Last updated on December 2nd, 2011
A tall, thick hedge of enduring green can make all the difference in a garden’s emotional value. First, such a screen affords privacy. Next, it effectively erases from view any objectionable vistas, including the neighbor’s backyard. Here are the evergreens that have provided privacy and serenity for my own, special “planted place” — a corner lot that was previously exposed on three sides:
Thuja ‘Green Giant’ produced a privacy hedge for me in record time. I started with 40 rather dubious-looking, ten-inch tall rooted cuttings, and planted them along the sunny, eastern edge of the property. They achieved little growth during their first two years, but the third year they exploded – like Jack’s infamous beanstalk. Four years after planting they have formed a lush, lacy-leaved screen that is presently seven feet tall.
Thuja ‘Green Giant’ makes a lacy-leaved hedge in no time at all
A strategic planting of White Pines will effectively screen out the neighbors
A trio of mature, six-foot-tall Eastern White Pines (Pinus strobus), planted by a professional and arranged in a triangle, instantly cured my poolside view of a neighbor’s backyard. The trees were planted 15 feet apart to allow for a winding path between them.
Tip: To keep a white pine looking lush and full, each spring pinch the strongest new shoots, or “candles,” in half. The tree will respond to this torture by putting out additional growth. Full sun and water during times of drought are the only other requirements for white pines. The branches are useful for winter fireplace bouquets.
Pinching a White Pine “candle” in half
The most graceful of all evergreen trees are Canadian Hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis), and these will tolerate some shade. Unfortunately, they are extremely slow-growing. Thus, if you want privacy and hemlocks too, it is wise to start with fairly good-sized trees, say, 6-feet tall. I went all out and bought two, 20-foot tall specimens for the shady, northeast corner of the garden, in order to close the gap on a neighbor’s sightline. These, of course, required heavy machinery to install, but the trees looked no worse for wear after their transplanting ordeal.
Canadian Hemlock, transplanted when 20-feet tall
Tip: Hemlocks perform best in woodsy, well-drained soil. They will not tolerate clay. When transplanting a tree, dig a hole three-times the width of the root ball, set the tree in, and refill with a half-and-half mixture of rich compost and leaf mold. Provide supplemental water during the first season, and thereafter during times of drought. For a privacy-hedge, stagger hemlocks 6-8 feet apart, measuring from leaf-tip to leaf-tip.
Arborvitaes are also good candidates for a privacy hedge, especially the variety ‘Emerald Green.’ This one grows in both width and height, rather than the columnar types that resemble thin, green pencils in the landscape. A staggered row of Emerald Green provides a verdant background for my rose garden; it also hides a small parking area.
Here, arborvitae ‘Emerald Green’ makes a pleasant background for the rose garden
Tip: To avoid browning of the foliage, grow arborvitae where a minimum of six hours of direct sun is possible. Plant the row in soil amended with generous quantities of compost and leaf mold, and make sure the shrubs are set deeply enough so that all roots are covered. Water deeply once each week during the first summer. My arborvitaes receive a 3-inch mulch of shredded leaves each autumn. For further health insurance, give your newly-transplanted arborvitaes a liquid bio-stimulant drench, to mitigate transplant-shock. Your local tree-farm or nursery can provide this nutrient-rich tonic.
Incidentally, the best time to transplant evergreens is in early spring, just as new growth appears. If you must transplant evergreens during the heat of summer, you will definitely want to give them a bio-drench. Autumn transplanting, at least for me, has been a risky business.
If you have questions or comments about evergreen shrubs or trees, please post them below.
See you next time.
For more gardening wisdom, be sure to read my Home Page, every day!
Jed Swift says
Hi Kevin,
You are so ingenius! I love the photos of the trees because they bring back such great memories of being at parties in your backyard. Those are such special memories for me with Dad there and Jane too. Keep on letting us know when there are new entries here.
My Best, Jed
Justin says
Now you’ve really inspired me. I’d like to “erase” my neighbors entirely! I like the fact that thuja green giant grows really fast. Did you buy it locally, or from a catalogue?
Thanks!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Ditto, Jed. And regarding new entries: My internet guru is going to set up something on this blog where those who are interested can submit an email address, for automatic notification of new posts.
Donna says
I’m with Justin on Thuja Green Giant. Where to buy?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Justin & Donna: I received my Thuja GG's from Wayside Gardens (www.waysidegardens.com). As I recall, there was a discount involved because of the quantity (40 plants) I ordered.
Eric says
Really good article on Tree Screening. I actually sorted out something similar in my garden a few years ago. I love the privacy it gives me and my family.
Brigid says
Hi Kevin! I planted two thuja green giants in 2006 and they are very tall. I had to hide a neighbor's shed that was always open showing me things I didn't want to see. Perfect!
Felicia Cook says
I just recently purchased some leyland cypress trees to plant. We have been having weather in the 70’s last couple of weeks but now we are going to have highs in the 50’s and lows down to 30’s and a couple nights maybe lower. I was hoping to plant my trees this weekend but am wondering if I should wait till the weather warms back up some. ???
Patti Teeters says
Thanks for the great advice on planting evergreens. When we had a storm this spring some seeds from a block away blew into my yard and we have several trees growing now. I don’t know what they are though, just evergreens. I was going to plant them in a few weeks, but when you said that the best time to plant them was Spring, I think I will wait. I never have much luck with transplanting evergreens, but I usually plant them in the fall. Maybe that is why. I am going to have to get me some of that tonic you are talking about. Be glad when you get your email sign up thingy on your site. I too would like to know when you post something new. I just love your site. Your beautiful yard too.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Patti – Thanks for taking a look at this very old post. You should see all of these evergreens now — they are enormous!
If you’d like to receive updates on my new articles, just sign up for my newsletter. I send it out once each week (usually on Sundays).
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Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Nice to meet you, Scarlett!
http://tinyurl.com/amer-8154258843 says
Thank you so much for spending some time to write “Evergreens for Privacy Screens”.
Thanks again -Eleanor
Huguette says
I think I made a big mistake.
I just had some old hemlocks cut down because they were attacked by aphids and I was afraid they would fall on the house during all the bad storms that we seem to have nowadays. Their trunks were pretty though because they were covered with English ivy. Now I have a VERY empty space in the shade on the side of the house.
What kind of evergreen do you think I could plant there in the shade Kevin? A lot of hostas, bleeding heart, lily of the valley, ivy and Virginia creepers are growing, but now no vertical greenery such as trees anymore. I want to cry!