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Consultation

Maximize Landscape Privacy with Smart Plant Selections

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A private terrace featuring a dining area with wooden chairs and a table, surrounded by lush greenery. The terrace is elevated, with stone steps leading down to a well-manicured lawn. The garden includes neatly trimmed shrubs and tall conifer trees, providing a natural privacy screen. The sky is partly cloudy, adding to the serene and well-maintained outdoor space.

Privacy is highly valued in today’s world. Installing a privacy plant screen is one way to obstruct unwanted views and create a secluded oasis. We’ll explore both popular and less common plant options to help you achieve your privacy objectives.

Benefits of Using Plants for Screening

Plants can form a natural barrier, enhancing privacy for you and your family. In an increasingly noisy world, dense plantings can also serve as a sound buffer, providing a serene space for outdoor relaxation. They also serve as an effective shield against strong winds that could disrupt your home or outdoor living area.

Choosing the Right Plants for Your Privacy

Consider the following factors when choosing plants for privacy:

Height: The required height for privacy depends on the purpose of your screening. Use tall plants to obstruct views into higher windows, and shorter plants for blocking views at eye level.

Width: This will depend on the space available to you. Wider plants can cover larger areas, while columnar forms are better suited for narrow spaces.

Sunlight: Selecting plants that suit your lighting conditions can lead to a more effective and successful privacy screen. Observe your area carefully to understand the amount of sunlight it receives. Matching the plants to their required light conditions will enable them to thrive.

Water: All plants require regular watering until they are established. However, some plants need water more consistently. Without irrigation, maintaining these plants can be challenging, especially if they are planted far from your home. Choose plants that thrive on the available water to simplify both your life and the care of the plants.

Evergreen or Deciduous: Both evergreen and deciduous plants have their advantages. Evergreen plants provide year-round screening and protection from wind. On the other hand, deciduous plants, with their dense foliage, offer screening and enhance aesthetic appeal through their flowers or interesting foliage.

Single or Multiple Plant Types: If your available space can only accommodate one type of plant, that’s okay. However, if the area allows, consider mixing evergreen and deciduous plants. This not only adds diversity to your screening but also creates a more natural appearance. Plus, it makes replacing plants easier if the need arises.

Evergreen Privacy Plants

There are numerous evergreens suitable for screening. Here are some of our favorites.

Green Giant Arborvitae (Thuja standish x plicata) – This evergreen tree typically stands around 50 feet tall and spreads out about 15 feet. Green Giant is a fast-growing hybrid that boasts a dense, pyramidal shape.

American Holly (Ilex opaca) – This Missouri native thrives in part shade to full sun. It grows to a height of 15 to 30 feet and a width of 10 to 20 feet.

Dragon Lady Holly (Ilex x aquipernyi) – The Dragon Lady Holly, with its dark, glossy foliage, thrives in full sun to part shade. It grows 10 to 20 feet tall and spreads 4 to 6 feet, making it an ideal choice for areas with limited space.

Hicks Yew (Taxus x media) – Hicks Yew is ideal for shaping into tight hedges. It thrives in full sun to partial shade. Typically, it reaches 12 to 20 feet in height and 8 to 12 feet in width but is tolerant of being pruned to the desired size.

Deciduous Privacy Plants

Evergreen plants aren’t your only option for privacy screening. Deciduous trees and shrubs also provide excellent seasonal coverage, adding additional interest to your landscape.

Arnold Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipfera) – This unique columnar tree produces yellow-green, tulip-like flowers streaked with orange from late spring to early summer. It can grow up to 50 feet tall and 15 feet wide.

Regal Prince Oak (Quercus robur x bicolor) – Regal Prince, with its columnar form and typical low-branching habit, is a fantastic option for screening or windbreak. This elegant tree can reach heights of 45 feet and widths of 18 feet.

Witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) – Often referred to as Ozark witch hazel, this early bloomer is native to Missouri. It thrives in areas from partial shade to full sun. The plant can spread via suckers if permitted. However, the size of an individual plant typically ranges from 6 to 10 feet in height and 8 to 15 feet in width.

Purple Pillar Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) – This summer-flowering shrub boasts beautiful lilac flowers with red centers. Its unique columnar form can grow 10 to 16 feet tall, while maintaining a width of 4 to 5 feet.

Plants are an excellent way to provide seclusion to your outdoor living area. By selecting the appropriate plant for the correct location, you can establish a low-maintenance barrier that ensures privacy for many years.