Are you looking to add some natural privacy to your backyard while keeping the maintenance low?
Choosing the right trees can create a beautiful, secluded haven in your outdoor space without much hassle.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the best low-maintenance trees you can plant to achieve that perfect level of privacy in your backyard.
There are several varieties of trees that make excellent privacy screens, as they require minimal care once they’re established.
Factors to consider when choosing the right tree include the growth rate, ultimate height, and how much space you have available in your backyard.
We’ll focus on some top contenders that provide year-round privacy and require little maintenance to thrive.
So, let’s dive into our list of the best low-maintenance privacy trees for your backyard. With these selections, you can create a tranquil and secluded space without too much work.
Enjoy the privacy you deserve in your own backyard oasis!
1. Arborvitae (Thuja Occidentalis)
- Growing Zones: 2 to 7
- Mature Height: 15 feet or more
- Privacy Screen Spacing: 8 to 10 feet
- Growth Rate: Fast
Arborvitae trees make an excellent addition to your landscape if you’re seeking year-round privacy.
These evergreen trees not only offer seclusion but also provide low-maintenance care, which suits your busy lifestyle.
As long as they receive full sun, arborvitaes adapt easily to various growing conditions, granting a cozy backyard oasis.
Moreover, arborvitaes are perfect for creating dense privacy screens or hedges that help you enjoy your outdoor space without being in the public eye.
Their full shape, from top to bottom, requires minimal pruning, allowing them to thrive with little effort on your part.
Just remember to plant them in well-draining soil to promote their optimal health.
2. Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus Virginiana)
- Growing Zones: 2-9
- Mature Height: 40-50 ft.
- Privacy Screen Spacing: 12-24 ft.
- Growth Rate: Up to 2 ft. per year
Eastern Red Cedar is an evergreen tree known for its low maintenance and drought tolerance. It’s an excellent choice for creating a privacy screen in your backyard.
With its attractive red berries, it will draw in beautiful wildlife, like birds, seeking refuge among the dense branches.
This tree can be grown in various soil types, including dry, rocky conditions. Its adaptability makes it perfect for those looking for a low-maintenance option.
The Eastern Red Cedar requires full sun to thrive, so make sure to plant it in an area where it can receive plenty of light.
Overall, the Eastern Red Cedar will provide you with a lovely, year-round privacy screen. Plus, by planting this tree, you’re also giving back to the environment by providing essential habitat for local wildlife.
3. Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis Leylandii)
- Growing Zones: 6-10
- Mature Height: 60-70 feet
- Privacy Screen Spacing: 6-8 feet apart
- Growth Rate: 3 feet per year
Leyland cypress is your ideal choice for a low-maintenance, fast-growing privacy tree.
Its evergreen foliage provides a lush screen throughout the year, while its bluish-green needles add a touch of sophistication to your landscape.
These trees thrive in various soil conditions, including clay, loam, sand, acidic, and alkaline environments.
As long as the soil is well-drained and they receive enough sunlight, your Leyland cypress will flourish. Additionally, they are known to be drought-tolerant, making them suitable for areas with less rainfall.
However, while these cypress trees may not require extensive pruning, they can be susceptible to certain pests and diseases.
Keep an eye on their health to ensure they continue providing you with the privacy you desire. Enjoy the benefits of this low-maintenance and fast-growing tree in your backyard!
4. Emerald Green Arborvitae (Thuja Occidentalis ‘Emerald Green’)
- Growing Zones: 3 – 8
- Mature Height: Up to 20 feet
- Privacy Screen Spacing: 3 – 4 feet apart
- Growth Rate: Fast
Emerald Green Arborvitae, also known as Thuja Occidentalis ‘Emerald Green,’ is a low-maintenance evergreen tree perfect for backyards needing privacy.
Its evergreen leaves are a striking shade of emerald green, providing year-round visual interest.
One of the more popular arborvitae cultivars, Emerald Green is appreciated for its narrow, compact growth habit.
This feature means it requires less pruning and maintenance than some other arborvitae varieties.
Not only do they grow fast, but they can reach heights of up to 20 feet, making them an excellent choice for a tall, dense privacy screen.
Furthermore, these trees are resistant to extreme temperatures, insects, and diseases, adding to their low-maintenance appeal.
Plant your Emerald Green Arborvitaes 3 to 4 feet apart to create a dense privacy screen that’s perfect for small yards and narrow spaces.
This beautiful tree will make a valuable addition to any yard in need of privacy, color, and low-maintenance care.
5. Japanese Holly (Ilex Crenata)
- Growing Zones: 6-7 or 8 depending on cultivar
- Mature Height: Up to 4 feet tall
- Privacy Screen Spacing: 4-5 feet apart
- Growth Rate: Moderate
Japanese holly, also known as Ilex crenata, is an evergreen shrub that adds privacy and charm to your backyard.
With its dense branching pattern and rounded, glossy, dark green leaves, this low-maintenance plant is ideal for creating a lush and attractive privacy screen.
Not only is the Japanese holly easy to care for, but it also requires minimal pruning to maintain its shape. This versatile shrub can be shaped into a dense hedge or even used for topiary.
In addition to the rich green leaves, you can look forward to small, black berries, which may sometimes appear white or yellow, that add a pop of color to your landscape.
For the best results, ensure your Japanese holly is planted in rich, moist, slightly acidic soil with good drainage.
Regular irrigation and a layer of organic mulch will help maintain the ideal growing conditions for this stunning and privacy-friendly plant.
6. River Birch (Betula Nigra)
- Growing Zones: 4 to 9
- Mature Height: 40 to 70 feet
- Privacy Screen Spacing: 15 to 20 feet apart
- Growth Rate: Fast
River birch trees, with their dense foliage during the growing season, offer an ideal choice for a backyard privacy screen.
These deciduous trees require relatively low maintenance and add visual interest to your landscape due to their unique bark.
In addition to providing privacy, the river birch tree has semi-arching branches and medium-to-dark green leaves, which are 1 to 3 inches long, oval-shaped with serrated edges.
The leaves are white on the underside, which adds texture to your backyard scenery.
Thriving best along rivers and streams in their native habitat, river birches adapt well as landscape trees or visual barriers when planted in rows.
Opt for the river birch to create an eye-catching and functional addition to your backyard space.
7. Red Maple (Acer Rubrum)
- Growing Zones: 3-9
- Mature Height: 40-60 feet
- Privacy Screen Spacing: 20-30 feet apart
- Growth Rate: Fast
Red maples are deciduous trees that are ideal for your backyard, providing you with privacy during the warmer months with their lush foliage.
They’re quite easy to maintain and are known for their attractive fall foliage, offering a vibrant display of red, orange, and yellow leaves.
These trees make a great addition to your landscape, as they provide shade as well as beauty.
They can grow in a wide range of habitats, so you don’t have to worry too much about finding the perfect spot for them. Plus, they adapt well to various soil types, including wet and compact soils.
So, if you’re looking for a low-maintenance option for backyard privacy, consider planting red maple trees.
With their eye-catching leaves and fast growth rate, they will soon become a cherished feature of your outdoor space.
8. American Holly (Ilex opaca)
- Growing Zones: 5-9
- Mature Height: 15-50 feet
- Privacy Screen Spacing: 6-10 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
American holly (Ilex opaca) is an evergreen tree that bears attractive, prickly leaves and red berries. As a low-maintenance option, it provides privacy in your backyard.
You can also prune the tree to create a dense privacy hedge.
Being native to the eastern half of the country, American holly thrives in well-drained, slightly acidic soils and prefers sunny or semi-open wooded locations.
When planted for privacy purposes, remember to space them about 6 to 10 feet apart to ensure proper growth and coverage.
In addition to enhancing privacy, the berries of the American holly provide nourishment for wildlife, making it an excellent choice for creating a natural and environmentally friendly backyard sanctuary.
9. Kwanzan Cherry (Prunus Serrulata ‘Kwanzan’)
- Growing Zones: 5-9
- Mature Height: 15-25 feet
- Privacy Screen Spacing: 10-15 feet apart
- Growth Rate: Moderate
The Kwanzan Cherry is a fantastic option for your backyard privacy needs. With its deep pink, double blossoms, this tree is not just a barrier but also a beautiful focal point.
It originates from Japan and showcases its stunning flowers in the spring months.
As a deciduous tree, the Kwanzan Cherry provides seasonal privacy. Its rich red-copper leaves emerge in the spring, transitioning to a green shade before finally turning yellow in the fall.
With their moderate growth rate, these trees are low maintenance and perfect for planting close together to create an attractive privacy screen.
To get the most out of your Kwanzan Cherry, plant them in a location with well-draining soil and full sun to partial shade.
Enjoy the appealing visual impact of these trees while achieving additional privacy in your backyard.
10. Amur Maple (Acer Ginnala)
- Growing Zones: 3-6
- Mature Height: 15 to 20 feet
- Privacy Screen Spacing: 15 to 20 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
The Amur maple (Acer ginnala) is a small, low-maintenance tree that can create a great natural privacy screen in your backyard.
This deciduous tree is native to northern Asia and offers vibrant red fall foliage, adding a touch of color to your landscape.
Amur maples can thrive in various conditions, tolerating poor soil, wind, and drought. They prefer moist, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.1 to 7.5, and can even handle alkaline soil.
These trees are also shade-tolerant, making them a versatile option for your yard.
Your Amur maple can have either a multi-stemmed trunk or a single trunk with a rounded crown, customizable through pruning to suit your landscaping needs.
With its moderate growth rate and easy care, the Amur maple is a great choice for a backyard privacy barrier while adding visual interest to your outdoor space.
11. Cherry Laurel (Prunus Laurocerasus)
- Growing Zones: 5-9
- Mature Height: Up to 20 feet
- Privacy Screen Spacing: 3-5 feet apart
- Growth Rate: Fast
Cherry laurel is an evergreen shrub that will provide your backyard with year-round privacy.
Its dense, medium to dark green leaves create a beautiful backdrop while also acting as a natural barrier.
In the springtime, these shrubs welcome the season with fragrant white flower clusters, attracting pollinators.
Despite the name, the cherry laurel does not produce fruit, but its branches and leaves create a lush and elegant look.
Adaptable and low-maintenance, the cherry laurel thrives in various growing conditions. It tolerates different light environments, from full sun to partial and even full shade.
Plus, it can handle diverse soil types.
Plant your cherry laurel bushes 3-5 feet apart to create an attractive and effective privacy screen. And, with its fast growth rate, you’ll enjoy your private backyard sanctuary in no time.
12. Hicks Yew (Taxus X Media ‘Hicksii’)
- Growing Zones: 4-7
- Mature Height: 10-12 feet
- Privacy Screen Spacing: 3-5 feet apart
- Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
The Hicks Yew is a fantastic option for backyard privacy in cooler areas of the United States.
As an evergreen shrub, it maintains its unique foliage year-round, adding texture and visual appeal to your landscape. Additionally, the red berries that appear on the shrub contribute a lovely pop of color.
One of the best features of the Hicks Yew is its ability to grow well in shade. This makes it a versatile choice, allowing you to place it in spots where other privacy trees may struggle.
As a slow to moderately growing shrub, it requires minimal maintenance, making it ideal for busy homeowners looking to enhance their landscape with a reliable privacy screen.
13. Olive Tree (Olea Europaea)
- Growing Zones: 8-10
- Mature Height: 30-40 feet
- Privacy Screen Spacing: 10-15 feet apart
- Growth Rate: Moderate
The Olive Tree (Olea Europaea) is a perfect addition to your landscape if you’re looking for a low-maintenance, evergreen tree that provides both privacy and fruit.
Its drought-tolerant nature allows it to thrive in various environments and requires minimal watering. As it matures, its height can reach between 30-40 feet, making it an ideal choice for a privacy screen.
To ensure proper growth, space these trees 10-15 feet apart. Their moderate growth rate means they will fill in gradually, providing a beautiful natural barrier.
The shining feature of this tree is the fruit it bears, adding a touch of Mediterranean flair to your backyard.
Its gray-green leaves are lance-shaped and silvery beneath, adding a unique aesthetic appeal to your landscape. Enjoy your new Olive Tree and the beauty and privacy it brings to your outdoor space.
14. Dogwood (Cornus Florida)
- Growing Zones: USDA Hardiness Zones 4-5
- Mature Height: 15-25 feet (4.5-7.6m)
- Privacy Screen Spacing: 10-12 feet (3-3.7m) apart
- Growth Rate: Moderate
Dogwood (Cornus Florida) is a beautiful deciduous tree that brings a touch of color and privacy to your backyard.
Its branches are adorned with stunning spring flowers, and its leaves turn vibrant shades of red and purple in the fall, creating a picturesque view in your outdoor space.
Caring for a dogwood tree is relatively low-maintenance. Provide it with a good, well-drained humus-rich soil to thrive, and water it regularly during its first year to encourage root establishment.
After that, most established trees will not require additional watering or fertilization. As a bonus, dogwoods are resistant to most pests and diseases.
Plant your dogwood trees 10-12 feet apart to create a dense privacy screen. As they grow, their branches will interweave, providing you with year-round cover and a safe haven for birds and wildlife.
With their moderate growth rate and low-maintenance nature, dogwood trees are an attractive option for enhancing the privacy and aesthetic appeal of your backyard.
15. Magnolia (Magnolia Grandiflora)
- Growing Zones: 4-10 (varies)
- Mature Height: 10′-120′ tall and 3′-80′ spread
- Privacy Screen Spacing: 18′-20′ Apart
- Growth Rate: Low to Moderate
Magnolia grandiflora is an evergreen tree known for its large, fragrant flowers and glossy leaves.
This tree is perfect for adding privacy to your backyard as its branches and leaves provide a dense screen, while also bringing beauty and elegance to your landscape.
Plant this tree in well-draining, loamy, and acidic soil with a pH range from 5.0 to 6.0.
Magnolias grow best when they have mulch to help their roots grow, and they work well with companion plants like Azaleas and Hydrangeas.
Keep in mind that while magnolias are low to moderate maintenance, they still require some care and attention.
Keep an eye on their health and growth, but once established, they are a fantastic addition to any backyard for privacy and aesthetics.
