Privacy Trees: These 4 Grow the Fastest

As it warms up and the days seem to grow longer people start to spend more time outside. They don’t have to hide from the winter cold or early sunsets anymore! Once people return to their yards it’s a time of planning. Do they need to replace their grills, or patio furniture? Will they have a pool party and grill out for someone’s 60th birthday or the fourth of July? These plans can be ruined by a lack of privacy. Neighbors can often see what people are doing and want to spy or get in on the action!

Fences are often too short for privacy, and they can be expensive. Fences often have an expensive up keep and need repairs. Neighbors can peer over them from their own yard or see that you’re up to from their second story windows. Fences don’t have the aesthetic look that privacy trees have or the benefits. Privacy trees block noise, clean the air, and provide privacy for generations. Also, privacy trees can even raise property value!

1. Hybrid Poplars

The Hybrid Poplar is an excellent choice for almost everyone in the nation, because it’s recommended for growing zones 3-8. It will fight the heat and the cold! It’s also extremely easy to grow in a variety of different soils. With a growth rate of almost 8 feet per year this tree springs up to its mature size of 40 to 50 feet very quickly. It also grows to about 30 feet wide. Hybrid Poplars serve as privacy trees, as well as ornamental shade trees. Their attractive oval shape provides much needed shade for relief from summer heat. In the winter Hybrid Poplars drop their leaves to let sunlight through to warm the home.

For success with this tree simply plant it in an area that receives full to partial sunlight, at least six hours of sunlight a day is best. Plant them about five feet apart and their foliage will fill in to provide a dense privacy screen. Your natural soil will be fine for these trees, as long as it’s well draining. These trees can handle extra wet conditions, but don’t want to sit in standing water. Hybrid Poplars don’t need any fertilizers, they’ll grow fine on their own. This is the perfect tree to plant and forget as it provides privacy and shade.

2. Leyland Cypresses

Leyland Cypress Trees have deep green foliage that’s feathery and soft for an attractive green wall that blocks out the neighbors. They have a uniform symmetrical shape that ensure a beautiful privacy wall. You can trim them and easily shape them into a hedge, but they will have a natural attractive look if left to grow on their own. They grow 3 to 5 feet a year and mature to heights of 40 to 60 feet, and grow about 8 to 12 feet wide.

This evergreen variety is recommended for growing zones 6 through 10. For a dense living wall plant your Leyland Cypress trees about six feet apart and their thick foliage will quickly fill in. These trees prefer to be planted in full sunlight, but can tolerate partial shade. Leyland Cypress Trees will adapt to a variety of different soils, even if they’re sandy or heavy in clay as long as they’re well-draining. Generally Leyland Cypress Trees don’t need any fertilizer unless your lawn is lacking in nutrients. However, a general all-purpose fertilizer like formula 10-10-10 will give them a boost in the spring. Once planted, these trees will spring up into a beautiful solid privacy wall before you know it.

3. Willow Hybrids

Willow Hybrid trees are tough fast growing trees that can handle almost any climate. They have a ton of success in their recommended growing zones, 4 – 9. They’re popular deciduous trees chosen for their fast growing and disease resistant qualities for living privacy walls all over the nation. Willow Hybrid trees have upright branches covered in lush green leaves that fill in empty space for a thick privacy wall. They have a quick growth rate of up to six feet a year and grow to about 35 to 45 feet if planted in rows and 75 feet if planted alone, while growing to about 30 feet wide.

These deciduous trees thrive in areas that receive full to partial sunlight, and should be placed about five feet apart in order to quickly thicken up and fill in for an attractive privacy wall. Willow Hybrid trees are tough, and not picky. They don’t need any fertilizer to quickly spring up on their own and will adapt to your natural soil, even if it’s sandy or heavy in clay. Give your Willow Hybrid trees a slow deep watering twice a week by holding a hose to their bases and counting to 20. They won’t need any extra water except for during times of drought in the summer when it doesn’t rain for three to four weeks. Willow Hybrids have a lot of success growing in swampy and extremely wet areas. If your yard is prone to flooding then you should definitely consider this tree.

4. Thuja Green Giants

Thuja Green Giants take off with a growth rate of 3 to 5 feet per year and quickly reach heights of 20 to 40 feet, living up to their giant name. They also get about 12 to 20 feet wide. They serve as an excellent back drop for other flowering plants to pop against. Their dark green hue and soft feathery foliage gives them an attractive textured look that beats the way any fence would look. As an added bonus, deer don’t enjoy soft feathery Thuja foliage and prefer to nibble on other plants instead! Thujas are not only pest resistant, but disease resistant too.

The recommended growing zones for Thuja Green Giants are zones 5 through 9. Plant them in an area that receives full to partial sunlight, and make sure they’re about five feet apart for a privacy screen. They will adapt to your natural soil, as long as it’s well draining. Sandy soils, or soil that’s heavy in clay will be fine. Thujas don’t need any fertilizer, and grow just fine on their own. During the warmer months check on your Thuja’s soil every few days, once the soil is dry to the touch down about one inch then it’s time to give them a slow deep watering. Once planted you’ll enjoy watching your Thujas grow thicker every day, hiding your neighbor’s yard.

Enjoy Your privacy

Spring is upon us, and many areas are experiencing their final frosts. The time to plant new privacy trees is now! They’ll quickly spring up into living walls. We know you want to get outside for the fresh warm air, and spring flowers, and we want you to do it in peace. Turn your yard into your own private getaway with privacy trees, and keep your neighbors out!