Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
A living privacy fence can be a better long-term screen than wood or vinyl, but only if it is designed like a site improvement rather than a row of impulse-bought shrubs. The best plants depend on your available width, sunlight, soil moisture, deer pressure, local code, and how much trimming you are willing to pay for every year.
For most US homes, the best shrub choices are arborvitae, upright juniper, holly, viburnum, wax myrtle, boxwood or Japanese holly, and shade-tolerant options such as yew, camellia, or tea olive. Evergreen shrubs give the most reliable year-round privacy. Deciduous shrubs can still be useful in mixed screens where flowers, wildlife value, or seasonal screening matter more than winter coverage.
On our job sites, the failed privacy screens usually have the same causes: shrubs planted too close to a fence, wet-soil plants installed in dry heat, narrow spaces filled with wide-growing varieties, or hedges placed where utilities, easements, and sight lines were never checked. The plant list matters, but layout and installation matter more.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
20 Emerald Green Arborvitae Trees/Shrubs - 6-12" Tall Plants - 2.5" Pots | Evergreen Privacy Screen... | $74.99 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Quick Decision Guide
Start with the problem you need the hedge to solve. A 4-foot-wide side yard needs a different plant than a 20-foot rear property line. A formal front-yard hedge has different maintenance costs than a loose layered screen at the back of a lot.
| Best Use Case | Best Shrub Choices | Typical Mature Width | Practical Spacing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narrow evergreen screen | Emerald Green arborvitae, Spartan juniper, columnar holly | About 3-4 ft | 3-4 ft on center |
| Fast larger screen | Green Giant arborvitae, Chindo viburnum, wax myrtle | 6-12+ ft | 6-10 ft on center |
| Dry or sandy sunny site | Upright juniper, yaupon holly, wax myrtle where hardy | 3-10 ft | 4-8 ft on center |
| Native or wildlife value | American holly, yaupon holly, inkberry holly, arrowwood viburnum, nannyberry | 4-12+ ft | 5-10 ft on center |
| Formal low hedge | Boxwood, Japanese holly | 2-6 ft | 2-4 ft on center |
| Shade or part shade | Yew, camellia, tea olive, inkberry holly | 4-10 ft | 4-8 ft on center |
For a dense hedge, many shrubs are spaced at roughly 60-75% of mature width. For an informal screen, use the full mature width or stagger plants in two rows. Do not set spacing from the nursery pot size. A 3-gallon shrub may look small on planting day, but a mature viburnum or wax myrtle can easily need 6-10 feet of room.
Popular on Amazon
- For sale are 20 Emerald Green Arborvitaes that are approximately 6-12" tall and ship in 2.5" pots
- INSTANT PRIVACY AND SCREENING - Creates dense, impenetrable living walls that block neighbors, traffic, and unsightly views while maintaining an elegant, manicured appearance year-round
- NATURALLY PERFECT PYRAMID SHAPE - Grows in a neat, compact column without any pruning required, delivering that professionally landscaped look with zero effort or maintenance
- STUNNING EMERALD FOLIAGE COLOR - Maintains rich, vibrant green color through all seasons including harsh winters, ensuring your landscape looks lush and beautiful when other plants look dormant
- INCREDIBLY VERSATILE LANDSCAPE SOLUTION - Works perfectly for formal hedges, foundation plantings, property borders, or accent specimens, adapting to any design style from traditional to modern while delivering consistent performance
1. Arborvitae: Best Narrow Evergreen Screen
Arborvitae is the classic living privacy fence because it grows upright, stays evergreen, and can form a dense wall without taking over the entire yard. For narrow lots, Emerald Green arborvitae is usually the practical choice. It commonly matures around 3-4 feet wide, making it suitable for side yards and property-line screens where wider shrubs would become a maintenance fight.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteGreen Giant arborvitae is a larger, faster option for bigger yards. It can create a tall screen faster than Emerald Green, but it needs more width and should not be forced into a 4-foot planting strip. If you plant Green Giant too tightly against a fence or patio, you are buying years of corrective pruning.
Where Arborvitae Works Best
Use arborvitae in full sun to part sun with moist, well-drained soil. It is not our first choice for hot, dry, sandy strips unless irrigation is reliable. It can also suffer from winter burn in exposed cold climates and heavy deer browsing in some regions. If deer already feed in your neighborhood, verify local performance before investing in a long row.
Spacing and Layout
For Emerald Green, 3-4 feet on center is common for a privacy hedge. For Green Giant, plan closer to 6-10 feet on center depending on desired density and available space. Keep enough clearance behind the plants for fence maintenance, painting, drainage corrections, and trimming access.
2. Upright Juniper: Best for Dry, Sunny Sites
When the site is sunny, dry, sandy, or exposed, upright juniper often outperforms arborvitae. Spartan juniper is a common privacy choice because it stays relatively narrow, has a strong vertical form, and handles tougher conditions once established.
Juniper is useful where homeowners want evergreen screening but do not have moist soil. It is also a good candidate for long driveways, side-yard screens, and rear-lot privacy where a clean upright shape is preferred.
Where Juniper Works Best
Plant juniper in full sun with well-drained soil. Avoid wet low spots, heavy clay pockets that stay saturated, and areas where downspouts dump water into the root zone. Juniper is generally more drought tolerant than arborvitae, but new plants still need consistent watering during establishment.
Spacing and Layout
Columnar junipers often mature around 3-5 feet wide, depending on cultivar. For a tight screen, 4-5 feet on center is a typical starting point. Do not shear juniper hard into old bare wood. It is better used as a naturally upright screen with light shaping.
3. Holly: Best Broadleaf Evergreen Privacy and Wildlife Value
Hollies are some of the most useful broadleaf evergreen shrubs for privacy. They provide year-round coverage, tolerate pruning, and many varieties support birds with berries. Good choices include Nellie R. Stevens holly, yaupon holly, inkberry holly, and American holly, depending on climate, size target, and soil.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Nellie R. Stevens is a strong screening holly in many warmer and transitional climates. Yaupon holly is especially useful in the Southeast and other warm regions, with good heat tolerance and a cleaner texture than many heavy hedge plants. Inkberry holly is a smaller native option that can work where a lower, informal evergreen screen is enough. American holly can become much larger and should be used where there is room for its mature size.
Where Holly Works Best
Most hollies prefer acidic, well-drained soil. A soil test is worth the small effort before a major planting, especially if your site has alkaline soil, construction fill, compacted subsoil, or previous concrete washout. Hollies are often more deer resistant than arborvitae or yew, but no plant is deer-proof under pressure.
Spacing and Layout
Columnar or compact hollies may work at 4-6 feet on center. Larger hollies often need 6-10 feet or more. Check the cultivar, not just the species name. Two hollies with similar tags can have very different mature widths.
4. Viburnum: Best Fast-Growing Mixed Screen
Viburnum is a broad group, and that is part of its value. Chindo viburnum and sweet viburnum can make large evergreen or semi-evergreen screens in warmer regions. Arrowwood viburnum and nannyberry are useful native or wildlife-friendly options in areas where deciduous screening is acceptable.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteViburnum is a strong choice when you have room for a softer, more natural privacy screen instead of a flat green wall. It works well in mixed plantings with holly, juniper, wax myrtle, or ornamental trees. A mixed screen reduces the risk of losing the whole hedge to one pest, disease, drought pattern, or soil problem.
Where Viburnum Works Best
Choose the viburnum by region. Some are better for warm Southern sites; others are better for colder climates. Many viburnums like sun to part sun and well-drained soil. They can tolerate pruning, but they look best when allowed to keep a natural shape.
Spacing and Layout
Many screening viburnums need 6-10 feet on center. Wider cultivars may need more. For a 50-foot rear line, that may mean only 6-8 large shrubs, not 15 plants crammed together.
5. Wax Myrtle: Best Warm-Climate and Coastal Screen
Wax myrtle is a practical privacy shrub for warm regions, coastal areas, and informal screens. It grows quickly, handles sun, and can tolerate conditions that make some formal hedge shrubs struggle. It is especially useful where the goal is a relaxed, natural-looking screen rather than a clipped architectural hedge.
Because wax myrtle can get wide, it belongs in a planting bed with real depth. It is not a narrow side-yard plant. Give it room and it can make an effective screen fast. Crowd it into a tight strip and it becomes a recurring pruning bill.
Where Wax Myrtle Works Best
Use wax myrtle in warmer climates where it is locally appropriate. It performs well in many coastal and Southeastern conditions, but cold hardiness varies. It is a good candidate for loose screens, property edges, and layered plantings.
Spacing and Layout
Plan for 6-10 feet on center in many privacy layouts, with adjustments for the selected variety and desired density. If the planting bed is less than 6 feet deep, consider a narrower evergreen instead.
6. Boxwood or Japanese Holly: Best Formal Lower Hedge
Boxwood and Japanese holly are not the best answer for a tall backyard privacy wall, but they are excellent for lower formal hedges, front-yard definition, courtyard edges, and refined outdoor rooms. They respond well to pruning and can create a clean, built-in look around patios, walks, and entries.
Recommended Free Tools
Boxwood has a traditional look, but it can struggle with disease, drainage issues, winter burn, and poor air movement in some regions. Japanese holly often gives a similar small-leaf appearance with better performance in certain climates. The right choice is local, so this is another category where extension guidance and nursery knowledge matter.
Where Formal Hedges Work Best
Use these shrubs where the intended height is usually 2-5 feet, not where you need to block a second-story view. They need well-prepared soil, clean bed edges, and regular trimming. If you want a crisp hedge, expect maintenance. Formal plants only look formal when they are maintained.
Spacing and Layout
Spacing often falls around 2-4 feet on center depending on cultivar and target height. For tight formal hedges, smaller spacing is common, but crowding increases disease risk if airflow is poor.
7. Yew, Camellia, or Tea Olive: Best for Shade and Higher-End Designs
Shade changes the plant list. Many privacy shrubs thin out when they do not get enough sun. For part-shade sites, yew, camellia, and tea olive can be strong choices where climate and deer pressure allow.
Yew is durable and shade tolerant, but deer can browse it heavily in many regions. Camellia offers evergreen structure and flowers in the right climate, especially in the Southeast and milder areas. Tea olive is a refined evergreen screen with fragrant flowers and works well in warm regions with part sun to part shade.
Where These Shrubs Work Best
Use these plants for higher-end landscape designs, shaded patios, side-yard screens, and layered foundation plantings. They are not universal choices. Match them to hardiness zone, soil pH, drainage, and local pest pressure.
Spacing and Layout
Most privacy layouts land around 4-8 feet on center, depending on variety. Camellias and tea olives often need more width than homeowners expect, so read mature size carefully before setting the bed line.
What a Living Privacy Fence Costs in 2026
Nationally, installed hedge and living privacy fence pricing commonly falls around $10-$45 per linear foot. Many residential projects land around $500-$2,200 or more, depending on length, plant size, species, soil preparation, delivery, irrigation, access, and labor.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Professional shrub planting commonly runs about $25-$85 per shrub for standard plants. Larger balled-and-burlapped shrubs, specimen evergreens, difficult access, machine work, and staking can push the installed cost higher. Hedge planting by length often prices around $50-$225 per 5 linear feet. Mulch installation commonly runs about $30-$120 per cubic yard installed.
| 50-Foot Screen Layout | Approx. Plant Count | Best Fit | Cost Factors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 ft spacing | About 13 shrubs | Narrow arborvitae, upright juniper, compact holly | More plants, faster density, higher plant count |
| 6 ft spacing | About 9 shrubs | Holly, viburnum, wax myrtle, yew | Balanced cost and coverage for many yards |
| 8 ft spacing | About 7 shrubs | Large viburnum, wax myrtle, Green Giant arborvitae | Lower plant count, needs wider mature plants |
For a 50-foot screen, a basic installed hedge might start near $500 for smaller plants and simple access, but a more realistic professional project with larger nursery stock, soil amendment, mulch, delivery, and drip irrigation can move into the $1,500-$3,500+ range. The biggest price driver is usually plant size. A 7-gallon shrub costs less and establishes easier, but a larger specimen gives faster privacy.
Maintenance is part of the real cost. Hedge trimming commonly runs about $200-$600 per visit, with an average around $429. Bush-trimming ranges around $196-$587. A formal hedge may need trimming 2-4 times per growing season. A loose mixed screen may need one annual cleanup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Code, Permits, Utilities, and Property Lines
A living privacy fence is usually regulated as a hedge, screen, shrub row, or landscape screen rather than a structural fence. That does not mean there are no rules. Many cities, counties, and HOAs apply height limits, setback requirements, visibility rules, and maintenance standards to hedges.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Before planting, check four items. First, confirm the property line. Second, call 811 before digging so underground utilities are marked. Third, review easements for drainage, utilities, access, and maintenance. Fourth, check local rules for front-yard height, corner-lot sight triangles, driveway visibility, and HOA-approved plant lists.
Do not plant a hedge directly over utilities or in a drainage swale. Roots, mulch berms, and dense planting can change water movement. On construction sites and remodels, we also look for compacted soil, buried debris, concrete washout, and grade changes. Those conditions can kill expensive shrubs even when the plant choice is technically correct.
How to Plant a Privacy Hedge Correctly
The best planting window in much of the US is fall or early spring, when heat stress is lower and roots can establish before summer. In warm regions, cooler winter windows can also work. Summer planting is possible, but watering discipline matters more.
Lay out the hedge with stakes first. Measure the mature width, not the current container. Keep shrubs far enough from fences, walls, patios, and property lines that they can grow without constant hard pruning. For layered screens, stagger plants in two rows rather than building one flat line.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Dig each hole no deeper than the root ball and at least twice as wide. The root flare should remain visible after planting. Remove or loosen circling roots, set the plant straight, backfill carefully, and water thoroughly to settle soil around the roots. Mulch the bed 2-3 inches deep, but keep mulch away from stems and trunks. A continuous mulch band is usually better than tiny mulch rings because it protects the full root zone and simplifies mowing.
For the first 90 days, check moisture often. In warm or dry weather, inspect new plants 2-3 times per week during the first month. After that, weekly checks are usually enough, adjusted for rainfall and soil type. Clay soils may stay wet longer. Sandy soils may need more frequent watering. Deep watering is better than quick surface sprinkling.
When to DIY vs. When to Hire a Pro
DIY can make sense for a short hedge, small container shrubs, easy access, and clean soil. A homeowner can often plant a 20-30 foot screen over a weekend with basic tools, mulch, and a soaker hose. The key is to measure spacing, call 811, and avoid planting too deep.
Hire a pro when the hedge is long, the plants are large, the grade is uneven, drainage needs correction, irrigation is being added, or the screen is near utilities, retaining walls, driveways, or property-line disputes. Professional installation is also worth considering when you need immediate privacy from larger nursery stock. Large shrubs are heavy, and a poorly handled root ball can fail after the invoice is paid.
A contractor or landscape crew should also help when the hedge is part of a larger outdoor structure project such as a fence, patio, pergola, pool enclosure, retaining wall, or drainage improvement. The best result often comes from coordinating the living screen with hardscape elevations, gate access, lighting, irrigation, and stormwater flow.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The first mistake is planting too close. A hedge that looks full on day one may be overcrowded by year three. Crowding increases disease risk, reduces airflow, and creates a constant trimming problem.
The second mistake is using one species for a long property line. A single-species wall can fail all at once from pests, disease, drought, deer, or root-zone problems. Where space allows, use a mixed screen with staggered rows and varied plant types.
The third mistake is ignoring maintenance access. Leave room to trim both sides where needed. If the hedge grows through a fence or blocks a utility box, the maintenance cost rises and the plant form suffers.
The fourth mistake is choosing only for speed. Fast-growing shrubs are useful, but they usually need more pruning. A slower, better-scaled plant often costs less over 10 years than a fast plant forced into the wrong space.
Our Practical Recommendation
For a narrow evergreen screen, start by comparing Emerald Green arborvitae, Spartan juniper, and columnar holly. Choose based on soil moisture, deer pressure, and available width. For a larger backyard screen, consider a mixed planting of holly, viburnum, wax myrtle, and upright evergreens. For formal lower hedges, use boxwood or Japanese holly only where you are prepared to maintain the shape. For shade, look at yew, camellia, tea olive, or inkberry holly based on region.
The right living privacy fence should solve the view problem without creating a future access, drainage, or maintenance problem. Measure the site, price the full lifecycle, and choose shrubs for their mature size. That is what separates a durable privacy screen from a row of plants that has to be replaced in five years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest shrub for a living privacy fence?
Green Giant arborvitae, Chindo viburnum, sweet viburnum, and wax myrtle are fast options where climate and space allow. Fast growth usually means more pruning, so match the plant to the available width.
How far apart should privacy shrubs be planted?
For a dense hedge, many shrubs are planted at about 60-75% of their mature width. Narrow evergreens may be 3-4 feet on center, while larger hollies, viburnums, and wax myrtles often need 6-10 feet.
How much does a living privacy fence cost?
In 2026, installed hedge pricing commonly runs about $10-$45 per linear foot nationally. A 50-foot hedge may range from a basic several-hundred-dollar project to $1,500-$3,500+ with larger shrubs, mulch, delivery, labor, and irrigation.
Are evergreen shrubs better than deciduous shrubs for privacy?
Evergreen shrubs are better for year-round screening. Deciduous shrubs can still work in mixed screens when seasonal privacy, flowers, native habitat, or wildlife value are priorities.
Do I need a permit for a hedge?
Often no building permit is required, but local hedge rules may still apply. Check height limits, setbacks, corner visibility, driveway sight lines, easements, utility clearances, and HOA guidelines before planting.
Recommended Free Tools
Should I plant one type of shrub or a mixed privacy screen?
A mixed screen is usually more resilient where space allows. Staggering several compatible shrubs reduces the chance that one pest, disease, drought event, or deer pattern ruins the entire screen.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
