By definition, a hedge is “a fence or boundary formed by a dense row of shrubs or low trees.” A privacy hedge is a living fence within your landscape meant to provide privacy and a sense of enclosure from neighbors and those passing by on the street. The shrubs, trees or other plants that make up your privacy hedge or screen can delineate your property boundaries and can also function as windbreaks, sound barriers or a means to hide unsightly views. Thorny shrubs can do double duty and provide both privacy and security.

For many of us, when envisioning a privacy hedge, the image of an over-sheared yew or a scraggly privet pops into our minds but there are many options depending on the function and look you are trying to achieve. In general, plants that can be used will fall under one of four categories: Conifers or needled evergreens, such as arborvitae or cedar, broad-leaved evergreens like holly and rhododendron, deciduous shrubs like forsythia and smoke bush, and ornamental grasses and bamboos.

One of the biggest advantages of evergreens is that they provide a green screen all year round plus they are good at reducing wind and noise. They come in a range of greens, blue-greens, and yellows. Whether you choose needled evergreens or broad-leaved evergreens, there are a plethora of textures available, from delicate lacy needles to broad, leathery leaves. Some plants have berries which will attract birds. Choose conifers or needled evergreen trees if you want a strong vertical element and an imposing presence.

If choosing a deciduous plant, of course there will be none or few leaves in winter. Good privacy shrubs in this category will have a dense growth formation and their thick growth will continue to provide a visual barrier. Many deciduous shrubs have the advantage of interesting flowers and colorful fall foliage.

Although not a traditional choice, taller varieties of ornamental grasses and bamboo can make effective privacy screens. Ornamental grasses can be left in a natural state all winter so as to continue to provide privacy while also enhancing the beauty of the winter landscape. When choosing a bamboo use, pick a clumping variety to limit invasion.

In addition of the desired height and width of your privacy screen, one final consideration prior to choosing the plants is the look you are trying to achieve. Do you want a formal arrangement with one type of tree or shrub in a line or do you want more informal groupings of different types of plants?  Consider planting a group of evergreens where you need the densest screen and fill in bare spots with deciduous shrubs or other varieties of evergreens. Also, consider height and growth rates and combining groupings of taller plants flanked by lower growing ones. There are any number of combinations and looks to choose from. Use your imagination, ask our sales staff or even have a design consultation.

The following list is intended as a guide to exploring the diverse options for privacy screening. Please note that we have primarily listed the species of plants rather than the specific cultivars or hybrids within the species. When specific cultivars or varieties are listed, they are capitalized in single ‘quotes’ and follow the species designation. 

Tall Evergreen 

Medium Evergreen 

Small Evergreen

Deciduous