Fast-growing privacy trees
by
Melissa G
+12
What are some fast-growing privacy trees that are not evergreens and will do well in a yard that gets morning and midday sun only? I would really like crepe myrtle trees but I'm not sure if they would work in partial sun.
15 answers
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Here are 10 of the fastest-growing trees that are popular for home landscaping. Most of these are deciduous trees, and some should work for your purposes: http://www.networx.com/article/fastest-growing-trees-for-home-landscape I know you have some local experts who hang out here on Hometalk. They might be able to direct you toward a good nursery with some master gardeners on staff.
3po3
on Feb 10, 2012
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I had wax myrtles at my old house they were great for privacy.
Marvin R
on Feb 11, 2012
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Melissa how much space do you have and how tall do you ultimately want your screen to be?
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Feb 11, 2012
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Melissa, I'm a little confused about wanting a deciduous privacy tree, because unless it's something that can be planted quite close together, like a hornbeam, you're not going to have much privacy when the tree is out of leaf. However, you might want to consider a redbud. They grown relatively fast, put on a wonderful show with their pink blooms in spring and have great fall color. And, because they are naturally an understory tree, will do fine with the amount of light you have.
Douglas Hunt
on Feb 11, 2012
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Melissa, when you say not evergreens, do you mean you don't want conifers like pines or you want only deciduous trees? For deciduous trees some are fast growing but not always a good choice, I would NOT recommend silver maple (on a list of fast growing trees) because it will cause more problems in the future. I would recommend lacebark elm, (Ulmus parvifolia ) which has beautiful bark and small leaves. I don't know how tall you want the screen but there are some broad leaf evergreens such as Anise, in particular Ilicium parviflorum which would work well in the situation you describe. Give us a bit more info and I am happy to make other recommendations.
Erica Glasener
on Feb 11, 2012
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How about Carolina cherrylaurel? It's an evergreen but broadleafed tree.
Walter Reeves
on Feb 11, 2012
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Sorry all -- I should have given more details. It is for planting along the fence that faces our backyard neighbor. We just took out all of the ugly underbrush along the fence, which means we can now stare right into their house, but the intent was to replace the underbrush with proper trees to block the view and improve the landscape. (Apologies for the poor state of our yard... again, we've been cleaning up from the previous owner so we have a very long way to go.) The fence you see in the picture is roughly 60 feet long. The part toward the right gets the sun and the other is under some tall pines so it gets almost none. We'd like to plant the trees along the part of the fence with the sun -- so about a 30-foot stretch. I said evergreens but I meant not pines, junipers, cyrptomeria, etc. (I just don't like them). I realize that if the trees lose their leaves in winter, we'd lose some privacy, but at least we would still have a bit of a screen. I don't know about footage for height, but I'd like it around the height of a two-story house, give or take. (We have two stories looking onto our neighbors' one story.) Our fence ends at the tall pine to the right of the shed. (We plan to get rid of the shed, or at least move it to a corner where it won't be seen.) I was also thinking of planting a dogwood right in that corner, because I'm told they do well in shade -- and I love their blooms. Thoughts?
Melissa G
on Feb 12, 2012
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I think a mix of deciduous and evergreen would be great and yes, to the Dogwood. Just know that you will be diligent with water under those big established trees for your new introductions. I like Walter's idea of Cherry Laurels or possibly some Tea Olive Hollies which will take the shade/sun and give you some great fragrance.
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Feb 12, 2012
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I agree with Four Season about a mix of deciduous and broadleaf evergreen, dogwood, redbud and Anise ( Illicium parviflorum or floridanum) would be nice and offer blooms too.
Erica Glasener
on Feb 13, 2012
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One more thought. Look for selections of the the native dogwood ( Cornus florida or hybrids ) like Cherokee Princess or Cloud Nine.
Erica Glasener
on Feb 13, 2012
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That's the perfect spot for a mixed tree/shrub border, and for me would have to include some viburnum.
Douglas Hunt
on Feb 13, 2012
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Thanks. And I love that dogwood, Erica.
Melissa G
on Feb 13, 2012
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Find out if your town has strange laws-we just got a $75 fine for having a SIDEYARD hedge over 4ft-tit is at least 13'-so certainly been there a long time-.-we could have avoided the fine by cutting them down to 4'-imagine!!
BEV
on Jun 28, 2015
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I have a young Crepe Myrtle tree. I planted it over 3 years ago and this is the first year it grew taller (maybe 4-6") and it is beautifully blooming like crazy. The moral to this story: Crepe Myrtles will takes a VERY long time to become a privacy screen...
Susan N
on Jul 27, 2015
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Leyland Cyprus is a beautiful, fast growing shrub. It's no maintenance and is a very healthy shrub.
Liz
on Feb 17, 2016
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