Deer Resistant Evergreens for Privacy Screens
One of the most common questions we get is what are my options for an evergreen privacy screen. Our lead designer, Erik, is happy to visit your property to assess the best strategy that will achieve fast results within your budget. Erik will review different spacing and configuration options to maximize coverage to help you achieve your private backyard oasis as quickly as possible!
Here I wanted to go over the different choices you have when it comes to deer resistant privacy screens and the appeal of each tree or bush. I also will touch on some other choices for fenced in areas that make great screens as well. Hopefully this helps in making your decision a little easier.
Deer Resistant Evergreen Trees for Privacy
Norway Spruce
Picea abies
Size: 25-30′ Wide and 40-60′ Tall
Growth Habit: Pyramidal Shape
Growth Rate: 12-24″ per year once established
Light Requirements: Full Sun is best but can take some shade
Soil Requirements: Various Soils
Appeal: Completely deer resistant and dense, the Norway Spruce is an ideal privacy screen if you
have the space. Beautiful dark green needles and strong branches make it a very attractive tree.
Green Giant Arborvitae
Thuja standish x plicata ‘Green Giant’
Size: 10-20′ Wide and 50-60′ Tall
Growth Habit: Pyramidal Shape
Growth Rate: Fast – Can grow 3′ in a year once established
Light Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Soil Requirements: Various Soils – Moist Tolerant
Appeal: Creates a very dense fast growing screen. Despite its rapid growth, it can withstand heavy snow loads.
It’s extremely fast growth rate make it an excellent choice for rapid screening.
Privacy Screen Planting: 6′ on center or closer for an instant screen
Virescens Arborvitae
Thuja plicata ‘Virescens’
Size: 10-20′ Wide and 40-50′ Tall
Growth Habit: Pyramidal Shape
Growth Rate: Fast – 2′ A year once established
Light Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Soil Requirements: Various Soils – Moist tolerant
Appeal: Lighter green than the Green Giant and with a softer look, they too create a fast privacy screen.
Holds its green color year round and has a feathery look to it.
Privacy Screen Planting: 6′ on center or closer for an instant screen.
Leyland Cypress
Cupressus × leylandii
Size: 15-25′ Wide and 60-70′ Tall
Growth Habit: Columnar
Growth Rate: Fast – 1-2′ per year once established.
Light Requirements: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Various Soils
Appeal: Another fast growing privacy screen that should be planted in full sun.
Leyland Cypress has fine soft needles that turn a blue green in maturity.
Skip Laurel
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’
Size: 7′ Wide and 10′ Tall +
Growth Habit: Bush
Growth Rate: Medium to Fast – 12-24″ per year once established
Light Requirements: Full Sun to Shade
Soil Requirements: Various Soils
Appeal: Creates an excellent shorter privacy hedge that can be pruned into any shape. Elongated glossy green leaves are
also a contrast to the other needle evergreens. Excellent for shade as well. Deer may nibble it in a harsh winter.
Yellow Groove Bamboo
Phyllostachys aureosulcata
Size: Up to 25′ Tall and Spread Indefinite
Growth Habit: Spreads by sending underground runners in any direction.
Growth Rate: Extremely Fast once established
Light Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Sun
Soil Requirements: Various Soils
Appeal: An extremely fast privacy screen with its only downside being that it runs in any direction it wants.
Can be withheld with the use of liners but they need to be put in at least 30″ deep around the entire area.
Clumping Bamboo
Fargesia rufa
Size: 12-15′ Tall
Growth Habit: Vase Shaped
Growth Rate: Moderate – 6-10″ per year
Light Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Sun
Soil Requirements: Various Soils
Appeal: A better choice if you don’t want to be bothered pruning unwanted runners.
Provides a much neater screen as its clumping nature stays very tight and kept.
