Privacy Tree Buying Guide

By Richard "Woodie" Buller, GGD co-founder with 35+ years in horticulture

Published On: Jun 18, 2020
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Privacy isn't just about blocking a view. It's about a yard that feels calm and tucked in, where you can sit on the patio without feeling like you're on display. The right privacy trees screen the neighbors, cut the wind, soften road noise, and make a property feel finished.

I've planted a lot of privacy screens over the years, and the ones that disappoint almost always come down to the same thing: the tree didn't fit the space. A narrow side yard needs a very different tree than a wide-open property line. This guide walks you through how to match the tree to the job, compares every privacy tree we grow side by side, and covers the spacing and sizing questions I get asked most.

Start With Your Space, Not the Tree

Before you look at a single tree, answer four questions about the spot you're screening.

1. How wide is your planting strip? This matters more than height. Measure from the fence or property line to where your lawn, driveway, or patio starts. A tree's mature width needs to fit in that space.
2. How tall does the screen need to be? Blocking a fence-height view takes 8 to 10 feet. Screening a two-story house next door takes 20 feet or more.
3. How fast do you need it? Fast trees give you privacy sooner but grow big. Slower trees take patience but stay put.
4. What are you working with? Your zone, how many hours of sun the spot gets, whether the soil stays wet, and how many deer come through.

As a rule of thumb: with only 4 to 6 feet of planting width, stick to narrow trees like Emerald Green or American Pillar Arborvitae. With 10 to 15 feet or more, larger trees like Green Giant, Leyland Cypress, and Cryptomeria become realistic. Choosing by height alone is the most common mistake I see.

Privacy Tree Comparison Chart

Here's how the privacy trees we grow stack up. Sizes are typical mature sizes; your trees may run a little smaller or larger depending on climate and soil. Spacing is on center (trunk to trunk) for a solid screen.

Want every arborvitae we carry side by side? Our Arborvitae Buying Guide goes deeper on that one family, and the Holly Tree Buying Guide does the same for hollies.

Which Privacy Tree Is Right for My Yard?

A Narrow Side Yard or a Spot Along the Fence

American Pillar Arborvitae is my first pick when the space is tight but you still need real height. It reaches 15 to 20 feet and stays 3 to 4 feet wide. Emerald Green Arborvitae is the classic for a tidy, formal hedge in the same footprint, and Spartan Juniper works in hot, dry, sunny strips. For an even slimmer column, Skyrocket Juniper stays just 3 to 4 feet wide.

The Fastest Screen on a Big Property

If you have room, Thuja Green Giant, Leyland Cypress, and Murray Cypress will give you privacy faster than anything else. All three can grow 3 feet or more a year once they settle in. They also get 15 to 20 feet wide, so they belong on long property lines and open backyards, not tucked against a fence. For more on speed, see my top fast-growing privacy trees.

Cold Climates (Zones 3 to 5)

American Pillar and Emerald Green Arborvitae are hardy to zone 3. Green Giant and Cryptomeria Radicans handle zone 5, and Spartan Juniper handles zone 4. Leyland and Murray Cypress are better left to zone 6 and warmer.

Hot, Humid Summers (Zones 8 to 10)

Leyland and Murray Cypress take southern heat and humidity in stride, and both are hardy to zone 10. Green Giant, Nellie Stevens Holly, and Blue Ice Cypress do well through zone 9. In the warmest gardens, Little Gem Magnolia makes a beautiful broadleaf screen with fragrant white flowers in zones 7 to 9.

Wet or Heavy Soil

Most privacy trees want good drainage, and the cypresses dislike wet feet more than most. Where water sits after a rain, Sweetbay Magnolia is a native that handles moist soil and gives you a softer, more natural screen. Green Giant is more forgiving of heavy clay than Leyland, but raise the planting area a few inches if the spot stays soggy.

Dry, Sunny, or Coastal Sites

Blue Ice Cypress and Carolina Sapphire Cypress are Arizona cypress selections built for heat and drought once established, and both have striking blue foliage. Spartan Juniper and Blue Ice also tolerate salt spray better than most.

Deer Country

No tree is deer proof, but Green Giant, the cypresses, Cryptomeria, hollies, and junipers are browsed far less than Emerald Green and other American arborvitae. If deer hit your yard hard every winter, lean on those and protect young plants with netting or repellent for the first few seasons.

Some Shade

Cryptomeria Radicans and the hollies handle part shade better than arborvitae or cypress, which thin out without full sun. For a shadier spot, see our guide to privacy plants for shaded yards.

A Softer, More Natural Look

Not everyone wants a straight green wall. Cryptomeria's feathery texture, the glossy leaves and red berries of Nellie Stevens Holly, and a mix of trees at different heights all read as part of the garden instead of a barrier. For ideas beyond arborvitae, see unconventional evergreens for privacy.

The Privacy Trees I Recommend Most

These are the trees I come back to again and again. Each one has a job it does better than the others.

Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae

Green Giant is the best all-around privacy tree for most yards in zones 5 to 9. It grows 3 to 5 feet a year in good conditions, fills in dense, holds a natural pyramid shape without much pruning, and shrugs off heat, humidity, and cold. Deer leave it alone far more than other arborvitae. Its one limit is width: plan for 15 to 18 feet. Space them 5 to 6 feet apart for a solid screen.

Emerald Green Arborvitae

Emerald Green is the classic narrow hedge for smaller yards, townhome lots, and patios. It stays 3 to 4 feet wide and keeps a bright, tidy look all year. It grows at a moderate pace, so it takes a little patience, and deer will browse it in winter where they're common. Space them 3 to 4 feet apart.

American Pillar Arborvitae

American Pillar is the problem solver for narrow spaces where height matters. It grows fast, up to 3 feet a year, but stays a slim 3 to 4 feet wide, so you get a tall green column without giving up the yard. It's hardy all the way to zone 3. Plant them 3 to 4 feet apart along fences, between driveways, or down a side yard.

Leyland Cypress

Leyland is the big, fast privacy builder. When you have room and need height quickly, few trees can match it. The mistake people make is planting Leylands too tight or too close to a structure. Crowding cuts off air movement, and that invites disease. Give them 8 to 12 feet between trees and plenty of room from the house. Compare it head to head in Green Giant vs. Leyland Cypress.

Murray Cypress

Murray Cypress does the same job as Leyland and is a strong choice where weather is rough. It grows fast, branches densely, and stands up well to wind, which makes it one of my favorites for windbreaks across open ground. Space it 8 to 12 feet apart, in a staggered double row if wind is the main problem.

Blue Ice Cypress

Most privacy screens are green. Blue Ice brings silver-blue foliage that stands out against everything around it, so a row of them becomes a focal point as well as a screen. It loves sun, heat, and dry soil once established and grows at a steadier pace than Leyland. Just don't plant it where water stands.

Cryptomeria Radicans

Cryptomeria Radicans is the most underrated privacy tree we grow. Its soft, feathery foliage looks more natural than a formal arborvitae wall, it grows fast, and deer tend to pass it by. It also handles a bit more shade than most conifers. Give it 8 to 12 feet between trees and good drainage.

Nellie Stevens Holly

When you want a screen that feels like a planting instead of a wall, Nellie Stevens is the one. Glossy dark leaves, dense branching, and bright red berries in winter make it as handsome as it is useful. It's fast for a holly, takes sun or part shade, and deer don't bother it. Plant them 6 to 8 feet apart.

Also Worth a Look

Carolina Sapphire Cypress is a faster, more feathery blue cypress for hot, dry yards. American Holly is a slow but long-lived native with great wildlife value, and Oakland Holly gives you a narrower, more formal holly. Spartan Juniper is a tough, narrow choice for sun and heat. Eastern Red Cedar is a durable native for windbreaks and wildlife plantings on rural property.

Looking for shorter hedge shrubs instead of trees? See my picks for compact evergreen hedging.

How Far Apart Should I Plant Privacy Trees?

Spacing decides how fast your screen fills in and how healthy it stays for the next 20 years. When people are impatient for privacy, the instinct is to plant too close. I understand it, but crowded evergreens fight each other for water and light, lose their inside branches, and get sick more often. A good screen should grow together, not fight together.

Single Row or Staggered Double Row?

A single straight row works for most yards and is the easiest to maintain. If you have the depth, a staggered double row, with the second row set about 4 feet behind the first and the trees offset like a zigzag, fills in faster, slows the wind better, and looks more natural. It's my go-to for windbreaks.

How Many Privacy Trees Do I Need?

Divide the length of your screen by the spacing, then round up. A 60-foot property line with Green Giants at 6 feet apart takes 10 trees. The same line with American Pillars at 4 feet apart takes 15. Plant the end trees at least half their mature width in from a fence corner or driveway.

For the full walk-through, including mixing trees with shrubs and grasses, read how to space plants for a full, healthy hedge.

What Size Privacy Tree Should I Buy?

We ship most privacy trees in a range of sizes, and the right one depends on your budget and how much patience you have.

• 1 to 2 feet: The best value, especially in 6-packs and 10-packs for long screens. Small trees settle in quickly and often catch up to bigger ones within a few seasons. This is where I start most long property lines.
• 2 to 4 feet: A good middle ground. You get a visible row right away without the price of large trees.
• 4 to 6 feet: For when you need presence now, like screening a patio or a new neighbor's window. They cost more and need extra attention to watering the first summer.

Not sure how pot sizes translate to what shows up at your door? Here's what nursery pot sizes really mean.

Common Privacy Tree Mistakes

• Buying by height alone. A tree that's perfect today can outgrow its spot in five years. Check the mature width first.
• Planting too close to the fence or house. Keep trees at least half their mature width from fences, walls, and driveways.
• Crowding the row. Faster fill today means thin, brown interiors later.
• Planting one kind of tree for 200 feet. A single pest or disease can take out the whole screen. Mixing two or three trees is safer and looks better.
• Topping the trees. Cutting the leader to control height ruins the shape. Pick a tree that tops out where you need it instead.
• Skimping on water the first few years. Most failed screens dried out, especially going into winter.

Caring for New Privacy Trees

The first two to three years are when privacy screens are won or lost. These trees aren't difficult, but they need consistency while the roots move out into your soil.

• Water deeply. A slow soak once or twice a week beats a quick daily spray. Check more often in hot, windy weather; arborvitae dry out faster than people expect.
• Mulch. Spread 2 to 3 inches in a ring around each tree, pulled back a few inches from the trunk.
• Go easy on fertilizer. Let the roots establish first. A root starter like Woodie's Root Booster at planting is plenty.
• Water in the fall. Evergreens keep losing moisture through their foliage all winter. Going into winter dry is one of the biggest reasons they brown out.
• Prune lightly. Remove damaged branches and guide the shape. Spaced correctly, most of these trees need very little.

For step-by-step planting, see how to plant privacy trees and our Arborvitae Tree Care Guide. If a new screen starts browning, here's why evergreens turn brown and how to fix it.

Privacy Tree FAQs

What is the fastest-growing privacy tree?

Thuja Green Giant, Leyland Cypress, and Murray Cypress are the fastest, often putting on 3 to 4 feet a year once they are established. American Pillar Arborvitae is the fastest of the narrow trees. Speed only helps if you have room for the tree at maturity, so check the width before you buy.

What is the best privacy tree for a small yard?

American Pillar Arborvitae and Emerald Green Arborvitae both stay 3 to 4 feet wide, so they fit along fences, patios, and side yards where a Green Giant or Leyland would take over. Spartan and Skyrocket Juniper are good narrow options in hot, dry, sunny spots.

How far from a fence should I plant privacy trees?

Plant at least half the tree's mature width away from a fence, house, or driveway. For Emerald Green or American Pillar, that is about 2 feet. For Green Giant, plan on 6 to 9 feet. For Leyland and Murray Cypress, give them 8 to 10 feet so air can move around them.

Are privacy trees deer resistant?

No tree is deer proof, but Green Giant, the cypresses, Cryptomeria, hollies, and junipers are browsed far less than Emerald Green and other American arborvitae. Where deer pressure is heavy, protect any young screen with netting or repellent for the first few winters.

When is the best time to plant privacy trees?

Fall is the best time in most of the country, because the soil is still warm and the roots can settle in before summer heat. Spring is a close second. As long as you can dig and keep up with watering, you can plant a container grown privacy tree any time of year.

Shop Privacy Trees

Woodie's Take

The best privacy tree isn't always the fastest one. It's the right tree in the right place.

Use Green Giant, Leyland, Murray, or Cryptomeria when you have room and need coverage fast. Use American Pillar or Emerald Green when the space is tight. Bring in hollies, blue cypress, and junipers for color, texture, and a screen that deer leave alone. Then give them proper spacing and steady water for the first few seasons.

Do that, and you're not just blocking a view. You're planting a little peace and quiet that gets better every year.