Options for Privacy Hedges

A privacy hedge helps neighbors stay on good terms.

When neighbors are a little too close for comfort, a privacy hedge adds some much-needed backyard solitude. While a fence sends a message that's loud and clear, a more natural-looking barrier of shrubs, trees or plants keeps the yard looking friendly and inviting while still providing privacy.

Evergreen Shrubs

Pruning and shaping evergreen hedges are easy.

Evergreen shrubs are good choices for a privacy hedge because they stay green and full all year-round. A variety of evergreen shrubs and trees can be pruned into a hedge shapes. Select a variety based on the desired height at maturity. Some arborvitae varieties reach mature heights between 10 and 15 feet, making them the ideal size for property lines or surrounding backyard patios. Giant arborvitae are up to 50 feet tall, while other types of trees have a faster growth rate making them more desirable. The Leyland cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii) grows up to 3 feet in a single year, making it ideal for planting young trees and getting a suitably tall hedge within a few seasons.

Bamboo

A thick stand of bamboo makes a good hedge.

Bamboo is an often-overlooked privacy hedge option. Different bamboo types grow and thrive in different climates. There are even varieties that do well in areas covered with snow throughout the winter months. Bamboo spreads through underground rhizomes, allowing the stands to grow in thick and heavy. When not properly planted, they can take over a large area, so sink barriers into the ground keeping the rhizomes from spreading into the yard. These underground barriers also make it easy to guide the hedge's shape, layout and thickness. Bamboo is a low-maintenance plant that benefits from fertilization and watering, but it is not required.

Holly

Holly hedges stay dark green and attractive year-round.

Holly trees and shrubs are evergreen options for privacy hedges that bear leaves and berries instead of evergreen needles. Some cultivars, such as the China Girl and China Boy, grow large enough to establish themselves as hedges up to 10 feet tall. This cultivar spreads as wide as it is tall, meaning fewer plants are needed to create a full hedge. Hollies generally adjust well to being pruned and can be shaped into crisp lines and shapes. Alternately, leave holly hedges unpruned for wild, natural look. Most holly varieties develop berries, which also attract birds and other small animals to the backyard.

Climbing Vines

Climbing vines create a private paradise with a thick mat of flowers.

For small areas, an effective way of creating a privacy hedge is installing a trellis and planting climbing vines along the structure. Many climbing vines lose their leaves in the winter, but if positioned around a porch or patio that sees mainly summer use, this might not matter. Climbing ivy, such as Boston ivy, grows in thick and heavy, creating a dense stand of attractive green leaves. Other vines are prized for their flowers. Trumpet vines are named for their distinctive flowers, while the bougainvillea vines bloom with a profusion of blossoms. These type vines can be suitable for establishing a perimeter for privacy while retaining a soft, inviting feeling.

References

• Living Fences: Evergreen Privacy Screen
• American Bamboo Society: Intro to Hardy Bamboos; Earle Barnhart; October 2008
• Missouri Botanical Garden: Ilex 'Mesog' China Girl
• University of Florida IFAS Extension; Flowering Vines for Florida; Sydney Park Brown, et al,; April 1990
• Fine Gardening; Evergreen Hollies; Andrew Bunting