What’s the point of evergreens? The first thing to note is that evergreen trees have foliage all year long. A tree is described as an evergreen if new leaves grow on it even after the old ones have fallen off. For this reason, most people associate the word “evergreen” with pines and Christmas trees. In contrast, any tree that maintains its lush green foliage throughout the year, regardless of the weather, is an evergreen.
It goes without saying that you have an abundance of choices! It is possible to choose the right evergreen trees for your yard, however, by following our guide.
Which evergreen trees provide the most privacy?
To begin, we suggest that you consider the function of trees in your landscape before making any purchases. For windbreaks, screening, and privacy, will your evergreen trees be decorative trees? A wide variety of leaf shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns can be found among the evergreens. This information will help you choose which evergreens are most appropriate for your yard.
The survival rate of evergreens in your area must be considered before purchasing them. Choosing the right evergreen for your garden is made easier if you know what zone it is in. It is important to check the zone rating of trees you are interested in before purchasing them. Knowing what kind of soil type the evergreen prefers is also a big plus.
Depending on the species, some plants can tolerate drier soil types while others require consistently moist conditions to grow successfully. It’s a good idea to know your soil’s pH before you go out and buy a tree. Acidic soil is better for some trees, while alkaline soil is better for others.
- Because alkaline soils are drier, it’s best to plant trees that can withstand drought.
- Most evergreens prefer acidic soil because it holds moisture better.
Planting Evergreen Trees: What Are Your Options?
All but a few evergreens can thrive in full to partial sunlight conditions. When it comes to factors like poor soil drainage, salt spray from snowplows, extreme weather conditions, and pest or insect infestations, some trees have a higher tolerance than others. In terms of upkeep, most evergreens are low-maintenance. Pruning and fertilization are necessary for some trees. Depending on the time of year, some trees will produce needles and seeds. Evergreen trees that lose their leaves each year include cypress and spruce. If you’re worried about a cluttered yard, stay away from those kinds of plants.
Evergreen Trees: How Fast Do They Grow?
Additionally, you should think about the height of the trees in your yard. Trees will grow in size as they mature, so plan accordingly. Your choices will be influenced by a tree’s growth rate. Do you want a tree that takes a long time to grow, or do you need something that grows quickly? A fast-growing tree may be preferable if you need shade or privacy screening. There are many evergreen trees that can grow up to 60 feet tall while some dwarf evergreens only grow to 4 to 6 feet tall.
When making your selection of evergreen trees, keep in mind the size of your yard and the amount of space allotted for these trees. Trees must be able to adapt to their surroundings in order to thrive. If your evergreens outgrow the space you’ve designated for them, they may not look as appealing. When a tree outgrows its space, it may need to be pruned or even removed.
For smaller homes and yards, we recommend using smaller to medium-sized varieties. Trees can be placed in a variety of locations in your yard, including near your house and further away.
Cypress Trees
Your landscape will benefit greatly from the inclusion of Cypress Trees. Small, rounded, woody cones, shoots, and scale-like leaves distinguish them. Foliage can be yellowish-green, green, or grayish depending on the variety. They can grow up to 60 feet in height when they are fully mature. Zones 4–11 are suitable for growing cypress trees. They need full to partial sunlight to grow.
Growing Zones Mature Height: Popular Cypress Trees
- Zones 6-10 40-60 ft. wide Leyland Cypress
- Zones 7-11, 40 ft. Italian Cypress, 5 ft.
Planting: Cypress trees should be planted 10 to 12 feet apart unless you plan to use them as a hedge. Only 5 to 6 feet apart is the ideal spacing for a hedge. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy, by watering your trees on a regular basis. Trees don’t need fertilizer, but you can use it if you want to. Fertilize trees and shrubs with a fertilizer formulated for both.
Cypress Infections
Cercospora Needle Blight: Cercospora sequoia is the fungus that causes the most problems on Leyland Cypresses. Other cypress species, such as Thujas and Junipers, may also be affected. As a result, the tree’s lower branches and needles turn brown near the stem. In the end, only the tips of the branches are left green due to the infection spreading upwards and outwards. The green pustules on the needles are a telltale sign of this disease. The wind will primarily spread this in the spring and summer. You can use a copper-based fungicide to treat these trees. The tree should be sprayed until new growth begins to push through the surface.
Canker of the Seiridium: Among the most destructive to Cypress trees is this canker. It is possible for the canker to form on either the stem or the branches, resulting in their demise. Resin flows out of the brown or purple patches on the bark. Branch tips will eventually turn bright red, then brown, and eventually die. This can’t be treated chemically at the moment. Cutting off infected branches and twigs will help you prevent further spread of the disease, as well as preventing the tree from being damaged. Prevent rusting by sterilizing your pruning tools in bleach beforehand.
Infection with Botryosphaeria: This fungus, like the Seiridium Canker, can cause twigs and branches to turn a reddish-brown color. This disease causes cankers to form on the tree, but they don’t produce any resin. The trunk will be unaffected, but the branches will perish as a result of these cankers. Trees that are experiencing a great deal of stress are prime targets for the Botryosphaeria. Maintaining the health of your tree is the best way to prevent this disease from wreaking havoc on it. You can protect your trees from the heat and dryness by mulching and giving them plenty of water.
Trees of the spruce variety
Pyramidal in shape, spruces are distinguished by their whorled branches and distinctive cone-like form. They are arranged in a spiral pattern on the branches of these trees. For smaller trees, the maximum height is 5 feet; for larger ones, the maximum height is 60 feet or more. These trees, especially the Blue and Norway varieties, are commonly referred to as “Christmas Trees.” In order to thrive, these plants need a lot of sunlight.
It is important to know where to plant spruce trees in order to get the most out of them.
- Canadian Spruce, Zones 2-6, is native to Alberta. In the 10-12 ft. range, or 4-5 feet.
- Norwegian Spruce Zones 3-7: 40-60 ft/20-25 ft.
Planting: Spruce trees should be spaced between 20 and 25 feet. The soil around your trees needs to be kept moist at all times. They don’t need much fertilizer, but they do need plenty of sunlight and water to thrive. A tablespoon of balanced tree fertilizer may be applied to the ground around each of these trees if you so desire.
Diseases of Spruce Trees
Corrosion of the needles of the Spruce: While the bugs remain green and alive, your needles may become discolored as a result of this infection. After a year, you’ll notice that the needles have fallen. An overall pinkish tinge can eventually be seen on the tree. It is impossible to cure this infection. If the infection is severe, the tree may not be able to recover.
Spider Mites of Spruce: The needles and branches can appear dried out due to the presence of these insects. You can see mites and their eggs on the twigs if you use a magnifying glass. The twigs will also have webs. You can treat your tree with a miticide. In June and July, you can apply preventative treatment to your tree to keep mites away.
A common needle cast: As a result of this fungus, the needles of older infected needles turn a tan color. Normally, the tree’s needles fall off on their own. The infection, on the other hand, causes them to fall off earlier. Black fruiting bodies can be seen at the base of the needles if you look closely. A single application of fungicide at the start of summer can help prevent this.
Cryptidaea Trees
The reddish-brown bark of these trees, which often peels off in strips, gives them their distinctive cone shape. These enormous trees can grow up to 35 to 45 feet in height. There are also spirally scaled branches with needle-like leaves. Zones 5 to 9 are ideal for these trees, which thrive in full to partial sunlight.
Growing Zones and Mature Height/Width of the Most Popular Cryptomeria Trees
- In the Radican Cryptomeria Zones 5-9, the depths range from 30-40 feet/15-20 feet.
Planting: It is recommended that larger varieties of Cryptomeria be planted 15 to 20 feet apart from one another. We recommend a distance of 2 to 6 feet between dwarf varieties.
The Cryptomeria Diseases
These trees are rarely affected by disease or pests. Keep an eye on your trees, however, and be on the lookout for any symptoms of the disease.
Trees of Thuja
Arborvitaes, as the thuja genus is also known, are a popular choice for landscape plantings. These evergreens have soft and fragrant reddish-brown wood. And the shoots on these trees are flat, with long, needle-like leaves that emerge on a single plane. There are four rows of leaves on each branch, arranged in crisscrossed pairs. Thicker foliage and larger cones can be found in some Thuja species. Thujas are hardy plants that can thrive in a wide range of soils and weather conditions, making them ideal for landscaping. For dwarf trees, the arborvitae can grow to a height of 10 feet; for giants, the height can reach 50 feet.
Hedge and landscape plantings of thuja trees are common. They are a popular evergreen for landscaping because of their slender shape. As well as privacy screens, they can also be used as windbreaks.
Thuja Trees: Mature Height and Width, Growing Zones
- Zones 5-8 Thuja Green Giant 30-50 ft./12-15 ft.
- Zones 3-8: 8-12 ft./3-4 ft. Thuja Emerald Green
Planting: You can achieve a height of 50 feet by spacing your Thuja trees 8 to 10 feet apart. The trees can be planted 5 to 6 feet apart to form a hedge if you have a small yard or prefer a height of 30 feet or less. Even though these trees are tolerant of drought, it’s best to keep the soil around them moist to avoid damaging them. As a general rule, keep in mind that the tree’s growth slows down during drought. Thujas don’t require fertilizer in most cases. You can use Espoma Holly Tone or a general evergreen tree fertilizer in the spring and fall.
Thuja Infections
Tip Blight: Thin or damaged areas of Thuja are targeted by a fungus. After a while, the infected needles on the tree’s branches start dying and eventually spread to them. Also, the leaves turn yellow and then brown before they die off. A fungicide can be used to control the spread of this disease by removing infected parts and cutting them back.
Leaf Blight: Arborvitaes are infected by a fungus that causes dark brown to black circles to appear on new leaves in the spring. The tree’s leaves will eventually turn brown and fall off in the fall. In the summer and early fall, you can use a copper spray to prevent leaf blight from developing.
Juniper Blight: There are two types of red cedar and juniper trees most commonly affected by this disease. Thuja Trees, on the other hand, can be infected with this disease. Branch dieback is a result of the disease. Young trees will experience dieback that begins at the tips of the shoots. The tree will eventually die if this is not addressed. Copper and propiconazole-containing fungicides are an option.
Trees with holly
Hollies are evergreens known for their glossy foliage. The ends of the leaves are often saw-toothed or indented. There are deciduous hollies, evergreen hollies, flowering hollies, and berrying hollies. You can enjoy the red color contrast of the berries in the winter months. It’s a good food source for wildlife, but the fruit is not edible and should not be consumed.
As with Spruce Trees, the holiday season has become synonymous with Holly. During the holiday season, plants like the Nellie Stevens and American Holly become decorative landscape elements. Hollies are evergreens that grow at a relatively slow pace. Depending on the variety, they can grow up to 25 feet in height.
Popular Holly Trees Mature Height and Width by Growing Zone
- Nellie Stevens Holly Zones 6-9 15-25 ft./5-10 ft.
- Zones 6-9 10-12 ft./6-8 ft. for American Holly
Planting: Depending on the variety and the plant’s mature size, you can space your Holly Trees anywhere from 5 to 25 feet apart. Acidic, moist, well-drained soil is ideal for them. In the spring, compost can be used as a fertilizer for these trees. Spread it around the tree’s outermost branches and then add 2 inches of mulch to help it retain moisture.
Diseases of Holly
Canker: Cankers are the disease’s name for the sunken areas on the stems. These eventually lead to the death of the trees. Pruning away infected branches is a good way to save the trees.
Spot the Tar: Spring is a particularly risky time for infection because of the moist and cool conditions. When it first appears, the leaves are speckled with yellow spots that darken to a brown or black hue. This causes leaves to be damaged or fall off. Infected leaves should be removed as soon as possible to prevent the infection from spreading further.
Chlorosis: Chlorosis, an iron deficiency infection, can also affect Hollies and cause the disease. It causes yellow to light green leaves with dark green veins. The best course of action is to lower the pH of your soil or add iron-fortified fertilizer to it.
Trees of the genus Juniper
Succulent evergreens, junipers are distinguished by their scale- or needle-like foliage. Despite their common name, these drought-tolerant evergreens are not actually cedar trees. It’s a Juniperus species from the Cupressaceae family. Juniper trees can grow to a height of 15 to 20 feet, depending on the variety.
With one exception, juniper trees can be planted almost anywhere. If you have apple trees in your yard or nearby, do not plant junipers. Cedar-apple rust can sometimes infect apple trees. Juniper trees can easily be infected by this fungus, which can cause extensive damage to the plant.
Growing Zones Mature Height/Width of Popular Juniper Trees
- In Zones 5-9, Spartan Junipers can grow up to 15-20 ft.
- Zones 5-9 of the Hollywood Juniper are 15 ft./10 ft. wide.
Planting:
A tree or a shrub can be planted 3 to 6 feet apart, depending on the type of Juniper you’re planting. If you’re going to use the shrubs as a hedge, you can plant them 2 to 3 feet apart. After planting, make sure to give your Junipers plenty of water, and then water them twice a week for a month after that. It’s best to only water every other week after that, except in extreme heat or drought conditions. Once a year, in the spring, use a slow-release fertilizer to feed your Junipers. Before you water your tree or before it rains, sprinkle fertilizer around the base of the tree.
Location
Evergreen trees should be planted at least 10 to 15 feet from the foundation of your home and at least 5 feet away from fencing, sidewalks, and patio areas when they are in full bloom in the spring. Trees can only be planted under utility lines if they are no more than a few feet in height. Where should you put your evergreen trees?
Limits of Private Property
To create a barrier between properties, evergreen trees are frequently planted as a screen. Trees along your property line are fine but don’t overdo it. As the trees mature, this will help prevent overcrowding. The placement of two evergreens in one or two areas of your property line is usually the best option. This will still give you the privacy you’re looking for, though.
Decks or Patios
Trees that are evergreen can provide both shades from the sun and privacy from your neighbors in this area of your property. Trees should be placed 5 to 7 feet away from the deck or patio, according to our advice. Evergreen trees can be placed on the side of your patio or deck where you need the most privacy.
Open Space in the Backyard
Evergreen trees can thrive in a wide-open area of your yard, so make the most of it. Depending on the size of your yard, you’ll want to decide how many trees to plant. Planting evergreen trees is the best option when it comes to shady or private areas. An evergreen may not be the best choice if you have a garden or other area that requires direct sunlight.
Parkways
Planting evergreens close to a parkway isn’t advised. Backing out of the driveway can be difficult because of these trees. It’s also hard to see the fronts of houses because of the fog.
Open Space in the Front Yard
Evergreen trees can be planted in the front yard. At least two or three trees can be planted in the front yard of most homes. It is recommended that the trees be scattered throughout the open area. It’s important to keep an eye out for the beauty of the flowers and bushes surrounding your home. Ten to fifteen feet from the house is the ideal distance for trees.
Yard to the Side
Side yard spacing may also be an ideal location for evergreen trees, depending on the size of your lot. Your home’s exterior can be enhanced with the use of windbreaks and privacy screens. It’s a great way to provide shade for your house in the summer and keep it cool inside.
When Is the Best Time to Plant Evergreens?
Depending on the climate in your area, planting evergreen trees in spring or fall can be ideal. In the spring, it is best to plant evergreen trees so that their root systems have time to grow during the year. However, if you live in an area that gets a lot of heat and dry weather, you might want to put off planting until the fall. Drought and heat stress young evergreens more than older trees.
The roots of evergreen trees grow more quickly in the fall than they do in the spring, which is an advantage of planting in the fall. Because of the high humidity, the soil is in better shape. But if you’re going to plant in the fall, you’ll want to do it before November. It’s possible that your evergreen will be damaged by the winter if it’s planted too late.