Creating Outdoor Privacy with Trees and Shrubs

A private outdoor space offers a peaceful retreat, and Earthworks Outdoor can help you achieve that by creating a natural privacy screen using trees and providing expert tips for integrating shrubs. With strategic planting, you can enjoy a secluded, lush yard. Here’s how to design an effective natural privacy screen.

When selecting trees for privacy, opt for varieties that grow tall and dense, like arborvitae or Green Giant cedars. Earthworks Outdoor can help you choose and plant evergreens for year-round coverage, offering a robust green wall to block out sightlines. Fast-growing options provide quicker privacy, while sturdier trees give lasting structure to your screen.

To create a full, natural look, layer trees with shrubs of different heights. For medium height, consider shrubs like boxwood or viburnum, which add depth without competing with the trees. Earthworks Outdoor recommends lower-growing options, like ornamental grasses or flowering ground covers, to soften the base and bring variety in texture and color. These shrubs also create a pleasing aesthetic that feels purposeful and adds layers to your privacy screen.

When arranging trees, Earthworks Outdoor advises spacing them 6–10 feet apart to allow for healthy growth. Shrubs should be spaced based on their mature size, generally around 3–5 feet apart. Staggering shrubs and trees in a zig-zag or tiered formation fills gaps effectively and creates a more natural, seamless privacy screen. Earthworks Outdoor can assist in positioning trees for the most efficient and beautiful arrangement.

Incorporate flowering shrubs like hydrangeas or lilacs among the evergreens to add seasonal color and charm. These blooming varieties bring brightness in spring and summer, transforming your privacy screen into a vibrant landscape feature. While Earthworks Outdoor handles the tree installation, these shrubs are simple to plant and maintain on your own with guidance from our team.

If you have a smaller yard, Earthworks Outdoor can help install trees that grow upright without sprawling branches. Adding shrubs with a vertical structure, such as columnar varieties, or trellises with climbing plants like ivy can extend your privacy screen in tight areas. This combination maximizes privacy while utilizing limited space efficiently.

To make your space more serene, choose broad-leafed, dense shrubs like holly to absorb sound and soften the noise from outside. Earthworks Outdoor’s choice of thick evergreens, combined with sound-absorbing shrubs, can provide both visual and acoustic privacy.

To keep your privacy screen dense and healthy, Earthworks Outdoor recommends regular mulching around the trees. Mulching conserves moisture, reduces weeds, and gives a tidy appearance. Prune your shrubs as needed to encourage fuller growth and prevent overgrowth. Our team can provide tree care tips while you manage your shrubs to ensure your privacy screen stays vibrant and effective.

 

With Earthworks Outdoor handling your trees and providing tips for shrub selection, you can build a natural privacy screen that’s both functional and beautiful. Reach out to Earthworks Outdoor today to start designing a personalized green retreat for your property.