Evergreen Privacy Screens

Plant Living Fences

A line of evergreen trees or shrubs can provide year-round seclusion even better than a fence, because there are no municipal restrictions on how high they can grow. (Towns usually require permits for a fence over 6 feet tall.) However, if there are power lines above your screen, you don't want trees so big that they'll grow into the wires. Also pay attention to their width at maturity; the spacing between trunks when you plant should equal mature width. While the ideal growing conditions vary by species, one thing all these evergreens have in common is a love of the sun. Give them at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day and their foliage will remain full and keep your privacy intact.

Shown: For more information on the Green Giant arborvitae shown here, see the next slide.