If youre searching for solitude in your outdoor spaces, these container-grown trees could be the answer
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There’s nothing better than taking it easy in your backyard on a summer afternoon, but if your neighbor’s house looks out over your yard, it can be hard to relax. You might usually use tall fences, parasols, or privacy screens, but greener landscaping ideas can be more attractive, and you don’t even need a big garden border for them.
That’s because it’s simple to grow large, pretty trees in pots that will block out unwanted sights. Whether you have a big lawn with lots of flower beds or a small courtyard in the city with no dirt to be seen, growing trees in pots is a stylish way to make your outdoor space a private haven just for you.
We asked experts what the best trees are for growing in containers as part of a private landscaping plan that will give you some well-deserved peace and quiet this season.
Evergreen trees in pots are an excellent way to add privacy and screening to your outdoor spaces With the right evergreen variety, you can create a lush, natural screen that blocks views and creates a secluded oasis in your yard or on your patio The benefit of using potted evergreens is that they can be moved and positioned wherever you need extra privacy. Read on to learn more about the best evergreen trees for containers, design ideas, care tips, and more.
Why Choose Evergreen Trees in Pots for Privacy?
There are several advantages to using potted evergreens to screen and enclose your outdoor living areas
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Portability: Potted trees are not permanently planted in the ground, so you can reposition them anytime to block changing viewlines as needed. This flexibility is perfect for renters or homeowners without in-ground planting options.
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Instant Impact: Container evergreens provide dense foliage right away, unlike deciduous trees that take years to fill out. Well-established evergreen trees in pots create an effective living screen the moment they are moved into place.
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Lower Maintenance: Growing evergreens in pots contained the roots, so there is no spreading or invasiveness to manage like in the ground. Potted evergreens also don’t drop loads of leaves and debris in the fall.
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Safety on Patios: Traditional privacy screens and trellises can topple over in high winds. Sturdy potted evergreens are secure and won’t blow over onto seating areas or living spaces.
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Enhanced Curb Appeal: Evergreen screening trees in attractive planters look far more welcoming and pleasing than a basic fence or lattice barrier. They humanize exterior spaces with natural texture and color.
The Best Evergreen Trees for Screening Containers
Certain evergreen varieties are better suited for growing in pots than others. Here are five top recommendations from experts:
1. Dwarf Alberta Spruce
This hardy, slow-growing conifer has a classic conical shape perfect for blocking views and defining spaces. Give it full sun and well-drained soil. Expect it to reach 6-10 feet tall at maturity in a container.
2. Japanese Maple
The lacy red foliage of Japanese maple provides dappled screening. Grow dwarf varieties in partly shaded spots with rich, moist soil. Stunning fall color is an added bonus.
3. Bay Laurel
Fragrant bay laurel trees form dense columns of glossy green leaves that can be pruned into formal hedges. Give them full sun and allow soil to partially dry between waterings.
4. Olive Tree
Olive trees offer an elegant Mediterranean look. Their silver-green foliage filters light. Maximize fruit production by choosing self-pollinating varieties and planting in full sun.
5. Emerald Green Arborvitae
Fast-growing arborvitae quickly provide tall, narrow screening. Their vibrant green color stays bright year-round. Site them in full to partial sun and irrigate regularly.
Design Tips for Evergreen Screening Trees in Pots
Follow these design principles when incorporating evergreen privacy trees in containers:
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Place potted screening trees strategically to block undesirable views from seating areas, pools, and decks. Measure sightlines and views you wish to hide.
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Use groups of the same variety in uniform containers for a clean, cohesive look. Repetition creates structure.
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Mix heights and forms for a natural effect. Try combining mounding shrubs with slender, upright trees.
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Frame views and openings rather than completely enclosing spaces, which can feel claustrophobic.
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Add personality by underplanting with annuals or perennials. Let them spill over container edges.
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Group planters together on hardscaping to define and divide an open patio or walkway.
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Nestle potted evergreens in garden beds and borders to hide fences or provide seclusion for sitting areas.
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Line the edges of a driveway or front walkway with matching evergreen trees in containers for an elegant welcome.
Caring for Evergreen Privacy Trees Grown in Pots
Though relatively low maintenance, containerized evergreens do require some attention to thrive. Follow these care tips:
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Water regularly, but don’t allow soil to become waterlogged. Let it dry slightly between waterings.
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Apply a slow-release fertilizer in spring to support new growth. Organic options like Espoma fertilizers are great choices.
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Prune occasionally to shape trees into tidy forms that maximize screening potential.
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Monitor for common pests like spider mites, scale, and aphids. Treat promptly to avoid major infestations.
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Repot every 2-3 years in early spring using fresh potting mix for nutrition. Choose a slightly larger container.
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Move containers into a sheltered area or wrap with burlap over winter in cold climates to protect from harsh wind and ice.
Evergreen Screening Tree Species Profiles
Now that you know the basics of using evergreens in containers for added privacy, let’s take a closer look at some of the specific varieties that are best suited to this purpose:
Dwarf Alberta Spruce
- Slow, compact growth habit, only 10-13 ft. tall x 3-5 ft. wide at maturity
- Handsome conical form with dense, deep green needles
- Extremely hardy and adaptable to various conditions
- Grows well in containers, providing excellent evergreen screening
Hicks Yew
- Broad, vase-shaped form grows 10-15 ft. tall x 6-8 ft. wide
- Densely foliated branches bear dark green flat needles
- Does well in a variety of soil types and lighting conditions
- Makes a great tall, full screening tree in patio planters
Sky Pencil Japanese Holly
- Extremely narrow profile, columnar in form
- Grows very slowly, max. height 10-15 ft. x 2-3 ft. wide
- Dense, spiny green leaves and red berries for winter interest
- Perfect structural evergreen for screening tight spaces between fences and walls
Emerald Green Arborvitae
- Fast growing pyramidal evergreen matures 15-25 ft. x 3-5 ft.
- Bright green color year-round makes a vibrant, cheerful screen
- Thrives in full sun to partial shade and various soil types
- Useful tall screen that establishes quickly after planting
Dwarf Eastern Red Cedar
- Round, broad-spreading form, grows 4-6 ft. x 4-6 ft.
- Attractive blue-green needles in whorls around the stems
- Tolerant and adaptable small evergreen tree
- Creates a wide, full screening hedge in large containers
The Final Takeaway on Potted Screening Trees
Evergreen trees in containers lend themselves beautifully to creating secluded, private outdoor spaces. Position potted evergreens to block unwanted views without feeling overly closed in. Carefully select cold-hardy varieties suited to your climate that grow well in pots. Group matching trees and shrubs in complementary containers for a cohesive aesthetic. Caring for containerized evergreens is simple when following basic guidelines. With the right evergreen screening trees, you can fashion an intimate green sanctuary right in your own backyard.
Bay Laurel (Image credit: Alamy)
Bay trees are often used as landscaping accents to line steps or flank a front porch. They are also great for creating privacy.
Lina says that Bay Laurel is a great choice for a living privacy screen because it is an evergreen tree with dense, shiny green leaves that is easy to shape and prune. The leaves are pretty and smell good, and they can also be used in cooking, so this tree is both pretty and useful.
Choose a dwarf or compact variety and plant it in a large, well-draining pot with good potting mix to move it into your yard. Lina says to put the tree somewhere that gets full sun to partial shade and to water it often, but let the soil dry out a bit between waterings. In the spring, use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer to feed the plant, and cut it back as needed to keep it the shape and size you want.
Japanese Maple (Image credit: Getty)
The Japanese Maple has bright red leaves that make it look really nice. It is one of the best trees to grow in pots.
This tree is a great option for those who want a smaller, more decorative privacy tree, explains Zeeshan Haider, founder of Greenry Enthusiast. Growing it in a pot allows you to easily move it around your yard or patio for different aesthetics. It prefers partial shade and moist soil, so be sure to keep its soil consistently moist.
Lina says that even though they lose their dense canopy of leaves in the winter, their complex branch structure makes your space more interesting during that time. She says to choose a dwarf or slow-growing type and plant it in a pot with acidic potting mix that drains well. She also suggests putting the tree somewhere with some dappled shade so that the leaves don’t get too hot.
Top 5 Privacy Screen Trees |Grow a Living Fence|
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