Your backyard is your personal oasis. But sometimes, you crave a little more privacy out there. A fence is great, but it's not always the most practical or attractive solution for screening a view or offering a more enclosed feel to your garden. That's when plants come to the rescue! Many different kinds of shrubs and trees can provide privacy for your outdoor space.
First and foremost, when choosing a plant for privacy, make sure it can survive winters in your USDA Hardiness zone (find yours here). You'll also want to consider how to incorporate plants with other techniques for creating privacy in your garden. A combination of plantings and structures can create privacy much more quickly than waiting for the plants alone to grow and mature.
Finally, to speed things along, make sure to purchase plants in gallon or larger-sized containers (another, albeit more expensive option, is to crane in and reroot trees that have already reached maturity). You want something that's going to offer privacy sooner, rather than later. Those quart-sized pots really aren't going to do much for you for years and years.
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So, now that you know the basics, you're probably ready to learn which trees and plants you should put in your backyard to enhance privacy. Ahead, find out some of our favorite plants and trees to add to your outdoor space to create privacy.
Juniper
Junipers come in many different sizes and forms with colors ranging from blue-green to gold. The upright types make excellent screens with some varieties developing blue-green berries that add interest and texture to the hedge.
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas come in an array of sizes and colors, but the large ones top out at 8 to 10 feet tall and wide. They make an absolutely stunning hedge when planted en masse. Look for panicle types, which are hardy in many different regions and tolerate full sun.
Boxwood
Boxwood is a beautiful shrub that offers year-round color and interest to your garden. It definitely offers an English country feel, but remember that to achieve the classic neatly-clipped appearance, you'll need to trim these shrubs about twice a year.
Nishiki Willow
This beautiful shrub has long, slender stems that dance gracefully in the breeze. It's an extremely fast grower and tolerates all kinds of soils. New growth emerges pink and white for a colorful hedge with a casual and relaxed feel.
Climbing Roses
Climbing roses, especially when trained over a trellis or arbor, can screen an unsightly view. Look for newer hybrids that are more disease-resistant so you won't have to fuss with them.
Arborvitae
Arborvitae comes in every size and shape imaginable, from tall and stately to round and squat. They're some of the faster-growing evergreens available, and they thrive in a variety of soil conditions, so they're a great choice for most gardens. Plant them close together for an instant wall of green.
Holly
People often recognize the classic Christmas holly with red berries and glossy, spiny leaves. But there are many other types. Some hollies are evergreen, while others drop their leaves. There are about a dozen kinds commonly available, though the varieties vary depending on where you live.
Yew
Yews are another evergreen that provides instant screening. They grow a little more slowly than arborvitae, but they have a soft texture and incredibly dense branching so you'll see absolutely nothing on the other side of them once they mature. Some also get little red berries.
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