A very low maintenance tree that keeps a tight shape without the need for pruning. This is a compact alternative to Emerald Green while still grow 1-2’ per year.
USDA Growing Zones: 4-8
Height: 6-9’
Spread: 2-4’
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Needs: Thrives in moist, well-drained soil
Leyland Cypress – Cupressocyparis leylandii
An easy-to-care-for hedge option with fine, feathery, soft blue-green needles on flattened branches. Noted for its rapid growth (3-5’ per year!), it’s one of the most planted privacy trees. This is the tree for those with little patience for a privacy hedge to fill in and with plenty of space for it to grow. Because Leylands can get so large, you’ll need to account for enough overhead space and also any neighboring structures the roots may cause damage to (sidewalks, foundations, etc.).
This is a great tree for an instant hedge, just be mindful that you’ll need to remove individuals after 5-10 years to avoid crowded growing conditions – and be aware that this fast grower doesn’t last forever, average life expectancy of 10-25 years.
USDA Growing Zones: 6-10
Height: 60-90’
Spread: 10-15’
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Needs: Will grow in a wide range of soils as long as it’s well-drained
Leyland Cypress ‘Shorty’ – x Cupressocyparis leylandii ‘Reco Shorty’
If your landscape has a height limit, then this variety of Leyland Cypress will be a better fit while still featuring the same attractive foliage, but in a more manageable package. ‘Shorty’ is a slower-grower and makes a great addition to hedges.
USDA Growing Zones: 6-8
Height: 5-10’
Spread: 2-4'
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Needs: Well-drained soil
Green Giant Arborvitae – Thuja x ‘Standishii’
With a dense, narrow, pyramidal habit, that can be kept more compact for screens or hedges with regular pruning. Can be planted 5-6’ apart for a dense privacy screen. Fast growing, with up to 3’ new growth per year when planted in a preferred planting site (note, green giants can tolerate clay soils, but won’t grow as fast).
USDA Growing Zones: 5-8
Height: 40-60’
Spread: 12-18’
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained soils – does not like highly compacted soils or ones that stay soggy
Arborvitae ‘Green Splendor’ – Thuja plicata ‘Green Splendor’
Here’s an alternative to the popular green giant variety with a more slender, columnar habit. Still reaching tall heights, it can grow at an average rate of 1-2’ per year!
USDA Growing Zones: 5-9
Height: 30-50’
Spread: 8-12'
Sun Exposure: Full sun, part shade
Soil Needs: Thrives in moist, acidic, well-drained soil
Japanese Cedar ‘Yoshino’ – Cryptomeria japonica ‘Yoshino’
Cryptomerias are known for their tight needles spirally arranged around the stem giving the tree a feathery, ropy, stiff appearance when compared to Arborvitae. The fluffy foliage holds its color well throughout winter, taking on only a slight bronze tinge. This very fast grower putting on 2-4’ each year.
USDA Growing Zones: 5-8
Height: 30-40’
Spread: 20-30’
Sun Exposure: Full sun, part shade
Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained soil. Does not tolerate drought or soggy soils.
Southern Magnolia – Magnolia grandiflora ‘Kay Parris’
This evergreen tree is a nativar that is loved for its large, white, wonderfully fragrant spring blooms and lustrous leaves with rusty undersides. This compact variety features a dense, upright, columnar habit making it a good choice for tighter spaces.
USDA Growing Zones: 6-9
Height: 15-25’
Spread: 8-10'
Sun Exposure: Full sun, part shade
Soil Needs: Thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soil
As always, find current sizes, prices, and quantities on our website:
