Introduction
Backyard privacy is one of the biggest reasons homeowners plant trees. Whether you want to block a neighbor’s view, create a green backdrop, screen a patio, or make your yard feel more peaceful, the right privacy trees can completely change how your outdoor space feels.
But not every privacy tree works in every spot.
Some trees are best for wide backyard borders. Others are better for narrow side yards, fence lines, patios, or smaller spaces. The key is choosing the right tree for the exact area where you need privacy.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the best privacy trees for different backyard situations and where to plant them for the best results.
Start With Where You Need Privacy
Before choosing a tree, look at your yard and ask:
- Are you trying to block a neighbor’s second-story window?
- Do you need privacy along a fence line?
- Are you screening a patio, pool, or deck?
- Do you have a narrow side yard?
- Do you want fast coverage or a more polished, compact look?
Once you know the purpose, it becomes much easier to choose the right tree.
Best Privacy Trees for Backyard Fence Lines
Fence lines are one of the most common places to plant privacy trees. The goal is usually to soften the look of the fence, add height, and create a living wall of greenery.
Thuja Green Giant
Thuja Green Giant is one of the best choices for large backyard fence lines because it grows quickly and creates dense, evergreen coverage.
It works especially well if you want a full privacy screen in just a few years.
Best for:
- Large backyard borders
- Fast privacy
- Evergreen coverage
- Blocking neighboring yards
Thuja Green Giant is ideal when you have enough room for a larger tree and want strong privacy without a lot of maintenance.
Leyland Cypress
Leyland Cypress is another fast-growing evergreen that works well along wide fence lines.
It has soft, feathery foliage and creates a tall green screen when planted in a row.
Best for:
- Large properties
- Fast-growing screens
- Windbreaks
- Backyard borders
If you want a fast-growing alternative to Thuja Green Giant, Leyland Cypress is a strong option.
Best Privacy Trees for Blocking Neighbors
If your main goal is to block neighbors, focus on trees that grow tall, dense, and evergreen.
Thuja Green Giant
For most homeowners, Thuja Green Giant is the strongest all-around choice for blocking neighbors.
It grows fast, fills in well, and provides year-round privacy. This makes it especially useful when you want to block sightlines from nearby houses, windows, patios, or decks.
Why it works:
- Fast growth rate
- Tall mature height
- Dense foliage
- Evergreen coverage
If speed and coverage are your top priorities, Thuja Green Giant should be near the top of your list.
Emerald Colonnade Holly
Emerald Colonnade Holly is a great option if you want a more decorative evergreen privacy tree.
Unlike conifers, it has glossy broadleaf foliage, which gives it a polished, landscape-ready look.
Best for:
- Decorative screening
- Softer evergreen privacy
- Backyard borders
- More refined landscapes
Emerald Colonnade Holly works well when you want privacy, but also want something more ornamental than a traditional evergreen hedge.
Best Privacy Trees for Patios and Outdoor Seating Areas
For patios, decks, and outdoor seating areas, privacy is more personal. You may not need to screen the entire yard — just the area where people gather.
This is where compact or narrow evergreens can work especially well.
Emerald Green Arborvitae
Emerald Green Arborvitae is a strong choice for patio privacy because it stays more compact than Thuja Green Giant.
It has a tidy, upright shape and provides year-round greenery without taking over the space.
Best for:
- Patio screening
- Smaller backyards
- Compact privacy
- Formal hedges
Choose Emerald Green Arborvitae if you want a neat, controlled privacy screen near outdoor living areas.
Blue Arrow Juniper
Blue Arrow Juniper is a slim, upright evergreen that works well where space is limited.
Its narrow shape makes it useful near patios, walkways, and tight planting strips.
Best for:
- Narrow patio screens
- Modern landscapes
- Tight spaces
- Low-maintenance privacy
Blue Arrow Juniper is ideal when you want privacy without a wide footprint.
Best Privacy Trees for Narrow Side Yards
Side yards can be tricky because they often need privacy, but don’t have much planting width.
For these spaces, choose narrow, columnar trees.
Taylor Juniper
Taylor Juniper is one of the best narrow privacy trees for tight spaces.
It grows upright instead of wide, making it useful along side yards, property edges, and narrow borders.
Best for:
- Side yards
- Narrow property lines
- Vertical screening
- Tight planting areas
Taylor Juniper gives you height and structure without requiring the space of a large hedge.
Italian Cypress
Italian Cypress is another excellent narrow privacy tree, especially if you want a tall, elegant look.
It has a very slim, columnar shape and works well in more formal or Mediterranean-style landscapes.
Best for:
- Tall vertical privacy
- Narrow yards
- Driveways and side borders
- Formal landscapes
Italian Cypress is a strong choice when you need height but have very limited width.
Best Privacy Trees for Small Backyards
For smaller backyards, the biggest mistake is planting a tree that grows too large.
Instead of choosing the fastest-growing tree, focus on manageable size and shape.
Emerald Green Arborvitae
Emerald Green Arborvitae is one of the best privacy trees for small backyards because it stays compact and tidy.
It provides evergreen screening without overwhelming the yard.
Best for:
- Small backyards
- Compact hedges
- Patio privacy
- Formal evergreen structure
Blue Arrow Juniper
Blue Arrow Juniper is another smart pick for smaller backyards because of its slim profile.
It gives privacy and vertical structure without taking up much ground space.
Best for:
- Small yards
- Narrow planting beds
- Modern privacy screens
- Low-maintenance landscapes
Where to Plant Privacy Trees in Your Backyard
Placement matters just as much as the tree itself.
Along the Back Fence
This is best when you want to block neighboring yards or create a green backdrop.
Good options:
- Thuja Green Giant
- Leyland Cypress
- Emerald Colonnade Holly
Along Side Property Lines
This is best when you need privacy from nearby homes, driveways, or side windows.
Good options:
- Taylor Juniper
- Blue Arrow Juniper
- Italian Cypress
- Emerald Green Arborvitae
Around Patios and Decks
This is best when you want privacy where you actually spend time outdoors.
Good options:
- Emerald Green Arborvitae
- Blue Arrow Juniper
- Emerald Colonnade Holly
In Corners
Backyard corners are great places to plant privacy trees because they soften the space and block angled views.
Good options:
- Thuja Green Giant
- Emerald Colonnade Holly
- Italian Cypress
How Far From a Fence Should You Plant Privacy Trees?
Spacing depends on the tree’s mature size.
As a general rule:
- Large privacy trees need more room from fences
- Narrow trees can be planted closer
- Always account for mature width, not just current size
For larger trees like Thuja Green Giant, give them enough space to grow naturally without pressing into the fence.
For narrow trees like Taylor Juniper, Blue Arrow Juniper, or Italian Cypress, you can usually work with tighter spaces.
If you’re planting Thuja specifically, spacing is especially important because it affects how quickly your hedge fills in and how healthy the trees remain long-term.
Example Backyard Privacy Layouts
Layout 1: Fast Full Backyard Screen
Best for homeowners who want maximum privacy quickly.
- Back row: Thuja Green Giant
- Use: Along the back fence or wide property line
- Goal: Fast, dense, evergreen screen
This layout is best for larger yards with enough room for full-size privacy trees.
Layout 2: Narrow Side Yard Screen
Best for tight spaces.
- Tree options: Taylor Juniper, Blue Arrow Juniper, or Italian Cypress
- Use: Along side yards, narrow fence lines, or property edges
- Goal: Vertical privacy without taking up too much width
This layout works well when you need privacy but don’t have room for a wide hedge.
Layout 3: Patio Privacy Screen
Best for outdoor living areas.
- Tree options: Emerald Green Arborvitae or Emerald Colonnade Holly
- Use: Around patios, decks, or seating areas
- Goal: Create a more private outdoor room
This layout is ideal when you don’t need to screen the whole yard — just the space where you relax.
Layout 4: Layered Backyard Privacy Screen
Best for a more natural, designed look.
- Back row: Thuja Green Giant or Leyland Cypress
- Middle layer: Emerald Colonnade Holly
- Front layer: privacy shrubs or flowering shrubs
This creates privacy from top to bottom and gives the yard more depth than a single row of trees.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Choosing the Wrong Tree for the Space
A tree that works in a large backyard may be too big for a small yard or patio area.
Always match the tree to the space.
Planting Too Close Together
Tight spacing may seem like the fastest way to get privacy, but overcrowding can lead to poor airflow, stress, and weaker growth.
Ignoring Mature Size
Privacy trees look small when first planted, but many grow much larger over time.
Plan based on mature height and width.
Only Thinking About Height
Good privacy is not just about height. Density, width, and placement all matter.
A shorter tree in the right spot can sometimes provide better privacy than a tall tree planted in the wrong place.
Which Privacy Tree Should You Choose?
Here’s a simple way to decide:
Choose Thuja Green Giant if you want fast, full backyard privacy and have enough space.
Choose Leyland Cypress if you want another fast-growing evergreen for larger screens.
Choose Emerald Green Arborvitae if you have a smaller backyard or want a compact hedge.
Choose Taylor Juniper if you need narrow vertical privacy in a tight space.
Choose Blue Arrow Juniper if you want a slim, low-maintenance evergreen with a modern look.
Choose Italian Cypress if you want tall, elegant privacy with a narrow footprint.
Choose Emerald Colonnade Holly if you want a broadleaf evergreen with a more decorative look.
Ready to Create Backyard Privacy?
The best backyard privacy tree depends on where you need coverage.
For wide backyards and fence lines, fast-growing evergreens like Thuja Green Giant and Leyland Cypress are strong choices.
For patios, side yards, and smaller spaces, compact or narrow trees like Emerald Green Arborvitae, Taylor Juniper, Blue Arrow Juniper, and Italian Cypress may be better fits.
Browse privacy trees from Simply Trees to find the right option for your backyard layout.
Final Thoughts
Backyard privacy works best when you choose the tree based on the location.
A wide fence line may need a fast-growing evergreen screen. A patio may need a smaller, more polished tree. A side yard may need a narrow columnar option.
Once you know where privacy is needed, choosing the right tree becomes much easier.
