Living Fences is a locally owned and operated company in Marietta, Georgia specializing in the installation of living privacy screens. We offer a variety of #1 grade evergreen trees ranging in size from 6 feet tall to instant privacy screens as tall as 15 feet.
The following list provides several popular screening trees for landscape and natural borders. There are many more options available in our growing zone and the below list only partially encompasses the many trees and shrubs that can be used for screening. Give us a call or drop us a contact form and we will be happy to discuss other options that are available depending on your site needs.
Leyland Cypress
The leyland cypress’s fast growth rate of 3 feet or more a year make it the most popular and often the most economical of the Living Fence options. They are magnificent evergreens providing a dense privacy barrier and help soften noise from adjacent properties or roads. Leyland cypress grow best in full sun.
- Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis Leylandii)
- Mature Height: 50+ feet
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Growth Habit: Pyramidal
- Foliage: Medium to Dark Green
- Fall Color: Medium to Dark Green
- Flower: Not Applicable
Cryptomeria Yoshino
Cryptomeria are a graceful option for a Living Fence offering bright blue-green summer foliage that takes on a bronze hue in winter. Cryptomeria are broader at maturity than the leyland cypress or arborvitae thus needing a relatively open area for planting. They grow well in full or partial sun.
- Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria Japonica)
- Mature Height: 50 feet
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Growth Habit: Pyramidal
- Foliage: Bright Green to Blue-Green
- Fall Color: Green to Bronze Depending upon Winter Temperatures
Nellie R Stevens Holly
Nellie Stevens holly are undoubtedly the most popular holly used as a living fence and justifiably so. Their relatively fast growth rate, lustrous green leaves and red winter berries (if pollinated) make a stately and highly effective privacy screen option. Nellie Stevens are readily available in a wide variety of sizes and are often the most economical of the hollies. They are moderately wide at maturity and easily pruned.
- Nellie R. Stevens Holly (Ilex x “Nellie R Stevens”)
- Mature Height: 20-25 feet
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Growth Habit: Broad, Pyramidal
- Foliage: Glossy, Dark Green
- Fall Color: Dark Green, Red Berries
Mary Nell Holly
Mary Nell hollies have a smaller leaf and are slower growing than the Nellie Stevens holly thus making it a little easier to maintain if pruning is going to be a necessity. Mary Nells are currently available in smaller sizes only and grow in full or partial sun.
- Mary Nell Holly (Ilex x “Mary Nell”)
- Mature Height: 20-25 feet
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Growth Habit: Pyramidal
- Foliage: Glossy, Dark Green
- Fall Color: Dark Green, Red Berries
Little Gem Magnolia
Little Gem magnolias are a perfectly wonderful option to consider as a living fence. They mature at approximately 20 feet making it one of the smallest growing varieties of the old fashioned favorite, “Southern Magnolia”. Little gem magnolias have small, lustrous, dark green leaves with a fuzzy bronze/brown color on the bottom and 4″-6″ white flowers almost continuously during the growing season. They have a moderate growth rate and are available in a variety of sizes.
- Little Gem Magnolia (Magnolia Grandiflora “Little Gem”)
- Mature Height: 20 feet
- Growth Rate: Slow to Medium
- Growth Habit: Pyramidal
- Foliage: Small, Dark Green with Brown Beneath
- Fall Color: Dark Green
- Flower: White
Southern Magnolia
The cultivar varieties such as “Bracken Brown Beauty” and ” D.D. Blanchard” magnolias are an excellent option for a tall living fence as these varieties mature at approximately 50 feet. They are elegant, handsome trees possessing lustrous dark, green leaves with a fuzzy bronze/brown back and large white blooms in May/June. The southern magnolia has a relatively wide spread at maturity thus limiting it to larger spaces.
- Southern Magnolia (Magnolia Grandiflora “culfoltivars”)
- Mature Height: 40-50 feet
- Growth Rate: Slow to Medium
- Growth Habit: Pyramidal
- Foliage: Dark Green Leaves with Brown Beneath
- Fall Color: Dark Green
- Flower: White
Deodar Cedar
The graceful growth habit and unique foliage color of the deodar cedar make it an excellent option as a living fence. Although not as dense as other evergreen screens the Deodar cedar can make a wonderful addition to most any living fence. Planting them as stand alone specimens or in small groups can break the monotony when large numbers of evergreens are required to screen a particular application.
- Deodar Cedar (Cedrus Deodara)
- Mature Height: 40 feet
- Growth Rate: Medium
- Growth Habit: Broad Pyramidal
- Foliage: Gray Green with Blue Hue
- Fall Color: Gray Green with Blue Hue
Emerald Arborvitae
With its mature height of 10′-15′ and narrow growth habit the emerald arborvitae is an excellent medium height option for a living fence. The emerald arborvitae retains its lustrous emerald green foliage year around and is available in a wide variety of sizes.
- Thuja occidentalis “Emerald Green”
- Mature Height: 10-15 feet
- Growth Rate: Slow to Medium
- Growth Habit: Dense, Narrow Pyramidal
- Foliage: Dark Green
- Fall Color: Dark Green
Emily Brunner Holly
Emily Brunner hollies mature into a fine specimen hedge maturing at around 20′ and produce a heavy crop of red winter berries when pollinated. Emily Brunner hollies are not a abundant as some other choices but there is good value in sizes up to 8′.
- “Emily Brunner” Holly (Ilex x “Emily Brunner”)
- Mature Height: 20 feet
- Growth Rate: Medium
- Growth Habit: Broad and Pyramidal
- Foliage: Dark Green
- Fall Color: Large Red Winter Berries
Needle Point Holly
The Needle Point Holly’s dense green foliage, red berries, quick growth rate and affordability make it one of the best choices for a medium height living fence. The Needle Point Holly sets a heavy crop of 1/4″ diameter, bright red winter berries and matures at 12′ to 15′. It is easily pruned and grows well in sun or partial shade.
- Mature Height: 12-15 feet
- Growth Rate: Medium to Fast
- Growth Habit: Upright, Conical
- Foliage: Medium Green
- Fall Color: Medium Green, Red Berries
- Flower: Not Applicable
Thuja "Green Giant" Arborvitae
The Green Giant is an excellent option for a natural border and living fence. Its growth pattern is similar to the Leyland Cypress with a comparable fast growth rate of 3 or more feet per year. They provide a dense barrier with a softer and slightly narrower than Leyland Cypress pyramidal look. Additionally, they are virtually immune to some of the diseases that can affect the Leyland Cypress so are in high demand. They grow best in full sun but are more shade tolerant than the Leyland Cypress.
- Thuja “Green Giant” (hybrid of Thuja Plicata and Thuja Standishii)
- Mature Height: 35 to 50 feet
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Growth Habit: Pyramidal
- Foliage: Medium to Dark Green
- Fall Color: Medium to Dark Green
- Flower: Not Applicable
