The Ultimate Guide to Privacy Hedges

When our nursery pros are working with homeowners to accomplish their landscape goals, a need that comes up often is planting privacy hedges in the yard. In a landscape, hedges are most commonly used to define a border, create privacy, filter noise, or block unwanted views. Whether formal or informal, sizes can range from just a couple of feet to tree-size hedges used to block out the neighbor’s second story window. Our professional designers are excellent at understanding the need for privacy and noise screening in your yard and are great at seamlessly incorporating hedges that fit into your personal landscape style.

There are so many great options for hedge material in our area. It can be daunting to select the right tree or plant to properly accomplish your hedge’s goal. Here are some of our top-performing trees and plants used in creating the perfect privacy hedge.

Carolina Cherry

The Carolina Cherry is a small to medium-sized evergreen with dark green, shimmering wavy-edged foliage. They are a popular choice due to their minimally needed upkeep, natural cone-like shape, and ability to tolerate some of our common weather issues, such as heat and drought. Carolina Cherries can be easily grown into a tall screen or sound barrier which make them a near-perfect option for many homes looking for privacy.

Used in these Landscape Styles

Italian Cypress

Italian Cypress is often used as hedge material for formal entrances, borders, and backdrops due to its impressive and unique look. The Italian Cypress is unmistakable with its lush green foliage and tall, narrow vertical form, making a big impact on your landscape, while only taking a small space in your yard. These elegant evergreen trees are commonly planted in rows, lined up along driveways as a grand entryway, or along a property wall creating privacy and blocking noise and wind.

Used in these Landscape Styles

Green Emerald Blueberry

The Green Emerald Blueberry will add a blast of greenery into your landscape design and grants seasonal white flowers. This visually appealing evergreen is a fast grower that can be shaped into any form, whether you are needing dense privacy or formal topiaries. The Green Emerald Blueberry blooms in the summer, with tiny, scented flower clusters that attract a variety of pollinators, including butterflies and hummingbirds.

Used in these Landscape Styles

Podocarpus

Podocarpus is prized for its clean evergreen looks, low maintenance requirements, resistance to pests and disease, and wide tolerance of growing conditions. The soft green foliage can handle major trimming and pruning, which allows you more options as to how your hedges are shaped. The Podocarpus thrives in full sun to partial shade making it a versatile option for your hedging needs.

Used in these Landscape Styles

Japanese Privet

The Japanese Privet is an ideal solution for those who want an evergreen, low maintenance, small to medium sized hedge. Japanese Privets are commonly used in courtyards and around patios and pools to take advantage of their clean nature and lush bright green leaves. They will get small clusters of crème-colored flowers in the spring. They make for great hedge material that will provide excellent privacy with a medium growth pattern from their attractive multi-branching trunks.

Used in these Landscape Styles

Crape Myrtle

The Crape Myrtle is our favorite and #1 selling flowering tree at Moon Valley Nurseries. The spring season is when this tree really shines with large clusters of flowers that cover the entire tree. Dependent on the variety, Crape Myrtles can bloom in hues of purple, pink, red, or white that can last into the late summer. The full growth pattern combined with the vibrant displays of color make the Crape Myrtle a fantastic choice for those looking for a hedge that provides plenty of beauty.

Used in these Landscape Styles

Have your Privacy Hedge Professionally Designed

Our expert landscape designers take the guesswork out of finding the perfect hedge material. They will take into consideration your preferred landscape style, the goal of your hedge, the location and water needs, as well as any other benefits you’d like, such as flowering or fruiting, and select the trees or plants that accomplish that exact goal. No matter what your needs in a hedge are, the nursery pros and landscape designers at Moon Valley Nurseries will make it a reality!