Best trees for privacy: 10 ways to screen a plot from view

Take time to consider which are the best trees for privacy in your garden. Hasty purchases could result in a tree which is too large for the plot - or the wrong shape to solve the problem. 

It is tempting to opt for a fast fix such as a rapidly growing evergreen which will shoot up and mask the problem with dense growth in a couple of seasons. But bear in mind that this could also exclude valuable light from your garden, restricting the growth of existing plants. It might also shade the rooms in your house, and even cause conflict with the neighbors. 

If the issue is with one window which overlooks your property, it may be that a carefully placed single tree will be enough to screen the view. Tree shape is a factor, too. Are you looking for a lacy screen of branches to mask an expansive overlooked area? A multi-stemmed tree might solve that problem. Alternatively, a tree which can be tightly clipped into a neat shape, such as English holly or a Holm oak, could block one specific line of sight. To completely obscure a neighbor’s view into your property, trees generally need to be 6-8ft (1.8-2.1m) in height. 

Whether you're looking for the best trees for small gardens or ones for bigger plots, the message from the experts is to choose very carefully. According to Tony Kirkham, author of The Kew Gardener’s Guide to Growing Trees, 'don’t be tempted to plant the old-fashioned conifer hedge Leyland Cypress because it is fast growing and cheap to buy. In the long term it will potentially be problematic and ugly.'  

The first step when choosing the best trees for privacy is to measure your garden, find out which way it faces and what kind of soil you have, as these are important factors which can influence the tree type. 

Then work out your exact privacy issue. What are you trying to shelter from? According to tree expert Tony Kirkham, 'for privacy planting there may be a neighboring property, windows, ugly street furniture or a busy road that you want to hide.'

Use our selection to choose a privacy tree which will add value and interest to your garden as well as solving a common problem.  

By Fiona Cumberpatch