There is no single best shrub for every living privacy fence: choose a plant that is hardy in your area, suits the light and soil, and reaches the height and width your site can accommodate. For year-round screening, consider a locally suitable evergreen; where winter coverage is less important, a mixed hedgerow can offer seasonal interest and wildlife value. Check mature dimensions and local guidance before buying.
Choose for the screening job and site
First decide what view you need to block, from where, and in which season. Then measure the planting bed and the height you need. Record sun and shade, how the soil drains after rain, wind exposure, and nearby overhead or underground utilities. Ask a local Extension service or reputable nursery to verify hardiness, cultivar size, and regional concerns.
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| Site or goal | Options to investigate | Important limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Full sun, well-drained soil, tall evergreen screen | Arborvitae, with a cultivar selected for the available space | Does poorly in boggy soil. ‘Green Giant’ can reach about 40–60 feet tall and 12–18 feet wide under optimal conditions. It will not resprout from old bare stems after hard pruning. |
| Moist, acidic soil and broadleaf evergreen cover | American holly | Needs suitable deep, well-drained soil and shelter from strong winds. Fruit display requires male and female plants. |
| Warm-region sun to light shade | Southern wax myrtle | A regional choice; ice can damage its weak wood. |
| Part to full shade | Regionally suitable yew or another shade-capable evergreen | Choose a species and cultivar suited to local hardiness and winter exposure. |
| Seasonal screening, wildlife value, or a moisture-influenced site | A locally appropriate mixed hedgerow, such as dogwood, winterberry, inkberry, or ninebark | A primarily deciduous mix provides less winter visual cover than an evergreen row. |
Evergreen screens: match plant size to the space
Arborvitae can suit a tall evergreen screen in a sunny, well-drained site, but it is not automatically a small-yard plant. Select a cultivar by its documented mature height and width, not by its nursery-pot size or the privacy you hope to get immediately. Correct poor drainage before planting, and leave enough space for the plant’s natural form.
American holly is a broadleaf evergreen option where its soil and exposure needs fit. If berries matter, account for the need for male and female plants. Southern wax myrtle is another option in warm regions, but its regional suitability and vulnerability to ice damage make local advice important.
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- the thuja green giant is known as the premier. fast growing privacy tree for much of the united states
- This large privacy evergreen has dense, dark green foliage that smells like christmas trees when the leaves are broken
- The Thuja grows in a wide bottomed pyramidal shape, and can reach up to 60ft tall and 20ft wide at full maturity. This tree can be pruned to keep it at your desired size.
- The green giant thrives in zones 5-9, which mean you can grow this almost anywhere in the united states
- Once established, just watch them grow with little to no maintenance required
For shaded sites, do not force a sun-loving plant into poor light. Extension guidance identifies yews and Canada hemlock among shade-capable evergreens, while arborvitae is suited to partial sun. Confirm the exact species or cultivar’s hardiness and suitability locally.
Mixed hedgerows for seasonal privacy and habitat
A mixed hedgerow can combine locally appropriate shrubs for wildlife value, seasonal interest, and different site conditions. Penn State illustrates a moisture-setting mix with American holly, red-twig dogwood, winterberry, and inkberry; Illinois Extension identifies ninebark as a hedgerow or screen shrub. Match plants in each grouping for sun, water, soil, and drainage needs.
A mixed screen, especially one made mostly of deciduous shrubs, will generally provide less winter visual opacity than a dense evergreen row. That trade-off may be acceptable for a summer patio screen or a softer property edge, but not for every sightline.
Layout, spacing, and pruning
Measure the fence line, desired sightline, and available bed depth before shopping. Mature width determines spacing. Crowding plants to get instant coverage can make them shade one another, thin, die back, and face greater disease pressure. For a single-species hedge, follow spacing guidance for the selected species and cultivar rather than applying one rule to every shrub.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFor a mixed, multi-row hedgerow, Oregon State University offers a broad starting framework of shrubs about 6–8 feet apart, with rows 8–10 feet apart. Adjust it for plant size, site conditions, and available bed depth. Keep the plants in a maintained bed that allows for mowing, pruning, and air circulation.
Choose between an informal screen, which retains natural form and needs selective pruning, and a formal hedge, which requires regular shearing. The University of Georgia says formal hedges may need three to five cuts during the growing season. Begin formative pruning early to encourage branching near the base, and keep a formal hedge wider at the bottom than at the top so light reaches lower foliage.
Arborvitae can be lightly shaped, but do not cut back to bare stems: it will not produce replacement growth there. Junipers also do not respond well to heavy pruning and shearing, so give them enough room rather than treating them as a universal formal-hedge substitute.
Planting and establishment
- Measure the screen and bed depth. Note light, drainage, wind exposure, and the mature size of candidate plants.
- Check property boundaries and easements, and have underground utilities marked before digging. Verify local rules and restrictions with the appropriate authorities.
- Prepare a maintained planting bed and group plants with similar site needs. Do not rely on mulch or irrigation to compensate for a seriously unsuitable site.
- Plant and space each shrub according to its species and cultivar guidance. For arborvitae, address drainage concerns before planting.
- Use mulch and establishment irrigation to support young plants, then monitor them as local conditions require.
Check local restrictions before choosing a hedge
Do not reflexively choose privet because it can form a dense screen. Extension sources document its fruit dispersal by birds and its sucker-forming habit, and privet is invasive or noxious in some places. Before buying any Ligustrum, check current state or provincial invasive-species lists and local restrictions.
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- 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
More generally, do not assume a plant is deer-proof, disease-proof, instant, or maintenance-free. Performance depends on location and conditions. Local Extension guidance can help validate cultivar hardiness, pests, and availability.
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The best privacy shrub is one that already wants to become the screen you need in your climate and space. For a tall, sunny, well-drained evergreen screen, arborvitae may be right if its cultivar’s mature size fits. For broadleaf evergreen cover, investigate locally suitable hollies; in warm areas, consider wax myrtle; in shade, investigate suitable yews. If winter opacity is less important, a mixed native hedgerow can add habitat as well as screening. Give every plant room for its mature width, and avoid invasive hedge species where local guidance flags them.
FAQ
What should I check before choosing shrubs for a privacy screen?
Check the view and season you need to screen, available bed depth, desired height, light, drainage, wind exposure, utilities, and each plant’s mature dimensions. Ask a local Extension service or reputable nursery to confirm regional suitability.
Is arborvitae suitable for every yard?
No. Arborvitae can suit a tall evergreen screen in sunny, well-drained conditions, but it does poorly in boggy soil. Cultivars can become very large; ‘Green Giant’ may reach about 40–60 feet tall and 12–18 feet wide under optimal conditions.
How far apart should privacy shrubs be planted?
Use the selected species’ and cultivar’s documented mature width and recommended hedge spacing. For a mixed, multi-row hedgerow, Oregon State University offers shrubs about 6–8 feet apart and rows 8–10 feet apart as a broad starting framework; adjust for plant size and site.
Are mixed hedgerows as private in winter as evergreen hedges?
Not usually if the mix is primarily deciduous. A mixed hedgerow can add seasonal interest and wildlife value, but it generally provides less winter visual opacity than a dense evergreen screen.
Can junipers be sheared into a dense formal hedge?
Junipers do not respond well to heavy pruning and shearing. Choose a plant that fits the available space and use light pruning rather than relying on hard shearing to control it.
Is privet a good choice for a living fence?
Check local guidance before buying privet. Extension sources document bird-dispersed fruit and suckering, and privet is invasive or noxious in some places. Check current state or provincial invasive-species lists and local restrictions.
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