While fences may provide privacy for your property, they are sometimes impractical. They can completely block the view and make you feel confined. Planting a line of evergreen trees provides year-round seclusion while adding aesthetic value to your yard.
A privacy screen made of evergreens has numerous benefits:
- Acts as a sound barrier
- Serves as a living snow fence
- Prevents “prying eyes” and masks unsightly objects
- Protects your property from strong winds and storms
Evergreens have height and breadth to enclose your space and make it less exposed. They’re also beautiful to behold.
Here are some evergreen trees excellent for privacy purposes:
- White Pine (Pinus Strobus) – These fast-growing evergreens can grow 50 to 80 feet tall and 20 to 40 feet wide. Plant white pines 15 to 20 feet apart from each other to allow the limbs to grow and create a screen.
- Norway Spruce (Picea Abies) – A large, fast-growing coniferous tree that grows 50 to 60 feet tall. In favourable conditions, the Norway Spruce can grow up to three feet each year in its first 25 years. To create a privacy screen, space these trees 18 feet apart.
- White Spruce (Picea Glauca) – This medium-sized conifer provides more than just privacy. Its natural shape and excellent foliage make White Spruce excellent ornamental trees. It can reach a height of 80 to 140 feet. For privacy screening, plant White Spruces 10 to 12 feet apart.
Source:hort.uconn.edu
- Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea Pungens Glauca) – This narrow, dense, conical-shaped evergreen tree with horizontal, stiff branches can grow 30 to 60 feet in height, making it an excellent choice for a large screen. Plant them 10 to 20 feet apart.
- Serbian Spruce (Picea Omorika) – Considered by some to be the most graceful of all spruces, the Serbian Spruce is a tall, slender evergreen tree with exquisite branches and can reach 40 to 60 feet in height. Leave at least 15 feet of spacing between each tree.
Caring for Evergreens
Evergreen trees have dense, green foliage that make strong privacy screens for years. Although these self-sufficient trees require minimal care and maintenance, there are a few things to keep in mind to keep them beautiful and healthy:
- Place evergreens on the north side of your property for adequate sunlight. Plant them in well-drained, acidic soil to enable roots to get sufficient water.
- The best time to plant evergreen trees is in spring when it is cool and spring rain is expected.
- Prune in spring, just before new buds start to appear. Corrective pruning is only required to remove dead damaged, diseased, or dead branches. Avoid pruning in late summer or early fall.
For a reliable supplier of hardy evergreen trees for sale in the Greater Toronto Area, call Caledon Treeland at (905) 880-1828 and book an appointment with us. Visit our tree farm and choose personally from our wide selection of gorgeous evergreens.