Fast-Growing Privacy Screening: Choosing the Right Trees and Shrubs

Key Criteria

For a 60-ft wide rear yard, you need evergreen, fast-growing, and narrow enough to fit the space. Height of 8 ft may suffice for ground-level views, but 12–15 ft blocks second-story sightlines.

Top Recommendations

• Arborvitae 'Emerald Green' (Thuja occidentalis): 12–15 ft tall, 3–4 ft wide, grows 1 ft/year. Dense, tidy, shearable.
• Cherry Laurel 'Otto Luyken' (Prunus laurocerasus): 4–5 ft tall, 5–6 ft wide, glossy leaves, white spring flowers. Shear twice yearly.
• Holly 'Nellie R. Stevens': 15–25 ft tall, 10–15 ft wide, red berries, very dense. Needs space.
• Leyland Cypress: Extremely fast (3 ft/year) but gets huge (60+ ft). High maintenance.

Next Steps

Visit a local nursery with your site photos and measurements. They can recommend varieties proven in your zone and soil.