Planning & Planting Privacy Hedges: A Guide

With an evergreen privacy hedge, you can block out the neighbors, decrease noise levels, increase your property value and benefit the environment! All aspects of planting a privacy hedge should be considered before purchasing the hedge plants.

Legal issues to planting privacy hedges:

Privacy hedges start small and grow. It would be best to look at the hedge plantings from the neighbors' view or talk it over with them. Most disputes arise from a lack of communication. Will it put shade on their garden? Lack of maintenance to trees can cause problems of encroachment. Another aspect of privacy hedges to consider is that burglars love them!

Trees as privacy hedges:

How much space do you have? If there is adequate space, there are a number of trees that grow 3' to 5' per year, up to 20' in height. The Thugia Evergreen Tree is a fast growing tree that grows 3' to 5' a year in zones 5-9. The Arborvitae Evergreen Tree is a popular hedge tree, but over time takes up a lot of space. The Nellie Stevens Holly Tree is a fast growing holly tree that also offers year round hedge privacy. For a greater noise reduction, build up an earthen berm 3 to 4 feet high and plant the trees along the top and the sides of the berm. Noise levels will be reduced by one-third to one-half.

Zone requirements and soil conditions must be considered prior to purchasing the hedge trees. Most fast growing trees have a short lifespan of about 15 to 20 years, as compared to slow growing trees that can live to 100 years or more.

Shrubs as privacy hedges:

Most shrubs loose their leaves in the winter, but there are a few that do not. The American Holly is a widely favored hedge shrub. The Red Tip Photenia Shrub makes a good privacy hedge with little or no trimming. It grows up to 12' and retains the leaves all winter. The Chinese Privet grows up to 8' high and 8' wide with variegated leaves that will thin during winter but not completely fall.

The American Cranberry grows up to 12' high and 10' wide with berries for birds and makes a dense privacy hedge although loses its leaves during the winter months. The Red Twig Dogwood (planted in groupings) grows to 8' and once all leaves fall in the winter, the red stems are a stark contrast to a winter landscape.

Trellises and climbers as privacy hedges:

If space is limited, as in most urban properties, then a trellis with a climbing vine or bush might be the best solution. A trellis/fence combination will give quicker coverage than any tree and it will never get taller. You can obtain faster results and have good coverage with fantastic flowers. This solution works well in the south where there are vines such as the bougainvillea that blooms year round. Other plantings such as roses, wisteria, honeysuckle or clematis will lose leaves in the winter but have dense vines for screening views.

Conclusion:

After considering the space requirements and all optional plants available for your Zone, then choose your personal favorite privacy hedge tree or shrub. Order the plants and get your shovel ready!