A backyard can be an ideal place to lounge with your family, but what about privacy from peeping toms? Consider getting privacy trees.
I am an avid gardener, and when I’m not gardening, I spend my time reading The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible or listening to Epic Gardening. I love my neighborhood and community, but all said and done, I love my privacy too.
Every once in a while, I notice some peeping toms glancing over my fence while I’m sprawled out on my sun lounger or playing with my dogs. I must admit, it’s not always a welcome distraction. After all, everyone loves their alone time, right?
If you can relate to my problem and are looking for a solution that won’t seem overtly rude or offensive to your neighbors, I’ve got you covered. I finally found the answer to my dilemma - privacy trees.
I’m Stacy! And today, I’m going to tell you about my favorite privacy trees that spruce up the yard while also providing you with much-needed privacy.
Let’s begin, shall we?
Best Privacy Trees
1. Green Giant Thuja
As I already mentioned, I do have a fence, but it’s relatively short - just about five and a half feet. It certainly doesn’t provide all the privacy I need, especially when I’m looking for some alone time.
I decided to conduct some independent research, and the very first option I came across was the Green Giant Thuja. These colossal trees can grow up to 40 feet tall, giving more privacy than one can bargain for.
Well, I wasn’t looking for something this obvious and massive, so I continued my search. However, I recommend it for those with medium-sized backyards looking for added privacy. Since these trees are fast-growing, I would recommend trimming them regularly to avoid a disheveled looking backyard.
2. Emerald Green Thuja
As you may have already guessed, the Emerald Green Thuja is a slightly smaller variant of my previous recommendation. It turned out to be perfect for my needs. It grows at a fairly modest rate of 6 to 9 inches every year, making it much easier to trim and maintain in the long run.
I checked the website to find out how tall they would eventually grow. It turns out that the Emerald Green Thuja can reach heights of 12 to 14 feet when fully mature. This was precisely what I was looking for - it is the perfect height to block off street noises, deter peeping toms, and provide a natural fence for added privacy in my yard.
3. Leyland Cypress
My online research brought me to my next find - the Leyland Cypress. These trees are ideal for large yards, providing adequate privacy while acting as an alternative fence. Of course, you may even choose to plant them in a way that they complement the existing fence lines, adding an extra layer of protection.
These trees work well at blocking out street noises and providing added privacy. Furthermore, they also act as a barrier against strong winds, protecting your home and yard. To add to it, these trees provide shade all year round, which is excellent for homeowners who get too much direct, scorching sunlight into their yards.
4. Wax Myrtle
Don’t think I’ve forgotten about small-yard owners! Up next, I want to recommend the Wax Myrtle tree. This option is ideal for people with smaller yards who wish to use trees as a natural fence.
What makes the Wax Myrtle an excellent privacy tree? Well, for starters, it has dense foliage, which works well to keep peeping toms away from your yard. Moreover, it grows to a maximum height of 6 to 12 feet, making it ideal for smaller yards.
If you’re wondering about its maintenance and pruning, this tree grows at a rate of 12 to 18 inches a year. Although that may technically qualify as a fast-growing tree, I think they are relatively easy to prune and maintain.
5. Eastern Red Cedar
Many homeowners are looking for options with thick, dense foliage that will provide optimal privacy to their yards. In my opinion, the Eastern Red Cedar is perfect for these requirements.
These trees are thick and can grow at a rate of 1 to 2 feet every year. Moreover, they can reach heights of 66 feet at full maturity. These coniferous trees are extraordinarily dense and can grow to tremendous heights, making them an ideal option for larger yards. Of course, it is essential to regularly prune and maintain them so that they look aesthetic at all times.
6. Hybrid Willow Tree
I came across an interesting article about the Hybrid Willow Tree, which I want to talk about next. These trees are intriguing - they are fast-growing with a growth rate of 6 feet to even 12 feet in a year! Moreover, it takes them just about five years to reach complete maturity.
The Hybrid Willow Tree is disease-resistant, which essentially means that it isn’t susceptible to insect-ridden conditions and diseases that you may have to take care of subsequently. Furthermore, if you live in cold environments or regions with very harsh winters, these trees can act as the perfect addition to your yard.
Typically, they grow well in cold environments, not to mention, their dense foliage makes them an excellent choice for adding privacy. Although these trees require an adequate amount of water to thrive, they can survive in periods of drought.
Pro Tip - Hybrid Willow Trees have a peculiar growth pattern. If spaced correctly, they grow only up to 35 to 40 feet in height. However, with incorrect spacing, they may reach towering heights of 75 feet.
If you plan to plant these trees in your medium-sized yards, I would recommend spacing them about 5 feet apart. This will ensure that they grow properly and can be maintained without much hassle. Otherwise, you may have to deal with massive trees that can be hard to prune and maintain.
7. Spartan Juniper
Do you have a small yard that cannot accommodate large privacy trees? Don’t worry; I’ve found a couple of excellent small-sized trees for homes with small yards.
The Spartan Juniper, with its interesting name, instantly caught my attention. I decided to do some more research on it and found out some exciting tidbits about this privacy tree.
These trees grow only up to 15 feet tall, with a width of about 3 to 5 feet. Although they prefer dry soil and lots of sunlight, they can be planted in other types of soils as well. As long as you remember not to overwater them and plant them at a distance of 5 feet apart, they will thrive.
Furthermore, it is best to plant them in a row for optimal privacy. However, keep in mind that these trees don’t react well to regular pruning. My advice - plant them a few feet apart so they can grow naturally to their full size.
8. Chaste Tree
After reading about so many trees, I realized what I was missing - color. I’m a big fan of bright, vivid colors, and while I love trees, I was craving some color in my backyard. That is when I came across the Chaste tree - perfect for sprucing up the yard while providing adequate privacy.
These trees can spread up to 15 feet wide at full maturity, so I had to be very careful while planting them. Since they are fast-growing, I was excited to see their fragrant, full-blooms which are a rich, purple shade.
9. False Cypress
Personally, I love these trees. They have such long, graceful, and delicate limbs, filled with fern-like needles. They look astonishing in almost any yard and are relatively easy to grow and maintain.
Those looking for aesthetic additions that aren’t excessively fussy will find these to be a suitable option. If possible, opt for the varieties of False Cypress that grow vertically in a pyramid shape. This will provide you with optimal privacy without making it overly obvious to your neighbors.
How To Choose The Right Privacy Tree
I didn’t mean to overwhelm you with so many options of privacy trees. The fact is that I was quite excited when I discovered these beautiful species, and I selected a couple of them to plant in my yard. Since I own a medium-sized yard and already have a fence, I opted for the Emerald Green Thuja and Chaste Tree.
However, I was able to pick these after careful consideration. If you are wondering which privacy tree would be best suited for your needs, don’t worry. I’m here to tell you how to choose the right privacy tree for your yard.
a) The Size Of Your Yard
Although this goes without saying, I feel like I should still state the obvious. Depending on the size of your yard, you must choose the right privacy tree that will not overwhelm or underwhelm it.
You will notice that I have added a selection of privacy trees for small, medium, and large-sized yards in my list. I would recommend considering the size of your yard before picking one.
Keep in mind - you can always plant larger trees in a medium-sized yard. However, they can become overwhelming to manage without regular pruning and maintenance, especially at full maturity.
b) How Much Time You Have
This brings me to my second point - how much time do you have for maintenance? If you think you might be too busy to trim and maintain your privacy trees regularly, I would recommend opting for low-maintenance options that don’t require much pruning or fertilizers to thrive. Moreover, each tree has specific needs when it comes to the amount of sunlight and water they require.
Of course, you can always hire someone to help you with gardening. Hiring a professional will remove much of the guesswork regarding how much water, sunlight, fertilizer, and pruning is needed. But if you would rather do it yourself (like me), I recommend opting for a privacy tree that you can maintain over a prolonged period.
c) How Much Privacy You Need
As you may have noticed from my list, each tree grows differently. Some trees can grow to be tall and dense at full maturity, while others remain relatively short and sparse. Moreover, there are fast-growing and slow-growing trees to choose from.
Depending on the extent of privacy you are looking for, you might want to choose different types. Personally, I already had a fence and was looking for something that is relatively easy to maintain and won’t grow too large. Considering this, I opted for the Emerald Green Thuja and Chaste Tree.
However, these may not be your considerations. If you are looking for more (or less) privacy in your yard, consider the other options on my list.
d) Talk To A Local Expert
There’s nothing better than having a heart-to-heart with a tree expert. In my case, I sought out a local tree expert who guided me efficiently about the right trees to add to my yard.
To top it off, he even helped my neighbor Angie select the best privacy trees for her yard. Taking professional help will enable you to select the right privacy tree that will thrive in your local climate.
Final Words
To be honest, I was thrilled with my endeavor. Although it began with the intense need for privacy in my yard, it soon turned into something much more fun and exciting to explore. I loved learning about the different types of privacy trees and their uses.
I hope my guide helps you select the right one for your needs. Remember to space your trees out correctly; otherwise, they might become too massive and overwhelming to manage.
In my opinion, planting trees is the best way to create a natural fence in the yard. They provide just the right extent of privacy while also managing to add aesthetic value. So, which one did you pick? Let me know in the comments below.
Until next time!