Best Privacy Trees for Small Backyards

Tired of prying eyes watching your every move in your backyard? Privacy trees offer a natural solution that can make your outdoor space feel more discreet.

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They can also help block out the noise and unattractive views that you sometimes get living in a city. But not all trees have characteristics to make good privacy trees. Here’s what you need to know.

What Makes a Good Privacy Tree?

The best privacy trees all have similar features.

• Fast growing: When you buy trees from a nursery, they're not typically huge. Choosing a variety that grows quickly helps fill out your privacy barrier without waiting years to get there.
• Easy to grow: You want a robust tree that's not susceptible to a lot of diseases or damage. Because the trees are usually planted close together, diseases and pests will spread quickly. Low-maintenance trees let you enjoy your privacy without always tending to your trees.
• Dense foliage: A tree with dense foliage blocks the view well, which is the whole purpose of the trees.
• Evergreen: An evergreen variety is ideal to give you privacy year-round. Deciduous trees that lose their leaves won't provide any privacy in late fall, winter or early spring. If you only need privacy in the warmer months, you can choose a deciduous variety.
• Grow close together: The best tree options can grow close together and remain healthy. If you have to leave large gaps between them, you won't have a solid privacy screen.
• Adequate height: The trees should have a mature height that's above your head to provide enough coverage. In a small backyard, you don't want the tree to grow too high, though, or it might overwhelm the space.

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What Are Some of the Best Types of Privacy Trees for Small Backyards?

Lots of trees work to create privacy, but small backyards require a more selective process. You don't want a tree that will be massive when it matures. The following trees give you good privacy features without making your yard look like an overgrown jungle.

Emerald Green Arborvitae

The Emerald Green Arborvitae is a popular evergreen privacy tree that grows to be 12 to 20 feet high and 3 to 10 feet wide. You can prune it to keep it smaller for a better fit in your tiny backyard. If you live in a cold climate, this tree holds up well to those cold temperatures, and it's resistant to many pests and diseases, making it a sturdy option. This option is very low-maintenance and grows well. However, it can be toxic to pets, so you might want to skip this one if you have a canine companion that spends time in the yard.

Blue Arrow Juniper

A narrow, upright evergreen, the Blue Arrow Juniper has a mature height of 12 to 15 feet, which keeps it manageable in a small backyard. It's also narrow at about 2 feet wide. This evergreen grows fairly quickly, with an average growth of 15 to 18 inches every year, which helps it reach a height for effective privacy quickly. Dense foliage takes on a blue-green color, adding a unique and beautiful look to your privacy trees.

Forever Goldy Arborvitae

This upright evergreen features a golden hue to its foliage, which grows densely to help block the view into your yard. Forever Goldy Arborvitae matures at 10 to 12 feet high and 3 to 3.5 feet wide, keeping it compact and tidy for a small space. It loves full-sun locations and is drought-tolerant. This evergreen is also easy to care for, making it a good candidate for privacy.

Leyland Cypress

The Leyland Cypress is a popular option for privacy and windbreaks because it offers dense foliage and grows well in a variety of environments. When allowed to grow naturally, the Leyland Cypress can reach 60 to 70 feet high and 15 to 25 feet wide. A fast-growing option, this evergreen typically grows over 24 inches per year. However, you can prune it into a hedge and shape it as desired year after year without harming the tree. That means you can keep it a smaller size to fit your smaller backyard if desired.

Needlepoint Holly

Many holly trees make good privacy walls, but the Needlepoint Holly can be a good option for small spaces. You can grow it as a hedge up to 15 feet tall or train it as a tree up to 20 feet tall. It's a fast-growing tree with dense foliage, making it suitable for privacy and as a windbreak. This holly tree displays bright red berries, adding a colorful touch to your living privacy wall. The fruit is mildly toxic, so it's not the best option if you have kids or pets.