I'm looking for some advice on planting evergreen trees along my property line to enhance privacy from my neighbor. While many people recommend green giant arborvitae, I keep seeing complaints about them suddenly dying, which makes me hesitant. Additionally, since we have a lot of deer in our area, I want to ensure whatever I plant will withstand their munching. We live in zone 6 and have thought about using Eastern Red Cedar trees because they seem ideal, but I'm concerned about cedar apple rust affecting them and potentially sacrificing my apple/pear trees. Ideally, I want trees that will grow tall enough to block the view—possibly in about 15 years—since the slope in our yards would require an impractically tall fence for total privacy. What alternatives to arborvitae would you recommend?
3 Answers
Before deciding, think about your site conditions like moisture and the height you need the trees to reach. If you're looking for height, Eastern White Pine or White Spruce are native evergreens that could work well. Norway Spruce is also a top pick as it grows fast and offers dense coverage, which is great for privacy!
I've had success with dwarf Western Red Cedars. They seem to be thriving and the deer haven't bothered them. They typically start a few feet tall, and while I'm not sure about their growth speed, they work well in my yard. A friend has Eastern Red Cedars, but the deer have nibbled on hers a bit. Just something to consider!
If you already have a fence providing some cover, consider planting columnar deciduous trees like Armstrong Gold Maple or Parkland Pillar Birch. For evergreen options, you might look into Skyrocket or Taylor Junipers, although I personally avoid junipers because I don't like their look or feel. Just something to think about!