5 Top Shrubs Homeowners Can Plant To Create Living Privacy Fences

by Ann Hayward 09/11/2022

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

Ann Hayward

Born in Philadelphia and raised in the suburbs, Ann Hayward got her Pennsylvania real estate license at age 18 even before going to college. This second-generation real estate professional followed in the footsteps of her father and two uncles, inheriting their passion for the business. Licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia, Ann is accomplished in her career, with numerous designations including SFR, SRES, PSA, WHC, and multiunit Housing Development Finance Professional (HDFP) from the National Development Council. She specializes in Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties, Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, all jurisdictions where Ann has lived and knows very well. In addition to her professional expertise, she owns and manages personal investment property, understands and has been involved in the renovation/remodeling process, and has great resources which she shares with clients. When you hire Ann to represent you, she will make your buying or selling experience an enjoyable, rewarding one. Her compassion, sensitivity to her clients’ needs, eye for detail, and ability to see the big picture when guiding you through a purchase or sale are unique assets that will ensure your success. A diverse and relevant background also gives Ann a distinct edge. For 30 years, she worked in fast-paced, high-pressure television and theatrical production, attaining the highest achievement – DGA membership as a Director, and as an award-winning staff and freelance writer. Her keen audio visual skills and design sense benefit sellers in marketing their properties, and are invaluable in helping buyers see the potential of space. A true renaissance woman, Ann was also an income tax professional and office manager for H&R Block, so she thoroughly understands the tax and financial implications of acquiring and selling real estate. Her superior organizational skills are further evidenced as owner of a downsizing/professional organizing business, Managed For You, which allows her to connect with everyone from millennials to boomers and seniors, whether for small space planning or assisting with major decluttering and transitioning. Ann holds an AB in American History from Simmons College, Boston, plus attended Robert Wagner Graduate School of Public Administration where she was a candidate for Doctorate. She additionally studied Film Direction at the American Film Institute in LA, and was a Stanford University post-graduate Professional Journalism Fellow. Personally, Ann is an avid if not very good golfer, and the co-founder of a nonprofit 501c3 organization offering educational guidance, tutoring and counseling for youngsters from elementary school through college admission. She sits on the board of trustees of a nonprofit educational film production corporation as well. (202) 494-6252 [email protected]