Creating Privacy with Evergreens

These fantastic evergreen shrubs and trees are the perfect solution for year-round privacy!

 

Since our yards are an extension of the home, it’s nice to have some privacy so that you can relax, suntan, or spend time with the family without neighbors peering in. For year-round privacy, evergreens are the best option, and there are many varieties of shrubs and trees available to transform your backyard into a secluded place of rest. Here are a few of our favorite evergreen shrubs and trees!

 

Evergreen Shrubs for Privacy

Planting evergreen shrubs for privacy is an excellent option if you don’t want too many towering trees, but still want to keep your neighbors from peeking in while they walk their dogs. They take a bit of effort to prune and shape, but the manicured aesthetic is classic and gorgeous in any yard. We recommend fertilizing in the spring for new growth for each of these evergreens. 

 

Boxwood

Boxwood shrubs are a favorite for their dense, bright leaves and round growth. They are a classic evergreen shrub that is definitely worth the hype. These shrubs will grow best in dappled shade during the hottest parts of the day since it will keep the soil around the roots cool. Water deeply for the first couple of years while the roots develop. You’ll want to add about three inches of mulch around the base of the shrubs to protect the roots from heat and help with water retention. 

 

Japanese Holly

Holly isn’t only for the holidays! Japanese holly is a fantastic evergreen for privacy, with dense branching similar to boxwoods. In the late spring, you’ll see small, white flowers that will attract pollinators, followed by tiny, black fruits. If you want to add Japanese holly to your yard, it’s best to plant it in the fall or the spring in a location with good light and shelter from strong winds. This shrub prefers slightly acidic soil and only needs to be fed once a year in the spring! We carry quite a few varieties, including Helleri, Hoogendorn, Bennett’s Compact, Soft Touch, Steed’s, and Sky Pencil—one for every height requirement!

 

Yew

Adaptable to many growing conditions, yew shrubs are an excellent evergreen for privacy. There are many varieties, each with different growth habits. It’s a good idea to research which variety best suits your landscape. While yew grows well in nearly any light conditions, from full sun to full shade, it is imperative that you plant your yews in well-draining soil as they are susceptible to root rot in soggy conditions. We recommend pruning yew for lush foliage. 

 

Evergreen Trees for Privacy

Planting trees for privacy adds a powerful statement to your landscape that is sophisticated and highly effective at keeping peering eyes out! If you’re looking for something taller than shrubs but just as effective, try these tree varieties.

 

Skip Laurel

Lush, dense, and vibrant, the Skip laurel is a favorite at Primex Garden Center! They have a compact appearance with dark, waxy evergreen leaves that offer just as much aesthetic benefit as they do privacy. What’s more, they have beautiful white blooms in the spring and berries in the winter. You couldn’t ask for a better tree! You can prune Skip laurels to a shrub, but they grow upwards of 10 feet tall! They are very low-maintenance and will perform best in full sunlight, but they certainly won’t struggle in the shade. It’s disease- and pest-resistant, too—we promise you won’t be disappointed with this choice!

 

Blue Point Juniper

While blue rarely naturally occurs in nature, this soft evergreen is the perfect option to add a gentle hue of blue to your landscape. Blue Point junipers have dense foliage that you can prune to your desired size, and grows to about 12 feet tall. They are fantastic for privacy and wind screening, making them an ideal option to border your property line. This evergreen is also deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and requires very little maintenance. Just plant this tree in full or partial sun, and it’ll grow happily!

 

Thuja Green Giant

A variety of arborvitae, the Thuja Green Giant is a legend for privacy provision! It has a gorgeous color with dense foliage and a tall, pyramid-shaped habit that adds elegance and sophistication to your landscape. Thuja are evergreens that will grow well in nearly any soil type, and they do best in full sun. Once established, this tree will require very little care and is even drought-tolerant! Since the trees need at least five feet between each other, we recommend planting two rows with staggered alignment for optimal privacy.

 

For evergreens near you, visit Primex Garden Center. We’ll help you keep your neighbors out of your business with the perfect plants for privacy!