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10 Best Trees for Privacy

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Create a green fence with these fast-growing, low-maintenance varieties.

By Amanda Garrity

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Even if you have the loveliest neighbors on the block, it's still important to create a sense of privacy in your backyard. While you can always rely on wooden or metal fencing to get the job done, planting tall, fast-growing trees are a much prettier way to fence off your space. When planted close to one another, evergreen, cypress, flowering trees and other varieties create a lush green fence — a living wall, if you will — to separate your property from your neighbor's.

When selecting trees for privacy, figure out which USDA Hardiness zone you live in (find yours here) to ensure that the one you select can survive local winters. Then take into account the size of your space — small backyards may require a tall and narrow option like a Italian Cypress, bigger plots of land call for trees with a wider reach like a Weeping Willow. Keep in mind that all of the trees on this list grow fairly quickly, some even growing three feet each year until they reach their mature size. Because of this, you'll want to make sure that you prune the trees regularly and space them out to prevent overcrowding.

Now, here are some of the best trees for privacy, along with their growing requirements and care instructions.

1

Leyland Cypress Tree

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A few seasons after planting, this blueish-green tree will create a full green fence. When fully grown and unpruned, this pyramidal evergreen can reach 70 feet in height. Although they are fairly tolerant and low-maintenance, they grow best in zones 6-10 with partial to full sunlight and well-draining soil.

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2

Italian Cypress Tree

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Known for its long and skinny silhouette, this popular Cypress can squeeze into tight spaces while still giving your backyard plenty of height. Even though they don't grow wide, most trees grow up to three feet in any given year, reaching anywhere from 35 to 40 feet in 10 years. They grow best in zones 7-11, so they can handle drought conditions and thrive in full to partial sun (at least four to eight hours of sunlight daily).

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3

Flowering Dogwood Tree

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White flowers may only make an appearance for a month or two, but the trees offer a gorgeous backdrop all year long. Ideal for zones 5-8, these low-maintenance beauties also boast glossy green leaves in the summer and crimson berries in the fall. Try to plant Dogwoods in the spring months when soil is moist, so that it has plenty of time to grow. FYI, it thrives as long as it has partial shade and weekly watering.

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4

Thuja Green Giant

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Grow a lush dark green privacy screen with ease. Once established, Thuja Green Giant grows three to five feet each year with only four hours of direct sunlight daily and regular watering during the first six months. It's resistant to most insects and disease, and grows best in zones 5-9.

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5

Weeping Willow Tree

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The arching branches on a Weeping Willow tree add drama and elegance to any backyard, large or small. When regularly pruned in their younger years and planted in zones 6-8, Weeping Willows can grow to be 50 feet tall. Plant them in full sun to partial shade and make sure they are watered weekly during the first year of planting, then as needed in the tree's later years.

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6

Emerald Green Arborvitae

Fast Growing Trees

If your yard is on the smaller side in zones 2-8, make a privacy screen with these glossy greens. They work best in compact spaces since they grow up, not out, reaching a max of 15 feet tall. Just be sure to plant the trees at least three feet apart and in full sun or partial shade. Start by watering it twice weekly before scaling back to 1" of water each week at around the three-month mark.

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7

Cherry Blossom Tree

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Cover your backyard with a blanket of pink and white petals. This flowering tree is best suited in zones 5-9, reaching a height and spread up to 20 feet. It needs at least six hours of direct sunlight daily and well-draining soil to grow and bloom.

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8

Nellie Stevens Holly

Fast Growing Trees

Technically, it's a shrub, but the Nellie Stevens Holly towers high, reaching 25 feet when it's fully grown. Unlike some of the other privacy trees on this list, this tolerant shrub stays green all year long, even in the heat of the summer. If you live in zones 6-9, plant each Nellie Stevens Holly at least five or six feet apart to create a living wall, ultimately reaching 15 to 25 feet in height. You can keep their natural pyramidal shape (shown here) or prune them into a tall box hedge.

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9

Thundercloud Plum Tree

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Don't be fooled by the name: This plum tree doesn't always bear fruit, but has leaves in a similar purple hue. The mid-size variety reaches a height and spread of roughly 20 feet when it's fully grown, making it a colorful addition to any backyard space. It grows best in zones 5-9 with full sun and regular watering during its first year in the ground.

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10

Yew

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Another tall shrub makes the cut: This evergreen perennial is tolerant to handle most conditions, making it a great fit for zones 2 - 10. With full sun to shade and well-draining soil, some of the varieties can grow up to 20 feet tall and produce small red berries (similar to holly berries).

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Amanda Garrity Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion.

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Best trees for privacy – 15 ideas to screen your yard

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The best trees for privacy not only offer a beautiful, natural way to screen your yard, but also provide structure and interest year round.

Privacy trees give such a wonderful feeling of seclusion, and are one of the best backyard ideas for creating a lush backdrop for planting.

While fencing and walls are good for practicality and security, the best trees for screening offer a softer way to achieve this, and are perfect for pairing with more solid boundaries.

Trees offer more dappled coverage and, where a canopy starts at a higher level, can allow you to see through at a lower height. This means they can be used to retain an attractive view or be grown next to boundaries – so consider trees alongside your garden wall ideas and garden fence ideas.

Also think about landscaping around trees to add character and interest to your yard.

Some of the best trees for privacy are also the best trees for shade, so decide where you want them positioned in relation to the house and how compatible that is with your outdoor dining ideas.

The best trees for privacy and screening in a backyard

There are no better garden screening ideas than natural ones. Namely: trees. Whether you are looking to stop neighbors being able to see into your garden or to screen out a nearby building, trees do the very best job, while providing color and garden shade. 

Planting a mixed variety of trees for privacy and screening is also one of the best wildlife garden ideas for providing natural habitats and food for birds and wildlife.

The best trees for privacy – and the best trees for screening – will generally have a bushy, evergreen canopy, making evergreen trees for gardens an ideal choice. 

If space allows, however, consider planting a variety of screening trees, including some of the best trees for autumn color, or others bearing seasonal blossom or fruits, to add color and interest throughout the year. 

Before you start planting trees for privacy and screening in a backyard, do your research. This includes checking:

1. Crabapple (Malus)

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With their beautiful spring blossom and fall fruit, crabapples are some of the most ornamental trees for privacy, and are also beloved of wildlife.

Growing up to 39 feet over several decades, crab apples are medium-sized trees that work well in the town or country. ‘A distinctive crabapple with a rounded form and medium growth habit can be planted 15 to 20 feet from the house,’ says Dan Lambe from the Arbor Day Foundation , author of Now is the Time for Trees .  

Dan is particularly fond of the Prairifire crabapple, which grows to a more compact 20 feet tall, making it one of the best trees for small gardens. 

‘It’s a showy, disease-resistant tree that offers year-round beauty in the landscape,' he says. 'Dark red buds open to reddish pink flowers in spring with glossy reddish maroon trees. Its foliage turns dark green in summer and a beautiful bronze color in fall, when small decorative purple fruits attract wildlife.’

Grow it in USDA zones 3-8 in moist but well-draining soil, in full sun or partial shade.

2. Cotoneaster ‘Cornubia’

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While actually a large semi-evergreen shrub, Cotoneaster ‘Cornubia’ is usually grown as a medium-sized tree. It’s one of the best trees for privacy and screening if you’re looking for an ornamental variety, as it’s also one of the most striking trees with red berries.

‘Winter wouldn’t be winter without berries,’ says Claire Masset, author of Cottage Gardens .

‘The semi-evergreen Cotoneaster ‘Cornubia’ has elegant oval leaves and an attractive arching habit. Every winter during a particularly cold spell, my cotoneaster becomes a magnet for birds who come to feast on the berries – a cheering sight indeed.’

With a maximum height of 26 feet, Cotoneaster ‘Cornubia’ is fairly slow-growing, so won’t dominate your yard – making it one of the best trees for front yards. It likes full sun and well-drained soil, but prefers a milder climate, thriving in USDA zones 6-9.

3. Birch (Betula)

(Image credit: Anna Stowe Botanica / Alamy )

‘Birch trees have beautiful bark that’s particularly noticeable in winter,’ says gardening expert Matt James. ‘Chalk-white paper birch (Betula papyrifera) and Betula ‘Doorenbos’ are popular but big, so site them carefully – both look great as single specimens in large yards. For small yards, choose dome-shaped Betula ‘Youngii’ which grows no bigger than 26ft tall.’

If you have the space, you can group together various types of birch trees with different-colored bark.

‘While birches are some of the best trees with white bark, not all birch bark is white. The Chinese red birch is orangey red, Betula ‘Parkwood’ is dark purple with little white bands and Betula 'Mount Zao' has dark purple and orange, peeling bark,’ adds Matt.

You can grow birch trees in USDA zones 2-9, depending on the variety, in full sun or partial shade.

4. Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A smaller tree with a rounded growth habit, flowering dogwood is one of the best trees for privacy and screening in a compact yard, and can be planted as close as 10 feet away from the house.

‘Flowering dogwood is an excellent landscape choice for all four seasons. Showy white bracts appear in spring, foliage turns a vibrant red purple in fall, and glossy red fruits attract winter songbirds to the enjoyment of all,’ says Dan Lambe. 

'This tree offers nice contrast when planted along with pink or red dogwoods with larger evergreens in the background. ’

Growing up to 25 feet, flowering dogwood can be grown in USDA zones 5-9. Plant in moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.

5. Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

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If you’re looking to establish privacy quickly, then look at the best fast-growing trees such as the Eastern white pine.

It increases in height by up to 24 inches per year until reaching a maximum height of 50-80 feet and a spread of 20-40 feet at maturity. 

'This hardy, valuable evergreen is striking in the winter landscape, where it makes an ideal wind-break,’ says Dan.

The Eastern white pine thrives in acidic, moist but well-draining soil, in full sun or partial shade. It's a great option for USDA zones 3-8.

6. English yew, or common yew (Taxus baccata)

(Image credit: Future / Rowan Isaac)

The English yew – also known as the common yew – 'is probably the classic evergreen tree. It is elegant and long-lived, and rejuvenates itself remarkably well if pruned in the early spring,' explain the experts at Practicality Brown .

One of the best trees for privacy, and planting en masse to create hedging, Taxus baccata can grow to about 40 feet (12 meters) tall. It thrives in free-draining soil and can tolerate sun to shade. Some varieties also produce small red berries – loved by wildlife as a food source.

Grow it in USDA zones 5-7.

7. Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

One of the best trees for screening tall buildings at the back of your backyard – and for adding a marvellous Mediterranean garden feel to your backyard – is the hardy Italian cypress. 

These tall, slender beauties can add dramatic height to a boundary, driveway or path and, with their dense foliage, are among the best trees for screening if your garden is overlooked by the neighbors. 

Very easy to grow, they just need the occasional clipping to keep them in good shape and can shoot up to three feet each year, reaching a maximum height of up to 70 feet (20 meters).

Grow it in zones 7-9.

8. Bamboo (phyllostachys or fargesia)

(Image credit: Future / Claire Lloyd Davies)

Although technically a grass, the larger, woody varieties of evergreen bamboo are more tree-like, and are very effective for screening and privacy.

'Bamboo is tough and easy to grow. For space-strapped gardeners, it also answers the need for tall but thin, which very few other plants can offer without the need for regular trimming,' explains gardening expert Leigh Clapp. 

Providing movement and an oriental feel to your garden, bamboo is fast growing and hardy. 'Choose clump-forming varieties like Fargesia robusta, not one that sends out invasive runners,' Leigh adds.

9. Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A vigorous spreading evergreen with glossy, dark green leaves, cherry laurel is one of the best trees for screening and privacy due to its upright and bushy form.

It also has some added seasonal interest, producing small white flowers in spring, followed by cherry-like red fruits in fall.  

Preferring slightly acidic soil, this tree can grow up to 26 feet (8 meters) and likes sun to shade.

'The cherry laurel is also available in pleached form, which is excellent for screening in smaller gardens,' advise the experts at Practicality Brown.

It's suitable for USDA zones 5-9.

10. Holly (Ilex aquifolium)

(Image credit: Getty Images/ Danielle D. Hughson)

With its distinctive prickly leaves, holly is a classic evergreen that makes a good tree for privacy as well as security. 

Although it ably keeps intruders out, it welcomes wildlife in, and can provide shelter for many bird visitors to your backyard.

Suitable for free-draining normal, clay or chalk soils, Ilex aquifolium produces red or orange winter berries – making it a favorite choice for use in Christmas foliage arrangements – and an ideal choice when planning a winter garden. These are then replaced with small white flowers in spring. 

As well as the common holly with its dark green glossy leaves, there are those with beautiful variegated leaves, such as 'Argentea marginata', with lovely silver edges tinged with pink, or 'Myrtifolia aurea maculataso', that features yellow and green splashes, so you could plant a mixture for contrast and interest.

Holly is, however, a slow grower – only a couple of inches per year – so not one for speedy screening potential. Grow it in USDA zones 5-9.

11. Western red cedar (Thuja plicata)

(Image credit: Getty Images/ Adél Békefi)

'The evergreen conifer Western red cedar is densely branched, making it a great tree for screening,' say the experts at Practicality Brown.

It's dark, olive green leaves can turn bronze in winter and the foliage has a pleasant, fruity aroma if crushed.

They make popular alternatives to leylandii as best trees for privacy, although have a slightly slower growth rate. They can also afford protection from noise and wind, so make a good choice for screening trees along a garden boundary beside a road.

Western red cedar will grow in USDA zones 5-9.

12. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

(Image credit: Getty Images/ Clive Nichols)

Hornbeam is a popular deciduous tree for screening, with fresh green leaves in spring that turn golden yellow in fall.

'Hornbeam also keeps a proportion of its old leaves on its branches through to the spring, dependent on how exposed to the wind it is, giving a better screening effect,' advise the experts at hedgeplants.com .

This hardy specimen can be planted in sun or shade and is tolerant of most soil types in zones 3-9.

13. Red robin (Photinia x fraseri 'red robin')

(Image credit: Getty Images / Jacky Parker)

This stunning evergreen boasts red, glossy leaves in the spring and summer, before maturing to lush dark green foliage in fall – perfect for both privacy and screen, but color, too.

It can reach a height of 13 feet (4 meters) and a similar spread, but can be easily kept pruned to a smaller size. 

Fully hardy, red robin prefers sun, but can do just as well in shade, and if left unpruned will produce masses of white flowers in summer. Grow it in zones 7-9.

14. Holm oak (Quercus ilex) 

(Image credit: Getty Images/ La Bicicleta Vermella)

'For evergreen screening or year-round interest, holm oak is a wonderful choice,' say the experts at Ornamental Trees

With its leathery, serrated holly-like leaves, it is also known as the holly oak and is as equally hardy and robust.  

It will withstand exposed positions and as it is also tolerant of salt-spray, 'so it is ideal for using as an evergreen windbreak in coastal gardens,' they add.

Grow holm in oak in USDA zones 7-10.

15. Colorado blue spruce trees (Picea pungens)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

With blue, pine needle-like foliage that becomes densely packed in a pyramid shape, the Colorado blue spruce trees provide year round interest and are particularly suited to small gardens, eventually growing to about 8 feet.

'It is a very hardy small tree that will grow in most soils, excluding dry soils; it is also best to avoid full exposure,' say the experts at Ornamental Trees.

This is a slow grower, but could be included in a mix with other faster growing evergreens, and makes an excellent foil for other plants.

Grow Colorado blue spruce in USDA zones 3-7.

What tree provides the best privacy?

The type of trees that make a good privacy screen are those that are easy to grow, hardy and will tolerate most soils and conditions.  

You do not want to choose trees that are high maintenance, but rather those that are self-sufficient for much of the year, maybe just requiring the occasional prune to keep them in shape.

As you will seek privacy year round, choose a good variety of evergreen that will not drop their leaves, with dense foliage, and which will thrive when planted close together. You can, however, intersperse these with a few deciduous specimens for seasonal interest and color.

The best trees for privacy and screening need to grow to at least 8 feet, and there are many options that will grow much taller.

What is the fastest growing tree for privacy?

'Some tree species grow much faster than others, which is great if you’re looking for a quick privacy screen. However, slow-growing species typically live longer than those with a faster growth habit,' says Dan Lambe.

'Local growing conditions dramatically affect growth, so more often than not rates are described in relative terms as fast, medium, or slow. Check with your local arborist or nursery professional for expected performance in your region.'

Dan recommends the following trees as being among the fastest growing trees for privacy: paper birch, pin oak, Eastern white pine, October Glory red maple, and quaking aspen.

Which trees can be planted close to houses?

Many trees can be planted close to houses and this does not cause a problem, but it is difficult to predict which trees will or won't cause issues.

There are a number of factors that could contribute to a tree causing damage to a building or surrounding structures. These include whether the garden has heavy clay soil – as there is an increased risk from trees drying out the soil in periods of drought, causing the soil to shrink and cause structural damage to a property.

Also some trees have a higher water uptake than others. Those with a low water demand include picea and pinus, whereas trees with a high water intake include cupressus and quercus.  

Do your research beforehand and, if in doubt, consult an expert.

Rachel is senior content editor, and writes and commissions gardening content for homesandgardens.com, Homes & Gardens magazine, and its sister titles Period Living Magazine and Country Homes & Interiors. She has written for lifestyle magazines for many years, with a particular focus on gardening, historic houses and arts and crafts, but started out her journalism career in BBC radio, where she enjoyed reporting on and writing programme scripts for all manner of stories. Rachel then moved into regional lifestyle magazines, where the topics she wrote about, and people she interviewed, were as varied and eclectic as they were on radio. Always harboring a passion for homes and gardens, she jumped at the opportunity to work on The English Home and The English Garden magazines for a number of years, before joining the Period Living team, then the wider Homes & Gardens team, specializing in gardens.

TOP-7 trees for planting on the plot, which ones are better to choose

When planning a garden, you need to take into account the climate, terrain, and size of the plot. It will not be possible to place all fruit, deciduous and coniferous trees in one garden at the same time, with all the desire, but there is a list of the most valuable species that will take their rightful place on the site.

Contents

Apple tree

Unpretentious, frost-resistant, high-yielding tree. In order for fresh apples to be on the table with a round code, you need to plant 8-10 apple trees with different ripening periods on the plot. The choice must be stopped on dwarf varieties that do not grow more than 2-3m, otherwise harvesting will be very difficult. If there is not enough space in the garden, it is better to purchase multi-varietal seedlings - each branch of such a tree is grafted with a separate variety and bears fruit at different times.

In a small garden, varieties without spreading side branches, growing in the form of a columnar trunk, have proven themselves well - "President", "Jin", "Senator".

Plum

Sweet and juicy plums are consumed fresh from July, they are suitable for freezing, canning, drying. A young plum seedling begins to bear fruit already in the 4th year after planting, gives a rapid growth, an annual and plentiful harvest. The main conditions for successful fruiting are to place the plum in a well-lit place on the south side of the site and carry out crown formation as the seedling grows.

Among the early varieties, “Krasny shar”, “Zarechnaya early”, among the late varieties, “Hungarian”, “Stanley” have proven themselves well.

Cherry

Delightful when in bloom. It transforms the garden externally and fills it with an unforgettable aroma, tolerates frosts well and recovers quickly, bearing fruit every year. It is these qualities that have allowed the tree to become an obligatory guest in every garden.

Despite abundant flowering, the plant is characterized by self-fertility and gives good yields only when it is in good proximity to sweet cherries or high-yielding cherries. These include varieties "Baby", "Chernokorka", "Nochka".

Apricot

With the advent of cold-resistant varieties, this native southern plant can be grown in the Middle Zone. Apricot grows rapidly, enters the phase of active fruiting early, gives tasty and nutritious fruits with a high content of sugars, pectin, carotene, organic acids.

The disadvantage of apricot is the early flowering period and an increased likelihood of damage to the flowers by frost. The solution to the problem will be the planting of frost-resistant varieties - "Red-cheeked", "Hardy".

Pear

Delicious and nutritious pear fruit can be eaten even by allergy sufferers, diabetics and obese people. Delicate softness, a characteristic sweetish aroma, a composition rich in vitamins, and widespread use in cooking contributed to the spread of the pear among gardeners.

A young plant does not tolerate frost well, and an already grown pear, which has entered the fruiting period, is more frost-resistant. Good yields are given by the varieties "Tenderness", "Fairytale", "Moskvichka".

Birch

Delights with its elegance. White bark decorates the garden in spring, drooping branches create a pleasant shade in the garden in summer, and in autumn the birch foliage becomes a motley golden-red color. Low-growing varieties can be combined with flowers in a flower bed, creating decorative compositions. It grows well by the pond, in rocky gardens, heather plantings.

Fir

It will fill the garden with an unforgettable coniferous aroma, and if placed well, it will become a place of solitude and relaxation. This hardy, hardy tree with spreading branches and oval buds loves shady places and does not tolerate drought well.

Hedge instead of a regular fence: what to plant

Create a hedge with these fast growing and low maintenance trees.

Valeria Skripko

Legion-Media

Even if you have the most wonderful neighbors, creating a sense of privacy in your backyard is still important. Of course, you can always install wood or metal fencing, but planting tall, fast-growing trees is a much better way to fence off your yard. Evergreen, cypress, and flowering trees planted close together create a lush green fence—a hedge, if you will—to separate your property from those of your neighbors.

Contents of the article

When choosing trees that will help make your yard more private, you need to consider whether the tree you choose can survive the local winters. Also take into account the size of the area - for small backyards, a tall and narrow tree, such as a cypress, is suitable, while large areas can be decorated with trees with a wider reach, such as Babylon willow. Keep in mind that all the trees on this list grow quickly - some can reach a height of 1 meter in a year. So there are quite a few things to consider.

So, here are some of the best trees for the private area of ​​the site, as well as the requirements for their cultivation and care rules.

Leyland Cypress

A few seasons after planting, this pyramidal bluish green tree will create a full green fence. After a while, it can reach 20 meters in height. Although cypress is quite hardy and unpretentious in care, it will grow best in an area with well-drained soil. He must be in the sun for at least three hours a day.

Evergreen Cypress

Known for its tall silhouette, this cypress can squeeze into any tight spaces while still helping to hide from prying eyes. Although it does not grow in width, most trees grow 1 meter per year, reaching a height of 10 to 12 meters in 10 years. Cypress evergreen can tolerate drought and thrive with four to eight hours of sun daily.

Flowering dogwood

White flowers adorn the trees only for 1-2 months, but they will always protect the yard from unwanted looks. These unpretentious beauties in the summer can boast of their glossy green leaves, and in the fall - scarlet berries. Try to plant your dogwood during the spring months when the soil is damp to give it plenty of time to grow. By the way, for prosperity, he needs only two things: an area where the sun will fall for two to four hours a day, and weekly watering.

Thuja Green giant

Growing this lush dark green beauty is quite easy. With daily exposure to direct sunlight for four hours and regular watering for the first six months, in just one year it will grow by about 1 meter. Thuja is resistant to most insects and diseases.

Babylon Willow

Weeping Willow's curved branches add drama and elegance to any backyard, large or small. With regular pruning of a young tree and the right location, weeping willows can grow up to 15 meters in height. They should be in direct sunlight for at least 3 hours a day. Also, during the first year of planting, they need to be watered weekly, and in subsequent years - as needed.

Western Thuja Smaragd

If you have a small yard, this glossy green thuja will definitely suit you, as it grows upwards, not wide, reaching a maximum of 4. 5 meters in height. Be sure to plant trees at least 1 meter apart. Also, thuja should be in direct sunlight for more than three hours a day.

Sakura

Why not decorate your backyard with pink and white cherry blossoms. This flowering tree can reach 6 meters in height. It needs at least six hours of direct sunlight and well-drained soil daily to grow and flower.

Nelly Stevens Holly

Formally a shrub, it can grow up to 8 meters in height. Unlike some of the trees on our list, this hardy shrub stays green all year round, even in the heat of summer. Plant each holly at least 1.5-1.8 meters apart to create a wall eventually reaching 4.5-7.5 meters in height. You can keep their natural pyramidal shape or form a hedge.

Thundercloud Cherry Cherry

Don't be fooled by the name: this tree doesn't always bear fruit, but it does have red-purple leaves.

Learn more