Hey there, feeling like your backyard is a bit too exposed to nosy neighbors? Trust me, you're not the only one who craves a little more privacy in their outdoor space.
But guess what? There's a super easy and natural way to create your own private oasis: evergreen plants! These leafy wonders can whip up a lush, green wall that keeps prying eyes at bay, all while making your yard look absolutely stunning.
In this article, we'll spill all the secrets on how to pick the perfect evergreens for your space and turn your backyard into a secluded hideaway. So, whether you're dealing with curious neighbors or just want a little more "me time" outside, stick around – we've got you covered!
Yew
Hardiness zones: 4-8
Soil type: rich, loamy soil
Height: 5 feet
Spread: 10 feet
Sun exposure: Full, partial, shade
Yew is a good choice for beginners because of its easy growth nature and high adaptability to any soil type.
This evergreen plant can reach 5 feet tall by 10 feet wide when mature, but you can trim and control their height as you want. This also makes yew easy to grow in containers.
Inkberry Holly
Hardiness zones: 4-11
Soil type: average, medium to wet soils
Height: 5 to 10 feet
Spread: 5-8 feet
Sun exposure: full sun to part shade
Inkberry holly has glossy narrow leaves, blooms creamy white color in late spring or early summer, and produces dark fruits from mid fall to late winter.
They are a hardy medium-sized evergreen shrub that thrive well in most soil types with good drainage.
Homeowners usually use them for topiary, massing, hedging or in the garden.
Evergreen Azalea
Hardiness zones: 4-9
Soil type: well-drained, acidic, organically rich soils
Height: 6 feet
Spread: 3 feet
Sun exposure: full sun or part shade
This shade-loving plant keeps their attractive foliage year-round, but looks the most beautiful in late May and June when it starts sending out large, showy, star-shaped flowers.
Note: While evergreen azalea tolerates part shade, they need full sun to be floriferous.
Canadian Hemlock
Hardiness zones: 3–8
Soil type: acidic, moist, sandy, loamy, and well-drained soils
Height: 40–70'
Spread: 25–35'
Sun exposure: full sun and full shade
Canadian hemlock trees are known for their bold fragrance found in their leaves and flowers. They are also one of the rare evergreen plants that do well in both full shade and full sun.
Due to their clean appearance and dense foliage, Canadian hemlock trees are usually planted close together to create a natural privacy screen or hedge.
Wax Myrtle
Hardiness zones: 7-10
Soil type: Slightly acidic, moist soils
Height: 6 to 10 feet
Spread: 10 to 15 feet
Sun exposure: full sun to part sun, or partial shade
Wax Myrtle is another easy-to-grow evergreen shrub for beginners who want to increase privacy from neighbors.
This plant brings endless possibilities to the landscape. Grayish green foliage and subtle chartreuse catkins along the branches during winter to early spring. Tiny, white flowers in spring to early summer. And grayish-white fruits in late summer through winter.
Blue Arrow Juniper
Hardiness zones: 7a, 5F
Soil type: slightly acidic soil
Height: 12 to 15 feet
Spread: 2 feet
Sun exposure: full sun
What makes Blue Arrow Juniper attractive is its highly ornamental scale-like blue leaves throughout the winter. The plant starts producing silvery blue fruits in late spring and linger to late winter, making it a great food source for birds and wildlife.
Blue Arrow Juniper is one of most hardy plants; it resists deer, diseases, and pests while tolerating salt, pollution, and drought pretty well.
Emerald Colonnade Holly
Hardiness zones: 7-9
Soil type: well-drained, moderately acidic soil
Height: 12 feet
Spread: 8 feet
Sun exposure: full sun
Many plant enthusiasts like to grow Emerald Colonnade® Holly because of its moderate growth rate and size. This plant features a natural pyramidal form and attractive dark green evergreen foliage, which brings a formal feel to gardens or entryways.
The best time to plant Emerald Colonnade® Holly is in late winter or early spring.
Burgundy Queen Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea hybrid 'Monharr')
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Hardiness zones: 10-11
Soil type: evenly moist, well-drained soils
Height: 20-30’
Spread: 24 inches
Sun exposure: full sunlight
Are you looking for a quick and efficient fix for privacy from neighbors? Choose this fast-growing climbing vine: Burgundy Queen Bougainvillea. It can quickly grow up to 30 feet long and easily weave through trellises and fences to create a privacy shield.
Jade Waves Fernspray False Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'MonYur')
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Hardiness zones: 4-8
Soil type: a wide range of soil type
Height: 6-8 feet
Spread: 4 feet
Sun exposure: full sun
Although the Jade Waves Fernspray False Cypress is up to 8 feet in height, its width is only 4 feet. If you want to create a privacy screen of evergreen, it’s better to grow a row of these beauties side by side to create a natural “fence”.
Mandevilla
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Hardiness zones: 9 to 11
Soil type: Sandy, well-draining soil
Height: 3-8 ft
Spread: 3-4 ft
Sun exposure: Full sun
Mandevilla has 2 forms: climbing and mounding. If you want to create a privacy screen, choose the climbing variety that can wrap itself around trellises and fences to create a leafy shield. Asides from shielding you from your neighbors, this vine knows how to throw a garden party: its red, pink, or white flowers can attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
Star Jasmine
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Hardiness zones: 8-10
Soil type: well-draining soil
Height: 8m
Spread: 1.5m
Sun exposure: full, partial
Star jasmine can add privacy to see-through fences such as chain links because of its dense foliage and the ability of its branches to grow up to 30 feet in length. Moreover, you won't have to wait long; the vine can quickly scale your fence.
Horstmann's Silberlocke Korean Fir
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Hardiness zones: 5-7
Soil type: Well-draining soil
Height: 10-20 ft
Spread: 10 feet
Sun exposure: Full sun
Although Horstmann's Silberlocke Korean Fir is slow to grow, its dense branching makes it ideal for providing privacy. Better results come with patience. Within 10 years, this plant can grow into a beautiful 10-foot-tall and 6-foot-wide screen.
Arborvitae
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Hardiness zones: 2-7
Soil type: Moist, well-draining soil
Height: 10-60 feet
Spread: 12 foot
Sun exposure: Full or partial sun
Why is Arborvitae a popular plant for privacy screens? It is because of its fast growing, low maintenance, cold hardy, especially its vertical growth pattern. For example, the American variety can reach 20-40 feet tall, making it ideal to provide privacy for a large garden and even serving as a windbreak in windy areas.
Spartan Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’)
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Hardiness zones: 4-9
Soil type: Well-draining, dry soil
Height: 15 feet
Spread: 3-5 feet
Sun exposure: Full sun
Planting a row of spartan juniper can create a lovely 15-20 feet tall dense screen. Not only does it offer privacy from your neighbors, but it also acts as a shield against the wind. Perfect for a cozy garden!
Magical Amore Holly
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Hardiness zones: 5-9
Soil type: Loamy, well-draining soil
Height: 5-7 feet
Spread: 3-5 ft
Sun exposure: Full or partial sun
The dense and prickly leaves of magical amore holly can create a nearly impenetrable screen, deterring unwanted intruders including both animals and humans. However, nothing is perfect, this advantage also makes it challenging to prune.
Moonglow Juniper
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Hardiness zones: 3-8
Soil type:a wide range of soil types
Height: 20 feet
Spread: 6-8 feet
Sun exposure: Full sun
Thanks to its dense growth and ideal height, this pyramidal-shaped plant is not only an excellent choice for privacy screens but also an effective windbreak in your landscaping. For best results, grow these Moonglow juniper shrubs in a row to block wind and create a natural privacy barrier effectively.
Cherry Laurel
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Hardiness zones: 6-8
Soil type: well-draining soil
Height: 20-30 ft
Spread: 10 feet
Sun exposure: Full sun to full shade
Are you living in an area with harsh conditions? Choose cherry laurel, which thrives in these environments. Specifically, while this plant prefers full sun, it adapts well to various light conditions, including heavy shade.
Alright, folks, there you have it – the lowdown on creating your very own evergreen privacy paradise! By now, you should be armed with all the tips and tricks you need to pick the perfect plants, design a killer layout, and maintain your green screen like a pro.
Remember, whether you went for the classic Arborvitae, the cute Star Jasmine, or mixed it up with a combo of your faves, your new evergreen buddies are going to transform your yard in ways you never thought possible. Not only will you finally have that precious privacy you've been craving, but you'll also be the proud owner of a backyard that looks like it belongs in a magazine.
