Planting for Privacy: The Best Trees for a Natural Screen
Whether you’re looking to block a view, quiet street noise, or just enjoy a little more solitude in your yard, privacy trees offer a beautiful, long-lasting solution. Unlike fences, which can feel stark or require permits, living screens soften your landscape and change with the seasons—bringing texture, color, and even wildlife.
Why Choose Privacy Trees?
Natural beauty: Trees blend into the landscape and enhance curb appeal.
Noise reduction: Dense foliage can help dampen traffic or neighborhood sounds.
Windbreak & snow catch: Strategically placed trees can reduce wind exposure and snow drifting.
Wildlife habitat: Many privacy trees offer shelter and food for birds and beneficial insects.
Property value: A well-landscaped yard with mature plantings can increase your home's value.
Top Privacy Tree Picks for Wisconsin Gardens
🌲 Arborvitae
A classic choice for evergreen screening. Arborvitae are dense, upright, and easy to shape. Varieties like ‘Techny’ and ‘Emerald Green’ are cold-hardy, low maintenance, and ideal for narrow spaces.
Benefits: Year-round privacy, soft texture, easily pruned
Best for: Property lines, between houses, or as a windbreak
Tip: Space arborvitae 2–4 feet apart for a solid hedge or privacy wall.
🌿 Juniper
Tough, drought-tolerant, and available in many shapes and sizes, junipers are great for privacy with the added bonus of blue-green foliage and interesting texture. Columnar varieties like ‘Skyrocket’ or ‘Blue Arrow’ provide vertical screening in tighter spaces.
Benefits: Evergreen foliage, deer resistant, minimal care
Best for: Accent screens, driveways, sunny areas with poor soil
Tip: Give junipers full sun and good air circulation to keep them looking their best.
🌳 Pillar Birch
For a unique, deciduous option, pillar birch adds elegance with its white bark and upright growth. While it loses its leaves in winter, the bare branches and striking bark still provide partial screening and seasonal interest.
Benefits: Fast-growing, graceful form, four-season appeal
Best for: Naturalistic borders, mixed screens, pairing with evergreens
Tip: Use pillar birch alongside evergreens to create a layered privacy screen that maintains interest all year long.
Where to Use Privacy Trees
Along property lines: Soften fences or define your lot boundaries
Near patios or decks: Create a cozy outdoor room with leafy walls
Between houses: Add a living buffer in narrow side yards
By windows: Block unwanted views without needing blinds inside
Design Tips for Planting Privacy Trees
Mix it up: Combine evergreen and deciduous trees for seasonal interest
Think in layers: Underplant with shrubs or perennials for a natural look
Plan for growth: Know your tree’s mature size and give it room to thrive
Stagger spacing: A zigzag planting pattern often looks more natural and fills in faster
Ready to Plant Your Privacy?
At Down to Earth, we carry a wide selection of privacy trees perfect for Wisconsin yards, including cold-hardy junipers, arborvitae, and ornamental birch. Whether you’re planting a formal hedge or creating a natural screen, we can help you choose the right combination for your space and style.
Visit us today or chat with one of our plant experts!