Outdoors: Best Shrubs to Plant for a Living Privacy Fence

by Kristen Costa 08/02/2023

Property owners and abutters often want to escape into the backyard to take a break. When landscapes are wide open, even the courtesy of saying hello and briefly chatting with neighbors reduces the peaceful enjoyment of the property.

Homeowners who do not want to invest thousands of dollars to stare at blank wooden fences can plant shrub rows so their greenery overlaps. Once the plants mature to a reasonable level, the naturally enclosed space delivers privacy and noise reduction. There are a wide range of shrubs that can be leveraged to create living privacy walls. The following rank among the popular choices.

Azaleas: Providing superior flower colors and thick greenery, azaleas remain a top choice for developing a living privacy fence. Property owners can select evergreen or deciduous varieties ranging from 6-20 feet tall.

Boxwood: This evergreen shrub remains a favorite in manicured landscapes as well as living fences. Depending on the variety, Boxwoods can reach 6-20 feet tall and deliver robust density. They resist blights well and require little maintenance to thrive.

Lilacs: This deciduous shrub is highly touted for its brilliant blooms and rich fragrance. Some varieties reach heights of up to 15 feet and offer enough leaf density to deliver backyard privacy. Although they lose their leaves during cold weather months, the benefits of deploying lilacs generally make them an excellent living fence choice.

Maple Leaf Viburnum: These plants grow upwards of six feet tall and form thick hedgerows. White cluster flowers appear during warm weather months and the leaves transition to distinctively colorful foliage during autumn. Property owners gravitate toward this variety because it ranks among the lowest-maintenance options.

Privet Plants: Reaching upwards of 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide, these shrubs contrast dark green leaves with white seasonal blooms. Homeowners and landscaping professionals consider privet plants a valuable fencing asset that handles full sun and a wide range of soil conditions.

It's essential for homeowners to keep in mind landscaping assets, such as privacy shrubs, tend to be a sound investment. Shrubs help beautify the grounds and the fact this strategy enhances the peaceful enjoyment of being at home supports increased property values.

About the Author
Author

Kristen Costa

I've been listing and selling in Wilmington and surrounding areas since 1987 and have been affiliated with Fudge Properties since 2007. I have a strong reputation for outstanding quality of both work and interpersonal relationships, knowing what needs to be done and how to elicit cooperation for getting it done. I'm also proficient and knowledgeable about the Mass Housing program guidelines, successfully completing numerous housing lotteries for first time home buyers, over 55 buyers and renters. Whether you're buying or selling, I can help you get the best deal. Just looking? That's OK. Use my website all you like, but you'll have to create a free account to unlock all the best search features. Once you sign up, you'll be able to save listings, save your search criteria, get automated email updates for new homes matching your saved search criteria, and more. Good luck on your house hunt! I hope to hear from you soon.