I'm hoping to get some advice on how to improve the privacy in my yard. We have a wood privacy fence separating us from our neighbor's yard, but it's not quite enough for the level of seclusion we'd like. I'm considering planting some trees, possibly combined with shrubs, to achieve a height of around 12 feet. Ideally, I'm looking for fast-growing options that have a wide base or can create a thick natural fence. I live in Zone 8 and have full sun exposure. Bonus points if the plants are native and attract pollinators or support local wildlife!
2 Answers
As someone who works in Zone 8, I can suggest a few good options! For shrubs, try Tea Olives and Camellias, or Loropetalum for some color. For trees, Leyland Cypress and Carolina Sapphire will grow taller than 12 feet, but if you want something nearer to that height, Crape Myrtle and Wax Myrtle are good picks too. Just keep in mind that most of these aren’t native, with Wax Myrtle being the exception!
For privacy, you might want to consider American Holly as it’s a native evergreen, but it won’t get too tall. A quick alternative for visual cover is to set up a trellis and plant a fast-growing vine like Carolina jessamine. It’ll give you some greenery without taking too long to establish!
Yeah, the only really native one from your list is Wax Myrtle. You might want to focus on that if you're looking for native plants.