Trees are great not just for the environment but for aesthetics as well. Lots of people plant trees in their homes for several reasons. But privacy is one of the most prominent.
Unfortunately, not all trees are ideal for this purpose because trees have different characteristics, and you may end up planting one that won’t provide cover for most parts of the year.
For this reason, if the need for privacy is why you’re planting a tree, it is better to go for evergreen trees. When selecting plants for a fence, you should consider the nature of the region of the country you reside in, especially during the winter.
You must also consider how much space you have. You want to also plant a tree that grows fast enough, and that can be easily pruned.
You should also check your soil type and ensure that conditions are suitable for the tree you want to plant. You may need to contact a tree retailer for specialist advice.
However, planting trees as a fence is a very environmentally friendly and sustainable way of providing privacy for your home. People are moving away from wooden or metal walls because of the freshness trees bring.
So, we’ve outlined some of the best trees that will serve the purpose of privacy and aesthetics, outlining how fast it grows, the challenges you may face while nursing them to maturity, and how best to take care of them.
If you’re considering planting trees for a fence in your home, here are ten species to choose from. As noted earlier, we suggest you go for evergreen trees as they provide cover all around the year.
#1 Leyland Cypress
The Leyland Cypress is one of the most popular trees planted for privacy in homes because it has all the properties you’ll want for a tree adorning your backyard. Its most significant advantage is growing very fast and into a solid fence when planted side by side.
Leyland Cypress is also lovely and evergreen, so you can be sure of the privacy you so desire, whatever the weather.
If you plant the Leyland Cypress in your home, they can reach incredible heights of 50 feet in just over a decade. If they’re planted in rows, they often reach a maximum height of 60 feet. Alone, they grow to reach 70 feet!
Their growth rate is about 24 inches a year.
Because of their strength, the Leyland Cypress can serve as an impenetrable wall and a shield against strong winds. They can also withstand harsh conditions, including droughts and salty water, so you can consider this tree if you live around the coast.
However, they do not have solid roots, so they can quickly rot when very hot weather. So you may want to reconsider if you live in very hot climatic conditions.
#2 Weeping Podocarpus
Weeping Podocarpus is also an evergreen tree that is popular for privacy. This tree is also fast-growing, and when fully matured, it can grow to heights of 35 feet.
Weeping Podocarpus is ideal in tropical or contemporary climates, and because their width reaches up to 20 feet, you shouldn’t plant them too closely. You should leave a space of about 8 feet between each tree.
Also, do not plant them too close to your building or any other building. Preferably, leave a space of about 10-15 feet from other buildings.
Just like the Leyland Cypress, it can survive salty conditions, so it is ideal for coastal and even dry climates. The Weeping Podocarpus is a woody tree, so it is a natural fence if you want it to serve as such.
#3 Flowering Dogwood
The flowering dogwood is a famous privacy tree because it thrives in different climatic conditions, whether hot or cold. Moreover, the Flowering Dogwood grows all year round and can survive some very tough situations.
The Flowering Dogwood is not just ideal as a fence; they also add aesthetic appeal to the environment because of its natural beauty.
They come in exotic colors such as white, red, and pink, and they also come with berries that add color to the environment.
This tree grows to a height of 25 feet, and because they also grow to be very wide, reaching up to 25 feet, they should be planted 20 feet apart. When in bloom, they provide much-needed privacy and add incredible beauty to your home.
You can plant them singly in one spot or plant them in a line to form a fence. However, do not plant them where there would be too much water.
Needing 20 years to reach 25 feet, they have a slow growth rate.
#4 Emerald Green Thuja (Arborvitae)
The Emerald Green Thuja reaches a maximum height of 13 feet, but it has beauty for what it lacks in height. This tree is ideal for areas that are limited in space. They don’t grow very fast, though.
This tree adds about 9 inches to its height every year, so you should only plant it if you are not in a hurry for privacy.
This tree grows to a width of about 4 feet, so, ideally, you leave a space of 2 feet between them. They are strong and thrive in climatic conditions, and do well even in the snow and drought.
When fully matured, they serve as a solid fence and add a lot of beauty to the building.
They provide cover throughout the year and are ideal as windbreakers because of their strength.
The tree grows at a rate of 1-2 feet per year until they are fully mature, after which they grow about 6-9 inches per year until they reach its maximum height.
#5 Green Giant Thuja (Arborvitae)
The Green Giant Thuja is from the same family as the Emerald Green Thuja, but from its name, it’s obvious it grows larger and taller than the former.
Unlike the Emerald Green Thuja, the Green Giant Thuja grows very rapidly and grows to a height of about 40 feet, adding up to 5 feet annually. They are resistant to extreme climatic conditions and survive very deadly infections.
These trees are trendy because they can be trimmed into beautiful shapes and designs. However, the trees grow naturally into beautiful cone shapes without trimming that offer a great aesthetic appeal.
They grow very tall and reach a maximum width of about 7 feet when planted in rows. They form a fence of impenetrable walls and provide shade and beauty.
However, they don’t do well in waterlogged soil and may easily attract animals like deer due to their attractive leaves.
However, they are pretty popular because of their incredible growth rate and minimal maintenance. This fast-growing tree adds about 3 feet per year until maturity.
#6 Spartan Juniper
Spartan Juniper is ideal for those who don’t have all the space for larger trees but want something that will still provide shade and beauty. This tree is perfect when planted in rows about 5 feet apart and forms a protective shield against the wind.
Growing to a maximum height of 25 feet, the Spartan Juniper also reaches a width of 3-5 feet. Although they can grow in any weather, they prefer drier and warmer conditions as the roots will rot when exposed to lots of water.
It is best to limit how often the tree is pruned, so it is advised that they are planted apart from each other to form a perfect lock when they join together on maturity. Whenever you prune the Spartan Juniper, you limit its growth severely.
This tree is evergreen and can keep providing much-needed privacy even during droughts. When freshly planted, they don’t need much water beyond what rain supplies. However, in severe water shortages, they require water only when you start seeing signs of thinning.
Spartan Juniper adds about 12 inches every year to its height and matures after about 15-20 years.
#7 Hybrid Willow Tree
This species is popular with homeowners because of its fast growth rate. They also survive under all kinds of temperatures and conditions, and when fully formed, they are excellent at providing privacy.
Perhaps the reason why they do so well is that they are not affected by disease or drought. However, they require a lot of water when developing.
The Hybrid Willow can reach full maturity in just five years by growing at a maximum rate of about 10 feet per year.
Although they can reach up to 75 feet when planted alone, if you want them as a fence, you should leave a space of about 5 feet between them, and they can reach heights of about 40 feet.
When fully grown, they can serve as a great wall that adds beauty and cuts off the noise. It also provides a cool shade on a sunny afternoon and is excellent as a windbreaker because of its strength.
If you’ve had problems maintaining other types of trees in your home, try the Hybrid Willow, and you’ll be glad you did.
Its growth rate is phenomenal, adding between 6-10 feet every year!
#8 Black Cherry Plum Tree
The Black Cherry Plum Tree works well as a stand-alone tree, although you can also plant them in rows to form a fence. It takes about two decades for this tree to reach a height of 16 feet, so it may not be particularly fast-growing.
However, this tree can provide an excellent shield against the prying eyes of neighbors and people passing around. You can plant them beside the windows or on the front porch.
This tree adds a lot of aesthetic appeal to buildings as they produce beautiful flowers of different colors. This tree can survive most conditions and does not require much water to thrive.
They provide excellent cover and shade when planted in rows and serve as windbreakers, although they may not filter out external noise well enough.
The Black Cherry Plum adds about 1-2 inches every year until it hits a maximum height of 22 feet.
#9 Holly
This tree grows to a height of 50 feet when planted alone and fully matured, and provides shade and privacy. It also adds lots of beauty to the building as its red berries complement the dark green leaves.
Holly, which is technically a shrub, is best planted in moist but well-drained soils.
When grown in rows to form a fence, the Holly can be trimmed into any desired shape. When well-trimmed, they look stunning and require very little water to survive.
The tree has a medium growth rate and adds about 20 inches annually until it matures to a maximum height of around 35 feet.
#10 Yew
Yew is another shrub, but it’s tall enough to do the job. Also, an evergreen plant grows up to 30 feet tall when fully mature. It, however, required a lot of sunshine and soil that drains water well.
Like Holly, it also produces red berries, which add to the tree’s beauty when blooming. When planted in rows, they can grow strong enough to provide enough shield against noise and winds. It can serve as a perfect fence for privacy.
Yew is a slow-growing tree and can add heights of 12 inches annually. It requires very little care when the condition is suitable. Plant them about 2 feet away from each other for best results.
Conclusion
Regardless of the kind of tree you choose, you can be guaranteed perfect protection and privacy. Most of these trees also add lots of beauty to your home.
All you need to do is trim them regularly and enjoy the splendor of nature while cooling off under its shade when you want to have an excellent time outdoors!
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